
“A failure of the Mercosur agreement would not only send a fatal signal in the current geopolitical situation and be damaging to our economy, which is facing difficult challenges, but contrary to widespread opinion, it would also harm climate protection,” explained the climate policy spokesperson for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats), Dr. Peter Liese, in view of tomorrow's vote in the EU Council of Ministers.
“International climate policy is at a crossroads. Donald Trump has not only left the Paris Agreement, but he is also actively fighting against climate protection behind the scenes. Unfortunately, he has succeeded in preventing an agreement on a climate protection instrument at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Read more: Failure of Mercosur could be very dangerous for international climate policy
On Tuesday, the European Commission presented its important proposal to abolish the ban on combustion engines. Dr. Peter Liese, climate policy spokesperson for the largest political group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats), welcomed the proposal: "It is very important that the Commission has now made this proposal. This tiresome issue must be resolved quickly. The decision to ban combustion engines was wrong. We can achieve climate protection without banning combustion engines. On the other hand, the problems the automotive industry are facing in Europe are only partly caused by the ban on combustion engines. The industry must stop blaming Brussels for its own mistakes and for market developments, for example in China. In the parliamentary process, I will advocate above all for the recognition of green steel to be possible before 2035. The industry needs clear market signals as soon as possible."
Read more: EU Commission publishes long-awaited proposal to lift the ban on the combustion engine
On Wednesday, the European Commission presented its long-awaited proposal for the revision of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). CBAM had already been freed from bureaucracy with the omnibus simplification package. Now, further urgently needed changes are being proposed.
The use of green steel should be recognized for car manufacturers for achieving their CO2 targets, thus giving them more flexibility. This is what four influential members of the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) are calling for. Environmental policy spokesperson Dr. Peter Liese, social policy spokesperson Dennis Radtke, industrial policy spokesperson Dr. Christian Ehler, and transport policy spokesperson Jens Gieseke write in a letter to Ursula von der Leyen that this promotes technology neutrality and life cycle thinking while providing incentives for the production of green steel in Europe.