"Strasbourg Calling" MEP Virginijus Sinkevičius: The Green Deal will survive, though rebranded

Green energy is not only a competitive advantage, but also a part of improving social welfare, says the MEP

MEP Virginijus Sinkevičius

Photo: Irina Nedeva

Will the Green Deal survive, or is it already losing momentum? Is there a risk that Europe will be left alone in its fight for green policies?

The Green Deal will survive, though it may be rebranded, believes Virginijus Sinkevičius, former EU Commissioner for the Environment from Lithuania and current Member of the European Parliament, Vice-Chair of the Greens/European Free Alliance group.

“We don’t have to jump and change our opinion every time the U.S. changes theirs on a given topic,” he told Bulgarian National Radio in an interview for BNR's Irina Nedeva.

He emphasized the need to defend the interests of the European automotive industry. "Internal combustion engines are not the biggest problem," Sinkevičius noted.

"People outside the big cities are forced to use their old cars because they have no other option, and we should not burden them with additional carbon taxes," the MEP added.

Regarding the recent power outage in Spain and Portugal, and whether such a large-scale disruption could weaken the case for renewables, Virginijus Sinkevičius described energy independence as a geopolitical issue, noting that Spain and Portugal are energy-independent from third countries.

If it turns out to have been a cyberattack, he said, "this would be a global message to other countries that they could face the risk of a complete electricity shutdown."

"Nuclear energy is extremely expensive. Even when not building new capacities from scratch, it still takes a long time. Few countries in the EU have the capacity to process uranium," he commented.
"Considering the pros and cons of nuclear and renewable energy, renewables come out ahead in most respects, although nuclear energy remains more stable," the former Environment Commissioner told the Horizon Before Noon programme of the BNR's national Horizon channel.

On the issue of water shortages, Sinkevičius stressed the need to take tough measures to preserve water and ensure it is not contaminated.

"We need to implement water reuse strategies. Farmers could use seeds that require less irrigation. We should strive for a circular economy."

Regarding the situation in Greenland and U.S. claims over its strategic resources, MEP Sinkevičius said the most important question is what the local people think - what kind of future they envision for their land.

"The U.S. made a big mistake with those imperialist statements about Greenland," he remarked.

"Green energy is the cheapest form of energy. European households will feel that when their electricity bills start to drop. It’s not just a competitive edge but part of enhancing social welfare," emphasized the MEP in response to a question about how, under external pressure and internal skepticism, Europeans will be persuaded that green policies are not a luxury for the wealthy.

"In the event of a war, I don't think the EU, NATO, or green policies would exist. War can destroy everything," he concluded.

The full interview (in English with Bulgarian translation) can be heard here.

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Edited by Yana Boyanova
English publication: Rositsa Petkova

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