Czech leaders reject EU's 2040 climate target
Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) rejected the target. 'We do not agree with setting another climate target,' he said during a press conference on Wednesday. 'We believe that the existing climate targets are already in place and need to be fulfilled in a reasonable way, adjusting some of the measures we agreed on so as not to jeopardise competitiveness.' He cautioned that without regard for prosperity and economic aspects, 'we will not have public support for climate goals.'
Environment Minister Petr Hladík and MEP Tomáš Zdechovský (both KDU-ČSL, EPP) also criticised the plan as unrealistic, economically harmful, and lacking proper consultation.
'This proposal is not realistic for the Czech Republic,' Hladík said, calling for clear assessments of the impact on individual sectors and more support from the EU. 'Without realistic conditions and fair financing, the transformation is not feasible,' he said.
Zdechovský warned of serious political consequences. 'I think that if the European Commission does not want to be dismissed next week in Strasbourg and does not want us to raise our hand and be very angry with some of the commissioners, then I sincerely believe that it will withdraw the proposal,' he said in an interview on Czech television, referring to a conservative's bid to bring down Ursula von der Leyen's Commission.
'The whole European Commission has gone mad. The majority of MEPs across political factions are angry,' he added, warning that the Commission risks losing support from centre-right parties. 'It was not discussed with us beforehand,' he added.
Czech MEP Alexandr Vondra (ODS, ECR), a member of the European Parliament's environment committee (ENVI), was even more outspoken. He said Czechia has 'no chance' of meeting the target without 'enormous costs, which will fall on ordinary people.' He called the proposal 'an example of disgusting 'climate colonialism'' and said he would not support it unless it is fundamentally changed.
(Aneta Zachová, EURACTIV.cz)
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