European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has indicated that Europe can expect intensive energy and climate legislation during her second term.

Euractive reports that in letters written to her commissioner-delegates on Tuesday 17 September, President von der Leyen clarified her intention to pursue the EU decarbonisation push already embarked upon during her first mandate, and to save the continent’s industrial heartlands while rebuilding its energy systems in the process.

Revealing a strong pro-business slant, von der Leyen explained to her new commissioners that they would be expected to implement Green Deal rules from her first mandate, but that implementation is to be done in the “simplest, fairest and most effective way.”

While expressing her intention to “soften the de facto 2035 ban on combustion engine cars with a targeted amendment to allow more scope for such cars if they are fuelled with synthetic ‘e-fuels’, her letter to climate commissioner-designate Vopke Hoekstra confirmed her commitment to the previously floated 90% carbon reduction target by 2040. This means Hoekstra and Spain’s Teresa Ribera, who has been proposed for the position of executive vice president for a clean, fair and competitive transition, will have to start consulting on a legislative package for the “post-2030 framework”.

Electrification key to decarbonisation plans

At the same time, Dan Jørgensen, whose portfolio is energy and housing, will have to develop a new initiative to boost the roll-out of renewable energy and energy storage, including a strategy to boost investment and an action plan for electricity.

Jørgensen will also have to deliver on the expansion of the electricity grid and adapt the regulatory framework to allow for faster permitting. He is also expected to “promote the integration of energy systems.”

Together, Hoekstra and Jørgensen are tasked with phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, and Jørgensen with drawing up a roadmap for phasing out Russian energy imports. Given energy supply concerns, Jørgensen has been instructed to review the security of the EU’s supply framework. Stéphane Séjourné, who will be executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy, will focus on securing critical raw materials.

Funding

Whether Von der Leyen’s ambitions will come to fruition will depend on whether national governments can agree to boost the EU’s budget – either by common debt or greater contributions. In this regard, Teresa Ribera has been tasked with overhauling state aid rules.

Browse the list of commissioners-designate and view the full suite of mission letters here.