Dispatch from the European Union | February '25
*** Our weekly Dispatches provide an overview of the most relevant recent and upcoming developments for the shift to climate neutrality in selected European countries, from policy and diplomacy to society and industry. For a bird's-eye view of the country's climate-friendly transition, read the respective 'Guide to'. ***
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
Stories to watch in the weeks ahead
- Agriculture – Agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen will present the European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food on 19 February. It can be seen as a blueprint that lays the groundwork for the direction of the EU’s agricultural and food policy over the next five years and beyond, explains Brussels-based agri journalist Natasha Foote in CLEW’s “Q&A: What will be on the menu for the EU’s Vision for Agriculture and Food?”
- Clean Industrial Deal – Announced by re-elected European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in her speech to the European Parliament on 27 November 2024, the Clean Industrial Deal is set to support the implementation of the Green Deal leading to a net-zero industry in the EU. Two of the Commission's executive vice-presidents, Teresa Ribera of Spain and Stéphane Séjourné of France, share the responsibility of drafting it. For an in-depth look at the Clean Industrial Deal, check out CLEW’s explainer here.
- Energy – The European Commission will present on 26 February its "Affordable Energy Action Plan." It aims to identify key areas for intervention to ensure access to clean and affordable energy, helping to mitigate high and volatile energy prices across the EU.
- Corporate sustainability – The first omnibus package is set to be unveiled on 26 February and will focus on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the EU taxonomy — three key regulatory frameworks related to corporate environmental responsibility.
- CBAM – A review of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is also expected to be presented on the same day. In an interview with the Financial Times, climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra outlined the European Commission’s plan to exempt about 80 percent of European companies from obligations under the CBAM, which introduces a "carbon tax" at borders for imported goods in the EU. “Less than 20 percent of the companies in the scope are responsible for more than 95 percent of the emissions in the products,” he explained.
- EU 2040 target – The official announcement of Europe's 2040 climate target is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. The European Union is among the many signatories of the Paris Agreement that missed the 10 February deadline for submitting its updated climate plan (Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDC) with revised targets for 2035.
- Car Industry – Five weeks after president Ursula von der Leyen launched the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry, transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas is set to present an action plan for the sector on 5 March (see below for further details).
The latest in EU policymaking – last month in recap
The latest in EU policymaking – last month in recap
- Competitiveness Compass – On 29 January, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen introduced the "Competitiveness Compass," an initiative designed to revive the struggling European economy. This strategy, based on the landmark Draghi Report on European competitiveness drafted by Italy’s former prime minister and European Investment Bank (EIB) chief Mario Draghi, highlights three key areas for action: innovation, decarbonisation and security. Regarding decarbonisation, the report identifies high and volatile energy prices as a major challenge and outlines steps to improve access to clean, affordable energy—forming the core of the "Affordable Energy Action Plan" (see above). During her presentation in Brussels, von der Leyen emphasised that reducing bureaucratic red tape is also a top priority. She said that the omnibus bill on financial reporting would be followed by additional legislative packages, focusing on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Climate Law.
- Car industry – Following the first round of consultations under the "Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry," further discussions have taken place and lead up to the European Commission’s presentation of an action plan on 5 March (see above). The Strategic Dialogue, modelled after the initiative for the agricultural sector, was announced by president von der Leyen in November 2024 and officially launched on 30 January. It aims to address the concerns of the automotive industry, particularly regarding increasing competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers and the potential for a trade conflict with the United States.
- Green claims – The first round of trilogue negotiations on the Environmental Claims Directive took place on 28 January. Initially presented by the European Commission in March 2023, the directive seeks to protect consumers from misleading environmental claims. The first meeting focused on establishing a technical roadmap to guide future discussions, with the next political trilogue scheduled for 24 April. According to European lawmaker Delara Burkhardt (S&D), the main points of contention in the negotiations involve the verification of environmental claims and climate neutrality statements.
Claire’s picks: highlights from upcoming events and top reads
Claire’s picks: highlights from upcoming events and top reads
- Media outlet Politico conducted a fact-checking investigation following accusations from the conservative European People’s Party (EPP) in the European Parliament. The EPP alleged that the European Commission used its LIFE programme to fund environmental NGOs in an attempt to sway legislative decisions in favour of the Green Deal. However, Politico found no evidence to suggest that NGO funding was explicitly conditioned on supporting the Green Deal.
- In an interview with the French press agency AEF Info, Pascal Canfin, a French member of the European Parliament and sustainable finance expert from the centrist Renew group, expressed concerns about the ongoing discussions regarding the reform package on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD) set to be presented on 26 February. He warned of the risks of deregulation, stating, "Once you've opened Pandora’s box, you risk entering a situation where every aspect of the Green Deal is questioned. Behind the term ‘simplification’ often lies deregulation and the potential rollback of environmental objectives."
- For those unfamiliar with Brussels jargon and the complexities of EU policymaking, the podcast How Green is Your Deal? provides accessible insights. Researcher Jana Gheuens explains key EU climate policies, including the Clean Industrial Deal, deforestation regulations, climate justice, marine governance and carbon pricing.
All texts created by the Clean Energy Wire are available under a
“Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0)”
.
They can be copied, shared and made publicly accessible by users so long as they give appropriate credit, provide a
link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
