The Party of European Socialists (PES) stands with the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, in her efforts to keep the Green transition high on the agenda, preserve key EU legislation and the Green Deal, and support industries’ competitiveness and sustainability. The latest right-wing attack was by withdrawing the Green Claims Directive from the trilogue negotiations.
The PES denounces the EPP’s repeated alignment with the far right to undermine the EU’s green agenda, putting both the green transition and consumer protection at risk. We fully support the S&D Group’s fight against greenwashing and, in particular, commend MEPs Delara Burkhardt and Tiemo Wölken for their work as S&D co-rapporteurs and Laura Ballarín in her role as shadow rapporteur on the Green Claims directive.
The withdrawal came a few days after MEPs from the EPP wrote a letter directly to Commissioner Jessika Roswall requesting the file be pulled out.
The PES Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck said:
“The announcement of the Commission’s intention to withdraw the Green Claims Directive just days before a key inter-institutional agreement is a regrettable move that risks undermining the whole democratic process and the ways our Union works.
It appears the trilogue was cancelled due to shifts within the Council, specifically Italy’s change in position. This move further suggests coordination between the EPP leadership, the Commission President, and the current Italian government, which is devaluing the role of the European institutions.
We reiterate our support for the S&D Group and Commissioner Teresa Ribera by underlining her point: Customers deserve respect. We should honour their trust and ensure reliable information support.”
The PES is convinced that protecting consumers from greenwashing and misleading ‘eco’ claims is vital.
Data and science show that Europe is the fastest-warming continent. Despite this, the EPP repeatedly sides with the far right to attack different policies of the green transition. They have attempted to weaken legislation on nature restoration and deforestation and undermined the role of environmental NGOs in preserving our democratic fabric and environmental agenda. The EPP claims it wants increased transparency, accountability, and protection for our citizens. Yet, it fights to undermine and withdraw legislation that does just that; guarantee accurate, verifiable, and true green claims on EU market products.
