In a forthright address to the Confindustria General Assembly, the Italian Prime Minister launched a scathing critique of the EU’s Green Deal, warning that the bloc’s current approach to decarbonisation risks leading to deindustrialisation and job losses. The Prime Minister argued that the EU’s plan, which includes a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, is “self-destructive” and fails to consider the economic and social implications.
Self-Destructive’ Approach
The Prime Minister attacked the EU’s goal of phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2035, describing it as an “obvious example” of a misguided approach that could devastate European industry.
“The farewell to the endothermic engine by 2035, that is, in just over a decade, is one of the most obvious examples of this self-destructive approach,” the Prime Minister said. “We have chosen the forced conversion to a technology – the electric – of which, however, we do not hold the raw materials, we do not control the value chains, with a relatively low demand, with a prohibitive price for the most and with an insufficient European production capacity.”
Technological Neutrality
The Prime Minister argued that the green transition should be founded on the principle of technological neutrality, taking into account all available technologies that can contribute to reducing emissions. This includes renewables, gas, biofuels, hydrogen, carbon capture, and even nuclear power.
“We need all the technologies that allow us to transform the economy from linear to circular and all the technologies useful for the transition must be taken into account,” the Prime Minister said. “It is the most correct path to recover our competitive production dimension, to keep up with the other major players in the world.”
Social and Economic Impact
The Prime Minister expressed concern about the social and economic impact of the EU’s current approach to the green transition. They warned that pursuing decarbonisation without adequate investment and resources risks undermining European competitiveness and growth.
“Europe’s ambitious environmental objectives must be accompanied by adequate investments and resources, a coherent plan to achieve them, otherwise it is inevitable that the energy and environmental transition will be at the expense of competitiveness and growth,” the Prime Minister said.
Call for Debate
The Prime Minister called for a broader debate on the EU’s Green Deal, urging policymakers to consider the implications of the bloc’s environmental objectives. They emphasised the need for a more balanced approach that takes into account the economic and social realities of European industry.
“We must tell ourselves that we are second to none thanks clearly to the technological expertise we have, thanks to our higher academic training, thanks to the research and development activity that are carried out by our centers of excellence, by our production system,” the Prime Minister said.
Conclusion
The Prime Minister’s criticism of the EU’s Green Deal comes as European countries grapple with the economic and social challenges of the transition to a low-carbon economy. The speech underscored the need for a more nuanced approach to decarbonisation that considers the competitive position of European industry and the potential impact on jobs and growth.
The Prime Minister’s intervention is likely to resonate with other European leaders who have expressed concerns about the EU’s approach to the green transition. It remains to be seen whether the criticism will translate into a broader re-evaluation of the bloc’s environmental objectives and the policies designed to achieve them.
Image: Source: EC – Audiovisual Service Photographer: Dati Bendo
