Tuesday, 27. October 2020, 18:00 - 19:30

The Future of Europe: The Climate Crisis and the Green & Social New Deal

Left Positions for the Conference on the Future of Europe

Join us here: https://zoom.us/j/92691276278

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung Brussels Office and MEP Helmut Scholz are devoting the second event in our series 'Left Positions for the Conference on the Future of Europe' to the climate crisis and the Green & Social New Deal.

The European Commission unveiled the European Green Deal for the EU in Brussels last December. In response to the growing climate crisis, it sets out an extensive package of measures targeting, among other things, renewable energy, sustainable mobility and the circular economy. But just how progressive is the European Green Deal? Does it live up to its billing as a 'man on the moon' project that 'leaves no one behind'? Why is there no mention of social justice? And how can the deal be financed by public money?

The Green Deal has come in for strong criticism from civil-society organisations, researchers and left-wing political forces in Europe. The GUE/NGL's Towards a Green & Social New Deal for Europe, for example, sets out 10 policy areas in which more radical action is required than that proposed by the European Green Deal. So what really needs to be done to bring about a fundamental shift in mindset in keeping with the slogan 'system change, not climate change'?

Our second event will therefore address the following questions, among others: 

  • How can a Green & Social New Deal bring together social justice and climate justice?
  • What does the European Green Deal mean for countries in the Global South?
  • Where does the Green & Social New Deal go from here?
  • What specific proposals do we have for the next steps towards a socio-ecological transformation?

We have invited Michael Efler, spokesperson for energy and climate policy and democracy, left-wing faction in the Berlin House of Representatives, and Harpreet K. Paul, human rights lawyer and expert on climate justice. Both will first give short inputs before we move on to a moderated discussion. The moderator will be Gabi Zimmer, former leader of the GUE/NGL parliamentary group.

If you would like to attend this debate, please register by emailing Alexandra Spaeth at alexandra.spaeth@rosalux.org.

Background

When she became European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen made some big promises, including holding a Conference on the Future of Europe that would bring together politicians, civil society and citizens to rethink the integration process and examine how the EU should be reshaped in light of some immense challenges and ongoing crises.

One year on from that announcement, the conference has yet to get off the ground, mainly because of obstructionism by national governments. Nevertheless, we on the left cannot stand on the side-lines when the future of the EU is being debated. We must not leave the field to those who see this conference simply as a means to reaffirm 'business as usual' on EU policy and functioning, rather than opening up new paths and opportunities – something that is long overdue.

We need to get actively involved in this conference! In particular, we need to place the issue of a socially just, peaceful, green and democratic EU based on the principle of solidarity high on the agenda! We want to discuss with you the best way to do this, the topics we should focus on and the specific proposals we should put forward.

To this end, we are organising a series of online events to start sharing ideas about the way ahead. In the spirit of the Conference on the Future, we are inviting you, together with representatives from trade unions, organisations and civil-society movements, to be a part of these events. So please do get involved – we'd love to hear your ideas, arguments and visions, as well as any questions and objections you may have.

Follow-up events

10 November 2020:    The Future of Europe: The EU Global Strategy

24 November 2020:    The Future of Europe: Social Economic Policy

8 December 2020:      The Future of Europe: Democratic Deficits in the EU

 

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/92691276278