Will the EU Green Deal survive Covid-19?

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced both European and national decision-makers to adapt their perspectives on diverse issues concerning the future of the European Union’s economy, including debt levels and state intervention in labour markets and supply chains. The commonly held notion that has remained unruffled despite this year’s events is that there is no turning back from the climate transformation. As agreed by the European Council on 21 July 2020, a large portion of the EU Recovery Plan (at least 30%) will finance environmental efforts and the fight against climate change as developed in the EU Green Deal.

This online discussion aims to bring together the diverse Polish and French perspectives, as well as European viewpoints, on the future and possible implementation of the “green” segment of the European Recovery Plan. Our panellists will reflect on this from two angles:

Does the EU Green Deal stand a chance in light of the pandemic? What are the main challenges and opportunities for this ambitious European project given the unprecedented circumstances at the EU, national, and regional levels?

In detail, how are Poland, France, and other EU countries preparing to implement the “green” segments of the Recovery Plan, and how will they proceed with their climate transformation in the medium-to-long term in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050? Included in this discussion will be the “green” investment plans, modernisation funds, strategies and projects, etc. Correspondingly, to what extent could the “green” stimulus promote significant economic growth in the EU, needed in dealing with the current socio-economic crises?