As the last votes are counted after the EU elections, an increasingly clear picture emerges that the climate fight will be challenged in the coming period in the EU Parliament. This may seem paradoxical in light of the election results in Denmark.
Here, SF became the largest party ahead of the Social Democrats after a campaign driven by the climate. SF's seats in the European Parliament now increase from two to three. But this is far from the situation for SF's party group in the European Parliament, the Greens. According to the preliminary election results, the Greens are falling from 72 to 53 seats in parliament. At SF, lead candidate Kira Marie Peter-Hansen acknowledges that this may cost the climate fight.
- We are incredibly worried about the EPP's direction in relation to climate policy. This applies to both the EPP in the parliament and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, she says.
The European People's Party (EPP), which consists of conservatives and Christian Democrats, is set to grow from 176 to 186 seats. The EPP is the largest party group and has so far held the presidency of the European Parliament. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is part of the political group.
- I have noticed that Ursula von der Leyen said on election night that she would like to cooperate with the pro-European parties, says Kira Marie Peter-Hansen.
- Now we have to see what she defines as pro-European parties.
Think tank predicts challenges for the climate fight
Director of the Think Tank Europa Lykke Friis also believes that Europe's climate policy may be changed after the election.
Ursula von der Leyen has begun to reach out to the right-wing ECR group and Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who want climate improvements to be made without it costing jobs and growth.
- I think we should prepare ourselves for the fact that climate policy will in all likelihood be weakened. We have already seen the conservatives begin to question the climate transition, says Lykke Friis.
In recent months, the conservative EPP group has given business and agriculture a significantly higher priority when new environmental and climate measures are to be introduced.
This has happened, among other things, in light of criticism from voters who find electric cars and heat pumps too expensive. And who support the agricultural protests against climate and environmental measures, which they believe will move food production out of Europe.
This may be important in the upcoming election period, where, among other things, a new 2040 target for CO2 reduction must be adopted.
SFs will fight for the Climate Act
Kira Marie Peter-Hansen says that the important thing for SF is to ensure that the Climate Act is not rolled back.
- We are aware that we will probably not make as much progress as we would like, she says and elaborates:
- But I am cautiously optimistic that we can succeed in standing firm on the Climate Act and making some progress.
The Confederation of Danish Industry (DI) supports the climate fight, but DI's CEO, Lars Sanddahl Sørensen, emphasizes that more must be done at the same time to avoid, that growth in Europe is lagging behind that of the USA and China.
According to Lars Sandahl Sørensen, the challenges in Europe are "almost in line". Among other things, due to "cumbersome rules and long processing times" for product approval.
- For example, when we talk about green transition in Europe, the USA and China are rushing off with a speed and agility that we have difficulty matching.
- Green companies should preferably stay and develop in Europe. If competitiveness is not strengthened, we risk losing. Not only in global competition, but also in the climate fight, says Lars Sandahl Sørensen.
The new EU Parliament will meet formally for the first time on July 16.
/ritzau/
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