Despite the ECR Group’s efforts to reject or suspend the Commission’s proposal for a binding 2040 climate target, the European Parliament’s Environment, Climate and Food Safety Committee today adopted the report, setting an EU-wide emissions-reduction goal of 90 per cent.

Anna Zalewska MEP, ECR Shadow Rapporteur for the file, warned that such an ambitious target risks undermining Europe’s industrial base and defence capabilities. She said:

“Europe’s path to climate neutrality must be guided by realism and responsibility.

“The 90 percent target is utterly detached from economic reality. Citizens and companies are already struggling — the situation has become unbearable. Additional burdens on households and businesses accelerate de-industrialisation and weaken Europe’s competitiveness at a time of mounting geopolitical pressure.

“This looks like a reckless gamble against reason — pretending that such a drastic reduction could be achieved with today’s technologies, despite Europe’s lag in many sectors, already high energy prices, and the ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine that requires stronger European defence.”

The ECR Group had proposed a joint compromise calling for the suspension of the 2040 target until the Commission fulfils key preconditions: ensuring affordable energy, reducing production costs, and adopting concrete measures to support European industry.

Following the ENVI vote, the ECR Group announced it will table amendments ahead of this week’s mini-plenary session to reject the 2040 target and to introduce safeguards in any future legislation. These amendments will oblige the Commission to take full account of Europe’s competitiveness, protect households from energy-price shocks, and prevent new fiscal burdens such as the ETS2 system.

“We remain committed to a realistic and pragmatic climate policy that protects Europe’s environment without sacrificing its economy or people’s livelihoods,” Zalewska concluded.

The vote in the ENVI Committee ended with 55 votes in favour, 32 against and 0 abstentions.