Financing the green transition: the European Green Deal Investment Plan and Just Transition Mechanism
On 14 January, the European Commission published details of the funding plan that will generate the significant investment required for the EU’s transition to become the first climate-neutral bloc in the world by 2050, as set out in the European Green Deal. The European Green Deal's Investment Plan - the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan - will mobilise public investment and help to unlock private funds through EU financial instruments, notably InvestEU, which would lead to at least €1 trillion of investments. While all member states, regions and sectors will need to contribute to the transition, the scale of the challenge is not the same. Some regions will be particularly affected and will need to undergo a profound economic and social transformation. The Just Transition Mechanism will provide tailored financial and practical support to help workers and generate the necessary investments in those areas. An annual Sustainable Investment Summit with stakeholders is one initiative which will help the Commission monitor and evaluate progress.  However, the success of the European Green Deal Investment Plan will depend on the engagement of all parties in the legislative process and therefore it is vital member states and the European Parliament maintain the high ambition of the Commission proposal during the negotiations on the upcoming financial framework.
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Commission presents first reflections on building a strong social Europe for just transitions
On 14 January, the Commission published a paper setting out how social policy will help deliver on the challenges and opportunities of today.  The communication - “A strong social Europe for just transitions” - proposes action at EU level for the coming months and seeks feedback on further action in the areas of employment and social rights. Actions planned for 2020 include: a European gender equality strategy and binding pay transparency measures, an updated Skills Agenda for Europe and Youth Guarantee, a platform work summit, a green paper on ageing, a strategy for persons with disabilities, a demography report and a European unemployment re-insurance scheme. Simultaneously, the Commission launched the first phase consultation with social partners – businesses and trade unions – on the issue of fair minimum wages for workers in the EU. Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice-president for an economy that works for people, said: “Europe is going through a momentous shift. As we go through the green and digital transformation, as well as an ageing population, the Commission wants to ensure that people remain centre stage and that the economy works for them”.
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EU, US and Japan agree on new ways to strengthen global rules on industrial subsidies
On 14 June, the EU, US and Japan issued a joint statement setting out their agreement to strengthen existing rules on industrial subsidies and condemned forced technology transfers practices. At the meeting held in Washington, the three parties agreed that the current list of subsidies prohibited under the World Trade Organization's (WTO) rules is insufficient to tackle market and trade distorting subsidisation existing in certain jurisdictions and therefore new types of unconditionally prohibited subsidies have to be added to the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. A structural reform of the WTO and levelling the playing field in global trade is a key priority for the EU and the von der Leyen Commission.
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Nearly €23 million in humanitarian aid destined to drought hit regions of Southern Africa
On 16 January, the European Commission announced a humanitarian aid package of €22.8 million to help address emergency food needs and support vulnerable people in Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will receive €16.8 million to boost food and nutrition assistance, as well as improving access to basic health care, clean water and providing protection to vulnerable people. The remaining monies will be spent on food assistance and nutrition support in Eswatini, Madagascar, Lesotho and Zambia. The funding comes as large parts of southern Africa are currently in the grip of their harshest drought in decades and as many as 12 million people are at risk of hunger.
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European Commission President Von der Leyen in Ireland
On 15 January, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar in Dublin. They discussed Brexit, the European Green Deal and the negotiations on the EU's future budget amongst other topics.
President von der Leyen thanked the Prime Minister for the leadership and cooperation in the process of reaching the Withdrawal Agreement with the United Kingdom. She praised the hard work, patience and unity of everybody in Ireland. “Without the work of the government, without the work of the politicians in the Parliament, the civil service, the whole country coming together, this would not have been possible”, she said at the press conference. Ms Von der Leyen stressed that the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland now needed to be implemented, saying the EU would watch over the implementation very closely.
Press conference
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All this week's key European Commission announcements can be found here