I carefully read the European Commission's long-awaited proposal to make the EU’s climate policy more ambitious than before. This is a very important aspect of our actions in the context of the long-term pursuit of climate neutrality. I believe that, especially in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, this proposal, as well as its impact on Member States, requires an in-depth analysis said Minister Michał Kurtyka.

The Minister pointed out that the proposal presented by the EC lacked references to a specific roadmap and the required support for member states which face particularly difficult challenges on the road to climate neutrality, such as Poland. The document also does not contain any information on how the EU would achieve this objective and which specific tools, apart from Just Transition Mechanism, it would use. He also stressed that the effects of such actions on the economies and societies of European Union member states would be difficult to predict. In particular, he said he was worried about the fact that they could lead to increased energy poverty.

The European Commission's proposal to increase the emission reduction target by 2030 is particularly worrying in that it does not present any measures to achieve its objectives, the Minister added.

The Minister of Climate pointed out that due to the strategic nature of the debate on increasing the emission reduction target for 2030. Poland expects the decision to be taken at the highest level of the European Council (heads of state and government).