João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Portuguese Minister for the Environment and Climate Action said:
“The recovery strategy presented by the European Commission shows the way forward: We need green growth and social fairness to combat the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis. Building on the European Green Deal and the European Pillar of Social Rights as well as the Sustainable Development Goals is crucial to shape the European economy in the upcoming months and years.
“As socialists and social democrats, we are united in our call for ambitious environmental and climate policies keeping the EU on track to reach its climate targets and recover economically at the same time.”
Commenting on the Biodiversity Strategy, Javi Lopez, MEP and Chair of the PES Environment, Climate Change and Energy Network added:
“We progressives have been advocating for biodiversity as a central priority in EU policymaking for a long time. Now, with the European Commission’s strategy on the table it is time to close in on ambitious measures and act, to increase awareness of this crucial issue and to push for a coordinated approach at the European and the international level.”
Environment ministers from the progressive political family met ahead of the informal environment video conference tomorrow to exchange together with progressive Commissioners and representatives of the S&D Group in the European Parliament on the green dimension of the Recovery Strategy, the Biodiversity Strategy and the upcoming German presidency.
The meeting was attended by:
- Svenja Schulze, Chair, Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany
- Aaron Farrugia, Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning, Malta
- João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister for the Environment and Climate Action, Portugal
- Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, European Commission
- Miriam Dalli, MEP, S&D Vice-President for the European Green Deal, European Parliament
- Javi Lopez, MEP, Chair of the PES Environment, Climate Change & Energy Network, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, European Parliament
- Diederik Samsom, Head of Cabinet for Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans, European Commission
- Yonnec Polet, Deputy Secretary General, PES
