How to best balance environmental, social and fiscal sustainability

Organized by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe

23 March, 9:15-10:30 CET

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The European Union faces a war at its border and economic, climate, environmental and social challenges that require reforms and investments. While well-regulated private finance has a major role to play to fill the green funding gap, public spending in the green and just transition is needed too.

The reform of the EU fiscal rules is at full speed. The European Commission published an orientation paper. These orientations seek to strike a balance between the need to foster investments in the so-called twin transitions (green and digital) in all Member States, to ensure public debt and public finances are sustainable, and to get people’s support or at least acceptance (“political stability”). But are these Orientations striking the right balance?  Will they prevent further cuts in public services such as health, education or housing? Will they open up sufficient fiscal space to trigger green investments at scale? Is there a risk of promoting indiscriminate GDP growth going with massive greenhouse gas emissions and environmental destruction? Are future fiscal risks, such as climate-related fiscal risks, sufficiently accounted for?

This event aims to open a space to hear MEPs from the various political parties share their views on possible improvements building on the EC Orientations, before the Commission tables a legislative reform of the Stability and Growth Pact.

Speakers

Welcome and moderation: Chiara Martinelli (Director CAN Europe)

Panellists: 
• Greens: Philippe Lamberts
• S&D: Margarida Marques
• EPP: Luděk Niedermayer
• The Left: Manon Aubry
• Renew: Billy Kelleher

Closing: Patrizia Heidegger (Deputy Secretary General, EEB)