Fit for 55: A stepping stone or a stumbling block?

(EurActiv, 24 Feb 2022) The path towards the digital and green transitions must be carefully charted and all legislation proposals within the Fit for 55 framework undergo a thorough competitiveness check to retain public and business support, argues Stefano Mallia.

Stefano Mallia is President of the Employers’ Group in the European Economic and Social Committee

There is no doubt that the biggest challenge ahead of us is the challenge of climate change and addressing it will have huge financial, social and environmental implications. The margin for errors and delays have become extremely small and whatever steps we take in this direction, they must be undertaken in a correct and timely manner.

The revised 2030 climate targets, as proposed in the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package, will unevenly impact companies and people across Europe. This is why we need to make sure that the package is an important stepping stone rather than a stumbling block towards a net-zero European economy by 2050.

For that to happen, the European Commission must undertake a granular mapping of the impacts of the digital and green transitions whilst all legislative proposals within the Fit for 55 framework must undergo a thorough competitiveness check. This will help ensure that every step we take is a sustainable one and allows us to continue on a much needed growth path.

The rapid shift towards a decarbonised economy will entail massive challenges for citizens, workers, companies and regions, particularly those that are the most reliant on carbon-intensive sectors and industries. If those are not sufficiently addressed, this could result in increased inequalities and lead to massive restructuring processes, unemployment and deindustrialisation of territories. Not least, this could create a lack of social acceptance and political backlash from EU citizens against the European Green Deal agenda.

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EurActiv, 24 Feb 2022: Fit for 55: A stepping stone or a stumbling block?