European Commission Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, claims the Christian Democrats ‘ran away’ from an agreement on environmental legislation, accusing them of wanting to “work together with the far-Right”.
Referring to the proposed new laws, he said: “The only thing I cannot work with is people who just walk away, as the Christian Democrats have done.”
His remarks in the Belgian newspaper, De Standaard, came amid debates raging across Europe about a new ‘green deal’ and a nature restoration law, with luminaries including French President, Emmanuel Macron, and Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Cro – plus, it appears, half the European People’s Party (EPP) – calling for a pause regarding green legislation. A defiant Timmermans, however, is having none of it.
Despite his protestations, June 14 saw what may prove a blow for Timmermans; the Dutch Parliament approved a motion that also wants to delay progress of the disputed nature conservation laws. It claims the legislation is moving ahead too quickly and that there are too many unanswered questions surrounding it, such as its impact on the economy and home-building.
Without clarity on that, the Netherlands would vote against the law following negotiations with the European Parliament, in what would be seen by many as an affront to Dutchman Timmermans.
Prior to the Parliament motion, the Commissioner told De Standaard that he “understands that when society is under tremendous pressure, after a pandemic, with a war on the doorstep, the feeling is: it’s all too much”.
“But at the same time,” he added, “I am obliged to rely on science. And it clearly shows that we simply do not have the luxury of that pause button.”
Timmermans said nature can’t tolerate prolonged delay and that discussion over any such laws should be concurrent given biodiversity and healthy forests are necessary for the earth to effectively capture carbon.
In the meantime, arguments over the issue seem to be heating up faster than the planet, with centre-Right EPP MEPs accusing Timmermans of having “threatened” and “blackmailed” them.
He also said he saw a turning point in European politics. “In the past year, the EPP has decided to govern directly or with the toleration of far-Right parties in three member states – Sweden, Finland, and Italy. In a fourth country, Spain, it could also head in that direction.
“I did not expect them to overlook the objections to collaborating with the radical Right on such a large scale. If this continues, it would be a watershed moment in European politics,” he said.
Timmermans conceded there are judicial issues that make things complicated for green legislation implementation but lays blame for that situation on national governments that have created unsuitable laws.
“At the same time, I say: if we can alleviate those fears by being more precise, by emphasising that we take into account densely populated areas, we are happy to do so,” he said.
Regarding EC President, Ursula von der Leyen, who is treading carefully over the proposed green legislation, Timmermans said: “I think she has been clear that nature conservation is very important to her,” adding: “This is still a proposal we all support, including President Von der Leyen.”
In the eyes of many observers, time will tell.
