On Tuesday 4 April the European Parliament will adopt its resolution on the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020. Members of the European Parliament must take this opportunity to ensure that the current EU budget serves higher climate and energy ambitions and complies with the Paris agreement.
It is high time that the EU and its Member States shift financial flows away from fossil fuels to renewables and energy efficiency, as required in the Paris Agreement. The EU is obliged to bring its expenditures and investments in line with the target to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C.
On September 14 last year, the European Commission presented its proposal for the mid-term revision of the current seven-year EU budget, endorsed by the Council on 7 March. It is now for the European Parliament to agree on the European Commission’s budget revision proposals.
The Commission’s revision acknowledges that there is a worrying risk the EU will not reach the 20% climate action target. Unfortunately, it does not propose any concrete steps to address this shortfall and achieve the goal that it set in 2013.
Ahead of the European Parliament’s vote, Markus Trilling, policy coordinator on finance and subsidies at CAN Europe sounds the alarm:
“Tomorrow the European Parliament must ensure that the EU budget which was approved three years before the adoption of the Paris Agreement aligns itself towards achieving the long-term targets of the Paris climate Agreement.”
“Contrary to the European Commission revision proposal, the European Parliament’s position should take measures not only to meet, but to increase the climate earmarking. It should also push for the implementation of a framework for climate proofing and for the phase out of any support to fossil fuels.”
Making the European Union budget more climate friendly than it currently is would be a ray of hope for the future of Europe, its citizens and a much needed example for the world. Others may roll back, but the EU must forge ahead.
ENDS
Contacts:
Markus Trilling, CAN Europe policy coordinator on finance and subsidies, markus@caneurope.org, +32 2894 4688
Nicolas Derobert, CAN Europe communications coordinator, nicolas@caneurope.org, +32 2894 4673
Notes:
Read our blog article (23/03/17) “Council and Court of auditors now on the same page: at least 20% of EU budget must feed climate action”: https://caneurope.org/publications/blogs/1347-council-and-court-of-auditors-now-on-the-same-page-at-least-20-of-eu-budget-must-feed-climate-action
Read our “Connecting the dots: the EU’s funding for fossil fuels” briefing: https://caneurope.org/docman/fossil-fuel-subsidies-1/2933-briefing-connecting-the-dots-the-eu-s-funding-for-fossil-fuels/file
Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s largest coalition working on climate and energy issues. With over 130 member organisations in more than 30 European countries – representing over 44 million citizens – CAN Europe works to prevent dangerous climate change and promote sustainable climate and energy policy in Europe.
