MEPs call for EU climate policy to remain ambitious

The European Union’s environmental policy must remain ambitious while safeguarding the competitiveness of the European economy and promoting social inclusion, according to a resolution adopted by the European Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Climate Change and Food Security.

The resolution outlines the EU’s priorities for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be held in Belém, Brazil, between 10 and 21 November 2025. The summit will focus on keeping global warming below 1.5°C, the presentation of national action plans, and progress on the financial commitments made at COP29.

The committee’s position contrasts with recent reports suggesting that centre-right and centre-left MEPs under pressure from several EU capitals, have reached an agreement to ease environmental requirements currently imposed on European businesses.

In recent months, French President Emmanuel Macron has called for the EU to slow the pace of its environmental transition, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has voiced her disagreement with certain EU green policies. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has gone further, describing some elements of EU environmental policy as being out of touch with global economic realities.

Malta, meanwhile, continues to pursue its own ambitious energy and climate goals. Although traditional energy sources remain dominant, the share of renewable energy in Malta’s total energy consumption has risen significantly, from 3.76% in 2013 to 15.08% in 2023. According to Malta’s National Energy and Climate Plan submitted to the European Commission earlier this year, the country aims for nearly a quarter of its energy use to come from renewable sources by 2030.

The European parliamentary committee’s resolution, which was approved with a strong majority, also calls on all countries to contribute their fair share towards global climate finance and to start defining science-based climate targets for 2040.

Finally, MEPs urged the EU to accelerate the transition towards clean energy and called on the European Commission and Member States to set a clear deadline for phasing out subsidies for non-renewable energy.

The resolution is expected to be put to a vote by the European Parliament’s plenary later this month.

This content was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament’s grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people and the publishers are solely responsible for the content. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.