Increased target in the range of 50-55% [greenhouse gas emission cuts by 2030] is doable, @TimmermansEU tells @Bruegel_org. Proposal due in coming weeks, he refuses to go into more details "for obvious reasons"
Coronavirus has shown that faith in science-based solutions is the way forward. That should bolster climate action efforts, @Timmermans adds
"Before the pandemic we still had a choice" about delaying reforms and making difficult decisions, @TimmermansEU says. "That choice has been taken away from us", stresses the urgency of the climate situation
"For a politician, it's very tempting to throw money at anything that keeps people in their jobs" he adds, saying that he is hopeful governments will choose to pick a more sustainable route for their recovery programmes
Uh-oh, he's quoting from Il Gattapardo. Should keep @gerardofortuna happy
"For everything to stay the same, everything must change"
"ETS [EU carbon market] is one of the main instruments to get us in the right direction" @TimmermansEU says
It has to be expanded, the number of free allowances limited and needs to be exported internationally to get others on the same page, he adds
"Commission's essential task is to make sure recovery plans are coordinated. They cannot end up being contradictory, they must be in sync" @TimmermansEU says re: how the EU recovery fund can be used for climate
"Tough discussions with national governments are only way forward"
On transport:
"Very sorry that the budget for Horizon and R&D were limited" @TimmermansEU says, saying that money is essential to develop synthetic aviation fuels, battery tech and hydrogen
"Noone in the airline industry thinks that money [bailouts] is free money"
I wonder:
Phil Hogan (former trade chief) was supposed to be crucial in the designing of a WTO-compliant 'carbon border adjustment mechanism'. He's gone. Wonder if that dulls the Commission's enthusiasm for what was already going to be a tough ask? #BAM20
"Anyone who still believes in trickle-down economics needs to wake up and smell the coffee. It doesn't work"
Improving buildings and launching a successful 'renovation wave' will have short-term and long-term benefits, @TimmermansEU says when asked if there is one policy that is his priority
@TimmermansEU wraps up. Says “political deficit” is now the biggest problem
I think I did pretty well in my @TimmermansEU bingo, for such a short Q&A:
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