On February 26, the European Commission introduced a comprehensive legislative package featuring a Clean Industrial Deal. While this package does not abandon the Green Deal, it compromises its holistic approach by using competitiveness as justification for making unacceptable concessions to polluters, according to the European Environmental Bureau (EEB).
The tone of the EU Commission has shifted. Six years ago, President Ursula von der Leyen referred to the European Green Deal as a “man on the moon” moment for all Europeans. Currently, the focus seems to prioritize energy-intensive industries and large corporations. Industrial policy should serve the public interest rather than solely the demands of industry.
According to the Break Free from Plastic movement, the Clean Industrial Deal contains significant gaps. The deal aims to enhance energy efficiency in industries, support the circular economy, and ensure that industry decarbonizes to remain competitive. However, it neglects plastic production.
For genuine industrial transformation, the EU must reduce plastic production, invest in reuse and refill initiatives, and phase out toxic chemicals in plastics.
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