In the framework of the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which takes place in Madrid, Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the European Green Deal, and by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Chair of the EP delegation to COP25, give a press conference. Extracts.

conference

statement

meeting

EICKHOUT, Bas (Greens/EFA, NL)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (T)

TIMMERMANS, Frans (NL, EC)

Madrid

fight against climate change (T)

COP 25 (T)

EP Delegation to COP25 Chile (Madrid): extracts from the press conference by Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President of the EC in charge of the European Green Deal, and by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Chair of the EP delegation

General atmosphere at the COP25, interior

General view of the press conference room at the COP25

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate, European Green Deal, Our aim is for the European Union to be ready for the next COP in Glasgow with a comprehensive proposal including a climate law that would allow us to show to the world that there is a way to be climate neutral by 2050, and hopefully convince our partners internationally that this is what we need to do.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate, European Green Deal, I believe the EU green deal can be a cornerstone in changing our politics, changing our economies, changing our ways of life, maintaining our values, maintaining our high standards or even creating higher standards of economic growth and well being in our member states and across the world and thus fullfilling the promise that we all believed in when we all have signed the Paris agreement.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), Chair of the EP delegation, In the climate negotiations that we see happening here in Madrid, should be a very important stepping stone towards next year in Glasgow. We all know that Glasgow will be the last chance before ants before we are officially going into the 5-year review cycle of the Paris agreement, and that means that the only way do you have a global concerted effort will be next year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), We are very happy to see that the Commission in its green deal is acknowledging that Europe has to step up its ambition next year and from the Parliament&rsquo;s perspective, we feel that Europe should increase its ambition and should increase its NDC from -40% to -55%. And that of course should be delivered next year.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate, European Green Deal, As far as nuclear is concerned, there is by no means that you can say that nuclear energy is sustainable energy. At the same time it is also an energy that is created without C02 emmissions. So in the transition, nuclear energy will play a role. Which role it will play depends on the energy mix that Member States decide to put forward. I have no opposition in principle against nuclear energy but I I dont think long-term there is a future as it is not sustainable energy.

SOUNDBITE (English), Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), From a European perspective what is most important is to make sure that the environmental integrity of the entire Paris agreement will be kept and in that sense from a European perspective, we are absolutely clear that it is better to have a no deal than a bad deal. And where we are going to judge upon that bad deal one of the very important parts is that we really should prevent any double-counting.

SOUNDBITE (English), Frans TIMMERMANS, Executive Vice-President-designate, European Green Deal, When Poland changes the energy mix it doesn&rsquo;t do that to please other European nations. It does that because it improves the health of Polish citizens and it makes Poland ready for a longer term future. Because whatever happens, let me be very clear, there is no future in coal.