Don't just force people to be greener, help them

"To become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, we need to help Europe's people, regions and industries which need a lot of energy or depend on coal. For that, we need significant financial effort from the EU and the Member States", said Siegfried Mureşan MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group responsible for budgetary issues, ahead of today's parliamentary debate on the Just Transition Mechanism.

The Just Transition Mechanism will be the financial pillar of the European Green Deal, the EU’s comprehensive strategy to eliminate greenhouse gases by the middle of the century.

"Don't just force people to be greener, help them. We need a fair distribution of the costs of the transition. Protecting our planet must not mean banning things and making everything more expensive. It is not sustainable to put the burden on the shoulders of those who can least afford it", said Esther de Lange MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group in charge of Economy and Environment.

Mureşan pointed out that the EPP Group demands fresh funding for the Green Deal, on top of the existing Commission proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). "We will not accept any reductions in funding for policies that have already proven their success. The Just Transition Fund needs to support real economic development and job creation and not only be a short-term solution to those affected by the transition to the green economy", stressed Mureşan.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, the European Parliament will vote for the first time on its position on the European Green Deal strategy, which had already been presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.