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Chancellor Angela Merkel: "We always have to think about our industrial strength"
Photo: POOL / REUTERS
Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a sense of proportion when it comes to climate protection with a view to industry.
Merkel warned the European Parliament on Monday "that we remain ambitious, but also realistic".
In this respect, the EU heads of state and government at their summit on December 10th and 11th would not adopt a target of reducing CO2 emissions by more than 55 percent by 2030, said Merkel at a virtual conference with the European committees of the member states and the EU Parliament.
This goal alone "requires major changes in many member states and a great, great effort," said Merkel.
"We always have to think about our industrial strength," emphasized the Chancellor with a view to mechanical engineering and the automotive industry.
After the pandemic, Europe is facing great competition.
The EU should therefore not “put industry before a transformation that cannot be managed at all, but it must also be feasible”.
In implementing the 55 percent target, she advocates as many market-based instruments as possible and relies less on regulatory policy.
The EU Commission had proposed "at least 55 percent" as a target for reducing greenhouse gases by 2030, while the European Parliament advocates 60 percent.
EU budget dispute not yet resolved
During the event, Merkel also spoke about the dispute over the blocked EU budget and the Corona development aid, which Germany is mediating because it will chair the EU countries until the end of the year.
"I can't, so to speak, report that the task has been completed, although I'd like to," said Merkel.
Hungary and Poland vetoed the EU budget package worth around 1.8 trillion euros because they did not agree to a new rule of law clause.
This could lead to EU funds being cut in the future in the event of certain violations of the rule of law, for example in the event of political influence on courts.
Merkel said that bringing the results of the EU summit in July together on the budget package would turn out to be something "about as difficult as squaring the circle."
At the same time she appealed to all those involved: "Without a compromise it will not work, from all sides."
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