Greens warn right-wing coalitions will ruin climate policies | June 6, 2023 |

The Greens seek to fight the rise of right-wing governments across the EU and a conservative majority in the EU parliament by facilitating a credible alternative, but it will be a tricky mission.

The Greens' "main political risk at the national level and European level" is the rise of right-wing coalitions in member states' governments and in the EU Parliament, which would be a "total disaster", European Green Party Co-chair Mélanie Vogel told EURACTIV in a party congress in Vienna on 3-4 June.

"This is the risk in Spain and that this model that you see in Italy, in Sweden, to be seen in Finland, in a way you can also say in France", Vogel added.

If this model were replicated in more member states, Vogel affirms, "all progressive laws on climate policies and social justice, but also on the democratic structure of the EU, would be endangered".

At the time, Hoekstra's calls for an investigation into the budgetary difficulties faced by southern European countries to cope with the economic fallout prompted an angry reaction from Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa and others. 

'Sapere aude'

S&Ds confirm claim to climate portfolio as Dutch government set to nominate controversial Commissioner candidate

Reacting to news reports that the outgoing Dutch government of Mark Rutte will today nominate foreign minister Wopke Hoekstra as its candidate to be the country's next European Commissioner, the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament state:

"As First Vice-President of the Commission - and responsible for the Green Deal - Frans Timmermans took on an inspiring, herculean and pivotal role to translate Europe's climate ambitions into policies protecting people and the planet. We hope Europe's loss will be the Netherlands' gain.

Despite Frans Timmermans' departure, we will continue working to ensure that Europe transforms into a climate-neutral continent through a fair transition, leaving no one behind.

"Against the backdrop of the conservative EPP's recent cynical and populist manoeuvres to water-down the Green Deal and derail key legislative files such as the nature restauration law, it is crucial for our Group that the climate portfolio remains in the hands of the Socialists and Democrats family.