Rightward Shift vs. EU Climate Policy

Will the 2024 EU Elections Serve the Future of Climate Policy?

doi: 10.32559/et.2024.2.7

Abstract

The summer of 2024 brought a number of twists and turns for the future of green policy; finally, there was no change in the President of the European Commission, which partly guarantees the continuity of the European Green Deal. But a paradigm shift from the previous political priorities has been done so far, such as putting economic growth and European competitiveness at the top of the agenda. At the same time, there was a major reshuffle in the European Parliament with the emergence of the Patriots for Europe; this group has a rather different approach to the policy.
This analysis examines the likely direction of EU climate policy over the next five years, in relation with the emergence of the Patriots for Europe as the third largest political force and the significant loss of the Greens, moreover, with the re-prioritisation of the new Commission after the 2024 European Parliament elections.

Keywords:

European Parliament European Commission climate change climate policy Patriots for Europe

References

ANO (s. a.): Program hnutí ANO do voleb do Evropského parlamentu. Online: https://www.anobudelip.cz/file/edee/2024/cesko-pro-tebe-vsecko.pdf

Chega (2024a): Assegurar a soberania energética. Online: https://partidochega.pt/index.php/2024legislativas_areas_programaeleitoral_soberaniaenergetica/

Chega (2024b): Equilíbrio na defesa do ambiente do bem-estar animal. Online: https://partidochega.pt/index.php/2024legislativas_areas_programaeleitoral_ambiente/

Climate Action Tracker (2024): EU’s Green Deal Improved Its Climate Performance: A 1.5°C Pathway Is Close. Climate Action Tracker, 21 May 2024. Online: https://climateactiontracker.org/blog/eus-green-deal-improved-its-climate-performance-a-15c-pathway-is-close/

Dansk Folkeparti (2024a): Energi. Online: https://danskfolkeparti.dk/holdninger/energi/

Dansk Folkeparti (2024b): Miljø. Online: https://danskfolkeparti.dk/holdninger/miljoe/

European Commission (2019): Press Remarks by President von der Leyen on the Occasion of the Adoption of the European Green Deal Communication. Brussels, 11 December 2019. Online: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_19_6749

European Commission (2023): Statement by President von der Leyen on the Green Deal Industrial Plan. Press Corner, 1 February 2023. Online: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_521

European Commission (2024a): Statement at the European Parliament Plenary by President Ursula von der Leyen, Candidate for a Second Mandate 2024–2029. Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, 18 July 2024. Online: https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/statement-european-parliament-plenary-president-ursula-von-der-leyen-candidate-second-mandate-2024-2024-07-18_en

European Commission (2024b): Europe’s 2040 Climate Target and Path to Climate Neutrality by 2050 Building a Sustainable, Just and Prosperous Society. Online: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN

European Commission (2024c): The Future of European Competitiveness. Part A. A Competitiveness Strategy for Europe. Online: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/97e481fd-2dc3-412d-be4c-f152a8232961_en?filename=The%20future%20of%20European%20competitiveness%20_%20A%20competitiveness%20strategy%20for%20Europe.pdf

European Commission (s. a.): European Climate Law. Online: https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/european-climate-law_en

European Parliament (2024a): European Results, Turnout by Year. Online: https://results.elections.europa.eu/en/turnout/

European Parliament (2024b): 2024 European Election Results. Online https://results.elections.europa.eu/en/

European Parliament (2024c): Rules of Procedure, 10th Parliamentary Term. Online: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/rules/rules20240716/Rules20240716_EN.pdf

European Parliament (2024d): Constitutive Session. Online: https://results.elections.europa.eu/en/

European Union (2020): Attitudes of Europeans towards the Environment. Eurobarometer, March 2020. Online: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2257

European Union (2024): Attitudes of Europeans towards the Environment. Eurobarometer, May 2024. Online: https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/3173

FELLA, Stefano (2024): France: Recent Political Developments and the 2024 National Assembly Elections. House of Commons, 21 October 2024, 37–38. Online: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-10112/CBP-10112.pdf

FIX, Liana – WINOGRAD, Sophia (2024): How Far-Right Election Gains Are Changing Europe. Council on Foreign Relations, 15 October 2024. Online: https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/how-far-right-election-gains-are-changing-europe

Foní Logikís (2024): Ενεργειακη Πολιτικη. Online: https://fonilogikis.gr/programmatikes-theseis/energeiaki-politiki/

Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (2024): Parteiprogramm der Freiheitlichen Partei Österreichs (FPÖ). Online: https://www.fpoe.at/fileadmin/user_upload/www.fpoe.at/dokumente/2015/2011_graz_parteiprogramm_web.pdf

GRIERA, Max (2024): What von der Leyen’s Campaign Tour Says about her Priorities. Euractiv, 18 May 2024. Online: https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/what-von-der-leyens-campaign-tour-says-about-her-priorities/

GRÜSS, Baptiste (2024): Climate Issues Lost Momentum in the 2024 EU Elections. Online: https://www.eolos.org/climate-issues-lost-momentum-in-the-2024-eu-elections/

Hungarian Conservative (2024): Orbán, Kickl, Babiš Announce New European Alliance in Vienna. Hungarian Conservative, 30 June 2024. Online: https://www.hungarianconservative.com/articles/current/orban-kickl-babis-announce-new-european-alliance-in-vienna/

Hungarian Presidency (2024): Programme of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the Second Half of 2024. Online: https://hungarian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/media/32nhoe0p/programme-and-priorities-of-the-hungarian-presidency.pdf

HUTCHINSON, Lorna (2019): ‘Europe’s Man on the Moon Moment’: Von der Leyen Unveils EU Green Deal. The Parliament Magazine, 11 December 2019. Online: https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/europes-man-on-the-moon-moment-von-der-leyen-unveils-eu-green-deal

IONTA, Nicoletta (2024): ‘New era’ in Austria as Far-Right Freedom Party (FPÖ) Wins General Elections. Euractiv, 30 September 2024. Online: https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/new-era-in-austria-as-far-right-freedom-party-fpo-wins-general-elections/

Latvija Pirmaja Vieta (2024): Latvija Pirmaja Vieta programma. Online: https://latvijapirmajavieta.lv/latvija-pirmaja-vieta-programma/

LEE, Konner (2022): Right Wing Populism in Spain: How the Vox Party Serves as an International Threat to Climate Change. Boston University, Democratic Erosion Consortium, 27 November 2022. Online: https://democratic-erosion.org/2022/11/27/right-wing-populism-in-spain-how-the-vox-party-serves-as-an-international-threat-to-climate-change/

Lega per Salvini Premier (2022): Programma di governo. Online: https://static.legaonline.it/files/Programma_Lega_2022.pdf

LEMPRIERE, Molly – GABBATISS, Josh – DUNNE, Daisy (2024): Q&A: European Commission Calls for 90% Cut in EU Emissions by 2040. Carbon Brief, 7 February 2024. Online: https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-european-commission-calls-for-90-cut-in-eu-emissions-by-2040/

MAURER, Manfred (2024): FPÖ findet Atomkraft besser als Nutzung der Sonnenenergie. Österreichisches Volksblatt, 24 May 2024. Online: https://volksblatt.at/chronik/regionales/fpoe-findet-atomkraft-besser-als-nutzung-der-sonnenenergie-1053183/

MORITZ, Ludwig (2024): Green Deal Fatigue? How the European Parliament Elections Could Affect EU Climate Policies. Atlantic Council, 26 June 2024. Online: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/how-the-european-parliament-elections-could-affect-eu-climate-policies/

MOUTINHO, Vera (2024): Far Right’s Rise in Portugal Could Threaten Ambitious Climate Action. The Guardian, 22 April 2024. Online: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/22/portugal-climate-action-economy-far-right-rise

MTI–AB–HF (2024): Szupervasárnap: 21 országban tartanak ma EP-választást, Magyarországon önkormányzatit is. Euronews, 9 June 2024. Online: https://hu.euronews.com/2024/06/09/megkezdodott-az-europai-parlamenti-es-az-onkormanyzat-valasztas-magyarorszagon-is

Pesticide Action Network Europe (2024): Black Day for Health and Biodiversity: EU Commission Withdraws Proposal for Pesticide Reduction. Pesticide Action Network Europe, 6 February 2024. Online: https://www.pan-europe.info/press-releases/2024/02/black-day-health-and-biodiversity-eu-commission-withdraws-proposal-pesticide

Přísaha a Motoristé (2024): Memorandum o koaliční spolupráci. Online: https://www.prisahamotoriste.cz/memorandum

PVV (2023): Verkiezingsprogramma 2023. Online: https://www.pvv.nl/verkiezingsprogramma.html

RAGONNAUD, Guillaume (2024): Deepening the Single Market in the Light of the Letta and Draghi Reports. European Parliamentary Research Service, October 2024. Online: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2024/762469/EPRS_BRI(2024)762469_EN.pdf

Rassemblement National (2024): La France revient, l’Europe revit! Online: https://rassemblementnational.fr/documents/202411-programme-europeennes.pdf

SCHMINKE, Tobias G. (2019): The Green Wave: A Tsunami or Just a Storm in a Teacup? Heinrich Böll Stiftung Brussels, 16 July 2019. Online: https://eu.boell.org/en/2019/07/16/green-wave-tsunami-or-just-storm-teacup

STANÍČEK, Branislav – PRZETACZNIK, Jakub – ALBALADEJO ROMÁN, Antonio (2023): Enlargement Policy: Reforms and Challenges Ahead. European Parliamentary Research Service, December 2023. Online: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2023/757575/EPRS_BRI(2023)757575_EN.pdf

Tagesschau (2024): ÖVP von Kanzler Nehammer erhält den Auftrag. Tagesschau, 22 October 2024. Online: https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/europa/oesterreich-regierungsbildung-104.html

TÓTH, Bettina (2024): Zöldpolitikai esélylatolgatás. Ludovika.hu, 24 July 2024. Online: https://www.ludovika.hu/blogok/ot-perc-europa-blog/2024/07/24/zoldpolitikai-eselylatolgatas/

VERHELST, Koen – HARTOG, Eva (2024): The Netherlands Has a New Government. Here Are 3 Things to Know. Politico, 2 July 2024. Online: https://www.politico.eu/article/netherlands-right-wing-government-dick-schoof-mark-rutte-party-for-freedom/

Vlaams Belang (2024): Verkiezingsprogramma 2024. Online: https://www.vlaamsbelang.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/Verkiezingsprogramma%20Lokaal%202024.pdf

WAX, Eddy (2024): Patriots for Europe Becomes EU Parliament’s 3rd-Largest Group, Picks Jordan Bardella as President. Politico, 08 July 2024. Online: https://www.politico.eu/article/patriots-for-europe-jordan-bardella-viktor-orban-marine-le-pen/

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.