Prague (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Czech MEP Alexandr Vondra criticised the EU’s Green Deal, asking for pragmatic climate policies rather than radical measures damaging European industry.
Czech MEP Alexandr Vondra has stated that the EU’s climate policy should focus on gradual evolution rather than radical revolution. In an interview, Vondra attacked the EU’s Green Deal for undermining European industry while failing to effectively address global climate challenges.
Why does Vondra oppose the EU’s Green Deal policies?
MEP voiced his concerns that the environmental radicals have dominated the EU institutions for the past five years. He termed their Green Deal policies as restrictive and harmful to European competitiveness.
“The EU accounts for just 7% of global CO2 emissions, yet we are adopting measures that weaken our industry without achieving meaningful global impact,”
Vondra stated.
Vondra pointed to China, India, and the United States, which continue to increase emissions while Europe enforces stringent decarbonisation goals.
“We are losing industry and ceding our competitive edge to Asia and the U.S.,”
He said,
warning against policies that compromise economic strength without addressing climate change.
How does Vondra propose balancing climate goals with industry?
Vondra suggested a more market-oriented and flexible approach. He criticised the forced transition to 100% electric vehicle production by 2035. He termed it “unsustainable nonsense” and argued that it favours China’s dominance in battery production and raw material access.
On energy, Vondra argued for the increased use of nuclear power, especially in regions such as Central Europe, where solar and wind energy have limited potential. He condemned the uneven energy policies of the EU, which favour wind and solar projects in Western Europe while neglecting support for nuclear initiatives in countries like the Czech Republic.
In addition, he told the EU to be prepared for all sorts of scenarios, including withdrawal by the U.S. from the Paris Agreement or new policies coming into play due to the advent of a new American administration. “The EU needs a Plan B to avoid isolation on the global stage,” he declared. Notwithstanding minor positive changes in the European Parliament’s political force distribution post-elections, Vondra remained stern against the unwillingness of the European Commission. “Only with greater pressure from member states can there be genuine change,” he concluded.
