The debate over how to fight climate change continued well into the early hours of this Friday morning, as the 27 EU members disagreed over declaring a binding target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels.
The fight is over how the cost of the effort should be shared across the countries: highly dependent on coal, Poland -- allied with several Eastern European countries -- fears serious economic consequences and wants details on the aid it would receive.
As part of its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement, the EU has pledged to become climate-neutral by 2050, the date when it would offset or capture more greenhouse gas than it emits.
However, the current interim target for 2030 -- a 40 % reduction in CO² emissions compared to 1990 -- is not now seen as sufficient to achieve this goal.
To reach our climate targets, transport emissions must get on a clear downward trend.
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) December 9, 2020
Today, we present our Sustainable and Smart #MobilityStrategy for a greener, smarter and more affordable mobility for all. #EUGreenDeal
Green New Deal
The new climate goals are backed by big EU powers, including France and Germany, as well as many major businesses keen to access European funding to kickstart a recovery through what Brussels has taken to calling a green new deal.
The marathon row over climate targets began after the resolution of another fight, also involving Warsaw, that might have spurred optimism.
The leaders resolved a bitter dispute with Poland and Hungary and salvaged the bloc's landmark coronavirus recovery plan that the countries had vetoed.
Europe's €1.8-trillion budget and coronavirus recovery package had been blocked by Hungary and Poland over an attempt to link the disbursement of funds to respect for the rule of law.
The stand-off risked delaying the recovery fund well into next year, just as a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic was punishing the European economy, but on Thursday the leaders came to a compromise that allowed the package to go through.
Brexit pushed aside
And his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki said: "We fight for our rights. We fight for clarity, we fight for certainty of law, and we fight for the EU treaty so that they are not circumvented by the secondary law."
Under the deal, according to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the so-called rule of law mechanism would be limited to ensure that EU funds are spent correctly according to precise criteria and not touch on social issues such as abortion, LGBT rights or migration policy.
Budapest and Warsaw are major recipients of EU budget cash, and their critics see the rule of law mechanism as a way to slow their alleged slide into authoritarianism.
Both governments have been accused by Brussels of rolling back democratic freedoms, notably judicial independence in Poland and press and civil society freedoms in Hungary.
#NoDealBrexit looming? We have yet another deadline for Sunday!!! pic.twitter.com/qGBKSIannP
— Steve2021 (@Ym676) December 10, 2020
Both climate and the budget succeeded in pushing failing Brexit trade negotiations to the side. The leaders were not expected to discuss the talks at length during the two-day summit, but had been due to be briefed on them.
London and Brussels have said they will decide by Sunday whether to press on with talks aimed at thrashing out a post-Brexit trade deal, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen failed to bridge "major differences".
Turkey sanctions
The marathon summit also decided to draw up a list of Turkish targets for sanctions over its stand-off on energy resources with EU members Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Ankara has been challenging Athens over maritime territory in the region by repeatedly sending a gas exploration vessel into Greek waters.
France, Greece, and Cyprus are pushing for action against Turkey, but other EU nations including Germany, Italy and Poland oppose slapping broad sanctions or an embargo on a fellow NATO member.
"The council adopted sanctions in the face of Turkey's 'unilateral actions and provocations'," French minister for European affairs Clement Beaune tweeted.
#Turquie | Le Conseil européen a adopté des sanctions, face aux « actions unilatérales et provocations » de la Turquie.@JosepBorrellF : « L'idée est de serrer la vis progressivement » 🇪🇺 https://t.co/VukHK3rcLz
— Clement Beaune (@CBeaune) December 11, 2020
