According to the plan, EU countries and the European Parliament will negotiate a series of measures to combat climate change this year, including reforming the EU's carbon market, banning the sale of new fuel vehicles in 2035, and setting higher targets for the development of renewable energy. The measures aim to cut EU net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030.
The European Union has set a goal of weaning itself off Russian energy by 2027, as relations with Russia have soured sharply in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. According to European Commission data, the EU relies on Russia for about 45% of its coal, 45% of its natural gas and about 25% of its oil.
Eleven EU member states said in a joint statement: "Now is the time to move forward boldly and firmly with the green transition, and any delay or hesitation will only prolong our reliance on Russian energy. Negotiations on the package should therefore be accelerated. , and intensify their efforts." They urged other EU member states to support the proposals. The 11 countries stressed that finding alternative sources of Russian gas must avoid hampering the green transition and ensure the EU achieves its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Danish Climate Minister Dan Jorgensen said the countries were calling for a green path to get rid of Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible to achieve EU energy independence.
Although getting rid of Russia's energy dependence has become a consensus among EU countries, not all member states support accelerating green transition. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday that the European Union should suspend the carbon market in response to high energy prices.
