What is the European Green Deal?
We are approaching the political project that aims to lead Europe towards energy neutrality by mid-century
The European Green Deal is an initiative of the Von der Leyen administration to lead the EU to carbon neutrality by mid-century. But what does it all mean? Let’s break down each of these concepts to understand what the EGD is, how it affects us and what its objectives are, beyond the bureaucratic language.
First, let’s start with the political framework. The European Union divides its administration into several institutions in charge of different areas (the Parliament, the Council, the High Court of Justice, the European Central Bank, etc). One of them is the European Commission, which is, simply put, the acting government of the Union, in charge of proposing and drafting laws, and taking executive decisions. It is constituted every five years, six months after the elections to the European Parliament, which is the body in charge of approving the President proposed by the European Council (another of the EU institutions).
The Von der Leyen Commission is what we call the cabinet of the European Commission chaired by Ursula Von der Leyen, member of the European People’s Party, between November 2019 and November 2024.
What is the European Green Pact?
It is a strategy comprised of objectives with a common path. In other words, a plan. It is broad, complex and multifactorial, as are the causes and consequences of the climate crisis. Within this plan, therefore, there is a subplot of legislative packages that attack the different areas of the European Green Deal. These include the following:
- Climate and Energy (Fit for 55)
- Industry (European Industrial Strategy)
- Biodiversity and Ecosystems (Biodiversity Strategy 2030)
- Agriculture (Farm to Fork Initiative)
- Transport and mobility (Euro 7 regulation for the decarbonization of the sector)
- Finance and development (Just Transition Facility)
- Help companies become leaders in clean products and technologies
Its goals are to make the European Union a livable space for the future, not only for people but also for nature, without leaving behind Member States that still depend on fossil fuels. As explained by the European Council, the objectives of the European Green Deal are:
- Achieve Climate Neutrality by 2050
- Ensure a fair and balanced ecological transition
- Protecting human life, restoring biodiversity and reducing pollution
- Move towards a clean and circular economy
Help companies become leaders in clean products and technologies
We are called upon by all the points, but in the last one we feel directly represented. At todobarro we have always defended a business model that long preceded this European Union initiative, and seeing ourselves reflected in such a massive package of measures is encouraging.
As it is such a broad umbrella with such ambitious terms, it is difficult to break down the European Green Deal. Nor is it a seamless plan: like everything else in climate matters, it has its detractors, and its shortcomings. But, as of today, it is the framework we have to lay the foundations for a livable future in the European Union.
