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The controversial Taxonomy is on the ropes – now it’s time to deliver the knockout blow
(EurActiv, 30 Jun 2022) The European Parliament must stop the proposal to include gas and nuclear power in the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy, especially after the war in Ukraine and the need to phase out Russian gas, writes a group of MEPs.
This oped is cosigned by signed by five Members of the European Parliament affiliated with five different political groups: Christophe Hansen (European People’s Party), Paul Tang (Socialists and Democrats), Linea Søgaard-Lidell (Renew Europe), Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA) and Silvia Modig (The Left).
Next week, Parliament faces a critical vote that goes to the heart of some of the EU’s most significant challenges – climate change, energy security policy and the EU’s investment strategy.
As members of five main political groups in the European Parliament, we have been immersed in this key vote that determines which energy sources should be deemed sustainable.
We believe that the proposed classifications of gas and nuclear in the green Taxonomy is a strategic mistake and an affront to inclusive and democratic lawmaking.
The EU treaties forbid Commission members to seek or take instructions from any government. Yet the Commission ignored public feedback, failed to consult Parliament and blindly followed a purely political deal between nuclear-minded France and gas-guzzling Germany.
This decision risks turning the EU from a climate front-runner into a climate-laggard, as even China and Russia do not include gas in their national taxonomies.
EurActiv, 30 Jun 2022: The controversial Taxonomy is on the ropes – now it’s time to deliver the knockout blow
