The N-VA does not support the European Climate Law

The European N-VA group will not approve the European Climate Law that is before us today. “A commitment is being made without knowing the impact on the Member States and the federal states,” MEP Johan Van Overtveldt says. “It is good that the EU is leading the way for a sustainable and innovative energy transition. But we want a climate policy that focuses on prosperity and Competitiveness The extent to which companies in one country can compete with similar companies in another country. A law came into force in Belgium in 1996 to monitor competitiveness. This stipulates that Belgian salaries may not evolve faster than the average of those in the three neighbouring countries. The Central Economic Council (CEC) performs an annual measurement to see if the objectives have been obtained. competitiveness . We need to know the socio-economic effects of the objectives that are now before us. We have been pointing this out for over a year now.”

Some Member States are now realising this and are requesting such an impact assessment on a country-by-country basis. Although, according to Johan Van Overtveldt, it is still bizarre that this question is being asked after an agreement was reached on tightening the 2030 target (a reduction in CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030). “How are we going to distribute those efforts in a cost-effective way? And what about the social impact? Our plea for a feasible and affordable climate policy still stands,” says Johan Van Overtveldt, who also points to the paradoxical attitude of the Vivaldi government: “The climate ambitions of the federal coalition agreement are sky-high. At the same time, this federal government is ruling out carbon-free nuclear power, with dire consequences for both the economy and the taxpayer.”