European Commission Vice President praises Cyrus Engerer’s law on emissions and climate
The first law of the Fit for 55 package drafted by Engerer receives approval of 79% of MEPs
Executive First Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, tasked with the European Green Deal, praised Cyrus Engerer’s work on the law he drafted and negotiated on carbon emissions, known as the Market Stability Reserve.
Engerer’s law sailed through Parliament with a strong vote, where 79% of members of the European Parliament voted in favour and erupted in applause as the result was announced. The law’s objective is to aid the
European Union reach its environmental and climate objectives, while making sure that no one falls behind through a just green transition.
“I’m pleased with this strong vote received today from members of the European Parliament backed by at least five political parties. I’m satisfied that we managed to get on board the backing of so many members to make sure that we reach our environmental and climatic ambitious targets. This is what European citizens want, especially our youth, and this is what our planet and our health needs,” Engerer stated as the strong vote was announced.
This was the first report from the European Commission’s Fit for 55 package to be put to a vote by MEPs in a plenary session. The Fit for 55 package is a set of laws aiming to reduce the EU’s emissions by 55%, by the year 2030. The report Engerer worked on concerned the extension of the Market Stability Reserve, a corrective instrument which assures flexibility in European Emissions laws, in the context of unforeseen extraordinary events, with the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine being two such
examples.
Addressing the Strasbourg hemicycle, Engerer mentioned that “in this unprecedented period for our continent, and the world, we must continue to ensure stability for all European families and businesses – thus safeguarding the interests and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our society”.
“The need for stability is the reason why this instrument was introduced in the first place,” Engerer explained. “Meanwhile, our duty now is to guarantee that we keep on moving towards our climate and our environmental goals as one European Union, while ensuring that the systems in place are resilient enough to withstand global shocks, which may affect us.”
He reiterated that through this report, the European Parliament is sending a clear message to other institutions that while the EU must continue to be ambitious in its climate and environmental objectives, this transition must assure the most vulnerable in our continent that they will not be left behind, and put at a disadvantage.
“EU citizens want stability – this is what they deserve, and this is what we will guarantee to them,” Engerer concluded.