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A very recent study carried out by the ECR Party and entitled “Balancing Ambition and Reality. A Sober Examination of Challenges in the EU’s Green Transition” aims to bring the debate back within a realistic and objective path, based on facts and the political, economic and industrial reality of the European Union. What is perhaps lacking at this juncture is precisely the “sobriety” of the analysis stated in the study’s subtitle. In a context where the aim is to stigmatise without examining all the elements of a phenomenon, it is useful to stop and reflect on the data and expectations of the member states, before entrenching oneself behind stances and principles that do not necessarily represent the interest of the citizens of the European Union. The study, therefore, aims to assess the EU Green Deal (as well as the green transition in a broader sense) by trying to focus on the balance to be struck between the ambition of the goals set and the practicality of what the document calls for.
THE EUROPEAN GREEN DEAL
Following the provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament in April 2021, the Council approved the deal in May 2021. The Green Deal points the finger at climate change and environmental degradation that pose a very serious threat to the European and global ecosystem. The idea behind the document is to transform the countries of the Union into a modern, competitive and efficient economy, especially in the field of resources and raw materials. In particular – as it has perhaps become the mantra and hallmark of the European Green Deal – it aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030, taking into account the 1990 baseline levels. In addition, the aim is to turn Europe into the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 according to the principle of climate neutrality, also through the planting of three billion trees among all member states. To do this, the European Commission has put forward a whole series of proposals to transform the European economy and common policies on energy, transport and climate. The principle that economic growth should be decoupled from the use of resources is also laid down, and attention should be paid to all areas of the Union, without neglecting those that are more marginal and poorer in terms of industry or resources. As far as funding is concerned, one cannot fail to mention that around one third of the EUR 1.8 trillion investment of the NextGenerationEU recovery plan, together with the seven-year EU budget, will finance the European Green Deal.
THE DEFENCE OF NATURE DOES NOT GO THROUGH ECO-FOLLIES
Ecology is unquestionably a pillar of conservative thinking, in Italy and in Europe. Talking without detailed analysis and without knowledge about green houses, electric cars and industrial reconversion is nothing but a blatant symptom of the unbridled ideological drift imposed by the left. For us, the concept of biodiversity, as well as the importance of contact between man and nature, are values and part of the heritage that we intend to protect, care for and pass on to future generations. This is why this phenomenon and all its aspects cannot be underestimated. The achievement of such important climate objectives must therefore, first of all, be sustainable, considering the term “sustainability” here in its broadest sense that encompasses environmental, economic and even social aspects. We cannot be guided down this winding road by ideological approaches without any basis for analysis, by targets that appear unattainable, and by totally disproportionate burdens on citizens and businesses. From Serge Latouche’s “happy degrowth” we are rapidly moving towards an “unhappy degrowth” of the Green Deal written by the European left. The aim of the conservative world must necessarily be to bring the debate back to reality and analysis. Steady points from which to start again in order to try to change the rules, creating conditions that really safeguard our environment, making our economy sustainable but also competitive on the international scene.
HOW TO GET ON THE RIGHT PATH?
The path that can lead EU member states towards true and sustainable green policies does not look easy. The debate, as mentioned earlier, is undermined and almost monopolised by ideological stances that the European Left has wanted to incardinate in recent years in rules, regulations and objectives that are anything but feasible. On the contrary, in order to keep one’s feet on the ground, one should have kept in mind the simple principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, which are already amply provided for in the founding treaties of the European Union. Applying these two principles to environmental reasoning and policies would have put the member states back at the centre of the debate. In this way, it would have been the national governments that would have outlined and decided on the best strategies (for their own economy and society) to achieve climate goals. Industrial objectives and the specificities of different contexts cannot be left out as has been done by sacrificing them to ideology. As the study published by the ECR Party aims to do, economic and regional disparities in the implementation of the Green Deal must be highlighted. This means accepting and identifying the need for targeted support for economically vulnerable regions that cannot be left behind for goals that are impossible for them to achieve. At the same time, EU funding strategies that aim to identify some kind of annual investment gap along with more innovative solutions to close this gap must be evaluated. The approach here needs to be more balanced, truly aligning climate targets with the economic realities of member states: only then can one speak of a fair and inclusive approach, as well as a just transition for all EU member states.
TRANSPORT, INVESTMENT AND SAFETY
Decarbonisation (an objective also included in the European Green Deal) is certainly a goal to be pursued, starting with different ways of transport and investing above all in sustainable urban mobility. In this way, changing the face of mobility in cities can really make a difference on the road to reach climate targets. At the same time, however, action must also be taken from a macroeconomic point of view, for example by deciding to decouple all investments made by member states in green policies from the calculation of the deficit/GDP ratio. This is not intended to distort or ‘inflate’ the performance of national economies, but rather to give more weight (in economic terms) to the green initiatives decided autonomously by the states. Also, from an economic point of view, it must be possible to draw from the European budget by using funds for the redevelopment and securing of degraded or environmentally endangered territories. This is the only real environmental disaster prevention policy that has any use. On the other hand, initiatives such as those related to the so-called “green houses” must absolutely be reviewed: in this case, protection must be aimed to the interests of European citizens who own property. The energy efficiency of our building stock can and must be implemented, but in a gradual and sustainable way, including through the provision of incentives and support from the European Union.
INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY, GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENT
Unbridled green ideology, without brakes and adherence to reality, must not slow down the growth of industrial sectors of a strategic nature. One only has to think of the absolute importance that the defence-related industrial sector has assumed in recent years. We therefore need common tools at European level that secure these kinds of industrial priorities of a strategic nature so as not to harm the interests of the European Union. Among these, we cannot forget the automotive sector, for which it is essential to achieve the cancellation of the ban on the production of endothermic engine cars from 2035. The re-launch of the automotive sector must pass through the principle of technological neutrality, not by distorting the interests of national economies, but rather by investing in all alternative fuels – not just electric cars – developing the biofuel chain and thus protecting all the companies linked to this sector.