Flemish environment minister doubts Europe will impose fines for missing climate targets

Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir has expressed scepticism about whether Europe will go as far as fining member states that fail to meet their climate targets. She said so in an interview with Radio 1 on Friday after Belgium missed the deadline to submit an updated energy and climate plan to the European Commission for the second time.

European member states must submit revised versions of their energy and climate plans for 2021-2030, outlining their strategies for reducing CO2 emissions. Europe is aiming for a 55 per cent reduction in emissions, while Belgium is aiming for a 47 per cent reduction. It has long been known that Flanders is not willing to go beyond a 40 per cent reduction.

Belgium was granted an extension until the end of October, but a meeting of the relevant ministers' cabinets last week failed to resolve the issue. As a result, Belgium's energy and climate plan will not be submitted to Europe on time.

At the moment, only six member states are meeting the targets

Demir, meanwhile, is sceptical about whether Europe will go as far as fining member states that fail to meet their climate targets. "I want to see in 2030 whether Europe will impose these fines. At the moment, only six member states are meeting the targets."

It became clear before the summer that the EU might miss its target of cutting emissions by 55 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030. The European Court of Auditors (ECA) then published a report saying that member states' plans were vague and had a significant funding gap.

The EU only managed to meet its 2020 climate targets due to the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which caused a sharp drop in economic activity and related greenhouse gas emissions, the ECA said.

 

#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM


Related News

Website preview
Flemish Energy and Climate Plan inadequate, Advisory Council says
The Social and Economic Council of Flanders (SERV) is not enthusiastic about the region's Energy and Climate Plan. In its report to the Flemish government, the advisory and consultative body of employers' and employees' organisations says the plan is insufficiently substantiated and contains unrealistic targets.
www.belganewsagency.eu
Website preview
Court of Auditors fears insufficient control over use of EU Relief Fund
The European Commission has too little control over member states' spending of billions of euros from the European COVID-19 recovery fund, the European Court of Auditors denounced in a special report on Wednesday. Earlier this year, Belgium decided to delay applying for 850 million euros in recovery funds, in order first to achieve all 20 milestones put forward by the European Commission.
www.belganewsagency.eu

 

 

 

Get updates in your mailbox

By clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy.

About belganewsagency.eu

Belga News Agency delivers dependable, rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media. The information covers all sectors, from politics, economics and finance to social affairs, sports and culture, not to mention entertainment and lifestyle.

Every day, our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories, dozens of online information items, plus audio and video bulletins, all in both national languages. Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language.

For public institutions, businesses and various organisations that need reliable information, Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs.

Contact

Arduinkaai 29 1000 Brussels

www.belganewsagency.eu