The upcoming European elections could determine the fate of the EU’s Green Deal, as right-wing parties pose a significant threat to its survival. Green MEPs have expressed deep concern, warning that a shift to the right in June could lead to a watering down or even a complete reversal of plans to safeguard nature and mitigate climate change.
Philippe Lamberts, co-president of the Greens/European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament, has denounced the hypocrisy of politicians who claim to support climate action but undermine it in practice. He has criticized centrist leaders for pandering to the right in an attempt to secure their own electoral survival.
Lamberts has particularly criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for adopting rhetoric and policies that mirror those of the far right. This shift has contributed to the dilution or rollback of several environmental policies, including scrapped plans for new pesticide regulations and the blocking of the Nature Restoration Law by some member states.
Terry Reintke, the other co-president of the European Greens, has emphasized the marginal role that the Green Deal seems to play in the strategic agendas of EU member states. She has highlighted its crucial importance for Europe’s future competitiveness, citing the example of electric cars and renewable energy technologies.
Reintke has also stressed the security implications of abandoning the Green Deal, arguing that it makes the EU more vulnerable to autocrats like Vladimir Putin. The European Greens are advocating for a massive expansion of renewable energy sources, which they believe are essential for freedom and security.
Both Lamberts and Reintke have urged voters to support candidates who prioritize strong environmental protections. They believe that the future of the Green Deal and the well-being of Europe depend on the preservation of progressive majorities in the upcoming elections.
