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Ursula von der Leyen has distanced herself from a statement made by the leaders of her own political group that called for a “moratorium” on further green regulation due to the strains on European industry caused by inflation and the war in Ukraine.
The European Commission president did not sign the joint statement from top politicians in the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), and her spokesperson clarified that she remains committed to the bloc’s environmental agenda.
The statement was issued following a gathering of EPP leaders, which von der Leyen attended in Brussels on Thursday. It called for the European Green Deal to prioritize citizens and consider the new economic and social realities following Russia’s attack on the global world order.
“We are advocating for a regulatory pause,” the statement said.
The EPP also stated its opposition to proposals on the use of pesticides and a law to restore degraded ecosystems, which are important components of the EU’s Green Deal climate law introduced by von der Leyen in 2019.
The EPP claimed that all leaders present at the summit approved the statement. However, von der Leyen’s spokesperson clarified that she did not endorse it, emphasizing that as president of the commission, she does not approve documents or statements issued by any political party.
The commission expressed its support for member states and the European Parliament in resolving the disputes over nature restoration and pesticides regulations.
This disagreement arises at a crucial time for von der Leyen, as she is considered the frontrunner for the next commission president in the upcoming elections. However, she faces opposition within her own party regarding certain aspects of her Green Deal.
The EPP’s call for a “regulatory moratorium” follows similar statements made by French president Emmanuel Macron and Belgian prime minister Alexander de Croo earlier this year.
There is growing discontent regarding the implications of the climate agenda as it becomes a reality for businesses and consumers.
The EPP, positioning itself as the party of farmers, argues that rules for land set-aside for biodiversity will impact food security and farmers’ livelihoods. However, this viewpoint is contested by campaigners, businesses, and the commission.
Frans Timmermans, the EU’s Green Deal commissioner, expressed that von der Leyen has been “very supportive” of the commission’s efforts to pass the nature restoration law through the parliament. However, the law was rejected by three parliamentary committees and will be returned to the commission if it does not pass in a vote by the entire parliament in July.
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