By Donagh Cagney | Euractiv Est. 5min 01-05-2024 (updated: 03-05-2024 ) Content-Type: News News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Subscribe to Euractiv's Green Brief, where you’ll find the latest roundup of news covering energy & environment from across Europe. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: FrançaisPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Hello and a big welcome to our new subscribers from Water Europe, TAURON Polska Energia, SSE and more. Euractiv’s Green Brief brings you a roundup of energy and environment news from across Europe. You can subscribe here. It was one of the key talking points Monday’s election debate – how decarbonisation can drive Europe’s future prosperity. Almost five years after the Green Deal was announced, this concept remains firmly embedded in Europe’s political consciousness. Heavy hitters from across the political spectrum, including Emmanuel Macron, Teresa Ribera and Margrethe Vestager, all recently laid out visions for how the energy transition is the basis of Europe’s economy. The Letta Report echoed these points, and the forthcoming Draghi Report is expected to do the same. It’s election time, so these interventions are largely political slogans. But even after five years, it’s not clear that Europe has managed to translate political slogans into a coherent policy framework. A key element, the Net Zero Industry Act, which was passed by Parliament last week, is considered by many to be toothless. At the time of the Act’s conception, an accompanying ‘Sovereignty Fund’ was also planned, to back up the new rules with serious cash. However Europe’s subsequent fumbling on funding shows the existential challenge that industrial policy poses to the EU. No fresh money materialised, thanks to deep scepticism from several national governments. In the meantime the Commission relaxed State Aid rules. This move allowed individual countries to channel more cash to their green industries, in the face of Chinese and US competition. France and Germany have jumped at the opportunity, accounted for over 70% of approved State Aid in the first 18 months after the rules were loosened. This concentration of support to industry in just two countries is not consistent with the EU’s single-market, which promises free and fair competition between countries. To preserve the Single Market – the EU’s crown jewel – any industrial strategy funding would need to be decided in Brussels. But this implies a bigger EU budget, more transfers between countries and – probably – common EU debt as a structural solution. Delivering this would mean crossing one of Europe’s deepest faultlines. It would represent a fundamental evolution of the EU. Europe’s green industrial strategy is far more developed and coherent when it sits within ‘classic’ EU competencies – a deeper Energy Union, more muscular trade policy and circularity of goods and raw materials, for example. But to be more than a talking point, the Green Industrial Strategy needs serious funding. Either Europe can deliver this or it cannot. Either outcome will be a critical moment in the EU’s journey. Top stories Ribera: Spain has 'enormous difficulties with France‘ on cross-border energy links The Spanish energy minister, Teresa Ribera, says the French have been blocking projects to better connect the Iberian Peninsula to the European grid for years, calling it a disgrace. Macron at Sorbonne: Energy key to French president's 'new European paradigm' French President Emmanuel Macron set out his vision for the future of Europe, placing energy, including nuclear, at the core of his approach, in a speech at Sorbonne University on Thursday (April 25). German Green's minister Robert Habeck under fire over 2022 nuclear shutdown The Berlin economy and environment ministries, both held by the Greens, have been accused of mishandling the shutdown of the country’s last three nuclear power plants during the 2022 energy crisis. Must reads Austria’s farming, economy ministers urge von der Leyen to delay EU anti-deforestation law – by Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro Nuclear: €300 million state aid for French small modular reactors – By Paul Messad EU report: 91% of cities look to nature-based solutions in face of climate change – By Nikolaus J. Kurmayer EU lawmakers debate the future of the Green Deal ahead of elections – By Nikolaus J. Kurmayer Energy taxation directive: No progress expected before EU elections – By Paul Messad Researchers urge Europe to ’embrace’ deindustrialisation – By Nikolaus J. Kurmayer EU Parliament approves new rules to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging – By Nathan Canas Madrid endorses Ribera to become Spanish Commissioner – By Nikolaus J. Kurmayer EU Parliament approves new ‘ecodesign’ rules to make products more sustainable – By Nathan Canas Macron’s billion trees target leaves scientists and NGOs sceptical – By Nathan Canas News from the capitals SOFIA. Bulgaria risks losing billions in EU funds over coal miner spat. Bulgaria risks losing €4.4 billion in EU funding under its Energy Recovery and Sustainability Plan as its parliament delays key legislative decisions due to a backlash from coal miners, which is likely to result in the European Commission withholding money from Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Fund. Read more. Opinions Putting people first: why healthy buildings matter – By Oliver Rapf A smart industrial policy to fast-charge Europe’s electric vehicles revolution – By Julia Poliscanova and Simone Tagliapietra The case for a European Green Industrial Deal – By Bas Eickhout, Michael Bloss and Sara Matthieu Tripling renewables: European G7 leaders need to turn words into action – By Katye Altieri On our radar 30 MAY. Energy Council SPRING 2024. First European Climate Risk Assessment 6-9 JUNE: European elections 17 JUNE. Environment Council (Luxembourg) 27-28 JUNE. European Council *Interested in more energy and environment news delivered to your inbox? You can subscribe to our daily newsletter and our comprehensive weekly update here. [Edited by Chris Powers] Read more with Euractiv G7 ministers agree 2035 coal exit, sextupled energy storage and ‘water coalition’In Italy, G7 ministers agreed a coal phase out in the first half of the 2030s, agreed on their first-ever energy storage target, started difficult negotiations on climate finance past 2025 and founded a water coalition. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters