MEPs fear ‘green-washing’ in EU recovery plans

(EurActiv, 3 Jun 2021) The Greens group in European Parliament on Wednesday (2 June) warned that national spending plans by EU member states were falling short of commitments to help reverse climate change that is at heart of the bloc’s massive recovery fund.

The leaders of the political group said scrutiny of the national proposals had raised “serious doubts” over the compliance with the recovery plan’s climate friendly objectives.

Agreed a year ago, the EU’s €750 billion ($915 billion) recovery fund is legislated to fulfill the bloc’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with 37% of the plan’s spending earmarked to help meet that goal.

“Letting it become just another greenwashing exercise will gravely harm the very credibility of the EU Green Deal,” said Belgian MEP Philippe Lambert, co-leader of the Greens group.

In a letter to EU commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and other EU officials, senior MEPs deplored that “not enough is being done to ensure that national plans adhere to the letter – and the spirit – of the law.”

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EurActiv, 3 Jun 2021: MEPs fear ‘green-washing’ in EU recovery plans

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