Event Summary: The European Green Deal – An Event in Two Parts

7 May 2024

By Sarah Thompson, Senior Research Programme Manager for the European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition, Sciences Po

Introduced in 2019, the European Green Deal represents a transformative economic and geopolitical initiative for the European Union. Framed not only as an environmental strategy, the Green Deal aims to foster sustainable growth and bolster energy security. This initiative has taken on a multi-dimensional role, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the geopolitical tensions resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These crises have highlighted the social implications of the Green Deal, underscoring its importance beyond mere environmental concerns. Recently, the Green Deal has faced scrutiny and criticism from various stakeholders. Some have called for a pause on introducing new regulations, suggesting instead that the focus should shift towards the effective implementation of existing legislation. Additionally, certain measures within the Green Deal have been suspended amid these debates. This politicisation raises critical questions about the future trajectory of the Green Deal: What are the potential scenarios following the upcoming European elections? What strategic perspectives might emerge as the EU navigates these complex challenges?

These are the pivotal issues that set the stage for a recent event on the European Green Deal, co-organised by IDDRI, Sciences Po’s Centre for European Studies, and the European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition (hosted by the Paris School of International Affairs and School of Public Affairs), took place on April 24, 2024.

The event took place in two parts. First, Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission Executive VP for the European Green Deal, delivered a keynote speech as part of a “60-minutes with” session chaired by PSIA Dean Arancha Gonzalez.

Secondly, a distinguished panel discussion followed and addressed the theme: “Reinventing the deal – what political space for the ecological transition in the next European legislature?” The speakers on this panel included:

Barbara Pompili, Former Minister of Ecological Transition of France;
Marcin Korolec, Former Minister of Environment of Poland;
Cristina Peñasco, Economist for the Centre of Climate Change of the Banque de France, Member of Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), Associate Professor in Public Policy at the University of Cambridge;
Marc Ringel, Chairholder at the Sciences Po European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition;
Matthias Thiemann, Professor for European Public Policy at Centre for European Studies and Comparative Policies (CEE).
Moderated by Claire Lejeune, PhD candidate in environmental political theory at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Policies (CEE).
Closing remarks by Sébastien Treyer, Director General of Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales (IDDRI)

Keynote Speech by Maroš Šefčovič

In his address, Maroš Šefčovič underscored the critical and multifaceted efforts the EU has undertaken to advance the European Green Deal amidst a backdrop of significant challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the geopolitical repercussions of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Šefčovič elaborated on how these events have broadly impacted the European economy and society, emphasising their role in intensifying the urgency and complexity of achieving climate neutrality. He highlighted the Green Deal’s dual function as both an environmental initiative and a strategic lever for long-term economic growth and geopolitical strength.

Šefčovič pointed to significant achievements, such as the EU’s success in decoupling economic growth from emissions—evidenced by a substantial reduction in emissions alongside economic expansion—and the milestone of generating more electricity from renewable sources than from fossil fuels for the first time in May 2023. These accomplishments underscore the EU’s commitment to reducing dependency on external energy sources. However, Šefčovič also acknowledged growing public scepticism and the challenges of maintaining broad support for the Green Deal. He emphasised the need for a robust dialogue with citizens and sectors directly impacted by the transition, stressing the importance of continued focus on implementing agreed measures and enhancing competitiveness through a comprehensive industrial strategy that leaves no one behind.

Further elaborating on the strategy for enhancing competitiveness, Šefčovič emphasised the need for a reinforced industrial approach to ensure that the transition remains fair and inclusive:

A true single market for the European Green Deal is needed to foster an internal market for clean tech with competitive sustainability at its core,
Europe’s substantial political and economic weight should be exploited as much as possible, for example through jointly purchase strategic resources, and
The competitiveness of European businesses needs to be supported to ensure that industries remain in Europe. For example, by tackling soaring energy prices, accelerating the rollout of modern infrastructure, and facilitating the necessary funding for the green transition with easier access to it.

During his speech, Šefčovič also engaged with students from Sciences Po, answering their questions and encouraging them to stay active in shaping Europe’s future. He highlighted the importance of their participation in the upcoming European Parliament elections, underscoring the intergenerational responsibility to sustain the Green Deal as a blueprint for sustainable and equitable growth. In closing, he shared a quote from Jacques Delors, former President of the Commission and EU visionary: “How can we ever build Europe if young people do not see it as a collective project and a vision of their own future?”

Panel Discussion on “Reinventing the deal – what political space for the ecological transition in the next European legislature?”

The second half of the event delved into the complexities and significant potential of the European Green Deal in paving the way for a sustainable ecological transition across Europe. The discussion panel was composed of esteemed figures from both the political and academic spheres, who offered in-depth insights into the evolving landscape of European environmental policy in anticipation of changes in the upcoming European Parliamentary elections.

Highlights from the Speakers:

Barbara Pompili underscored the Green Deal as a pivotal European framework that is crucial for fostering collective environmental action as well as essential in order to implement policies at a national level. She discussed the Green Deal’s role in positioning the EU as a leader on the global stage for climate advocacy, particularly in light of lessons learned from France’s Yellow Vests (‘Gilets Jaunes’) movement. Pompili emphasised the importance of an inclusive approach that addresses social challenges, ensuring that the transition does not marginalise vulnerable communities.

Marcin Korolec praised the legislative achievements under the Green Deal but noted the EU’s waning competitive advantage in essential industries that are crucial for realising the Green Deal’s objectives. He proposed a reformed industrial policy that aligns more closely with environmental goals, suggesting that funds for industrial development be allocated based on the industrial contributions to GDP rather than traditional economic metrics.

Cristina Peñasco emphasised that the Green Deal represents a significant shift in the EU’s climate policy approach, moving beyond traditional regulatory methods to also include financial and fiscal incentives for R&D and infrastructure development. She highlighted the challenge of implementing these comprehensive policies at the national level, stressing the need for co-ordination among EU countries. She also expressed concerns about social impacts and the necessity for effective communication with the public to avoid scepticism and ensure broad engagement with the deal’s objectives.

Matthias Thiemann suggested the implementation of the Green Deal follows a European technocratic approach. He highlighted the risks of social backlash against economic mechanisms like carbon pricing that might disproportionately affect lower-income groups. Thiemann called for policies that are both fairer and more inclusive, to distribute the economic burdens and benefits of environmental regulations more equitably. He noted the need for more democratic debates to allow everyone’s voices to be heard, crucial for the long-term sustainability of the green transition.

Marc Ringel reflected on the Green Deal as a comprehensive and ambitious growth strategy that integrates various sectors such as mobility, buildings, and energy efficiency, acknowledging its economic foresight. He highlighted how the Green Deal adapted to serve as a transformation and stabilisation strategy during challenges as Covid-19 and geopolitical tensions, particularly emphasising its role in shaping investment decisions and stabilising European energy markets. However, he noted that the Green Deal needs to evolve further, incorporating more comprehensive strategies to mitigate the social and economic implications of the massive transformations inherent to the green transition. While the future of the Green Deal remains uncertain, Ringel suggested that it likely will evolve into an industrial policy but to ensure its long-term effectiveness, it requires balancing ecological sustainability with addressing economic and social demands.

Conclusions

The event encapsulated a comprehensive dialogue on the future of the European Green Deal, with all speakers collectively recognising it as a cornerstone for environmental and economic transformation within the European Union. From Maroš Šefčovič’s keynote to the panel discussion, the event highlighted the Green Deal’s dual nature as both an environmental safeguard and an economic catalyst. The discussions laid bare the complexities of implementing such a far-reaching agenda—balancing economic growth with emission reductions, ensuring energy independence, and fostering competitive sustainability within the EU.

The speakers moreover highlighted several critical challenges for the future:

The necessity for a just transition, implementing strategies that are robust, equitable, and sensitive to social disparities to avoid exacerbating existing inequalities.
The urgency of updating economic policies to sustain Europe’s competitive advantages in emerging green technologies and industries.
The critical importance of enhancing dialogue with citizens to ensure widespread support and understanding of the ecological transitions while democratising the decision-making process.

The critical challenges identified for the future included the necessity for a just transition that addresses social inequalities, the urgency of updating economic policies to sustain Europe’s competitive advantages in emerging green technologies, and the importance of enhancing citizen dialogue to ensure broad support and understanding of ecological transitions. The discussions concluded with a strong call to integrate more comprehensive social policies into the Green Deal framework. Such integration is pivotal not only to achieving environmental objectives but also to promoting social cohesion and economic inclusivity. As the Green Deal might eventually evolve or give way to another policy framework, maintaining this balance will be crucial for the enduring success and acceptance of environmental policies across diverse European societies.

For more information on this conference, please visit the event website.

Watch a replay of the event here: