The EU’s Green Deal Could Fuel Trans-Atlantic Tensions

The EU’s Green Deal Could Fuel Trans-Atlantic Tensions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, center, during a media conference at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2021 (AP photo by Valeria Mongelli).

Editor’s Note: This is the web version of our subscriber-only weekly newsletter, Europe Decoder, which includes a look at the week’s top stories and best reads from and about Europe. Subscribe to receive it by email every Thursday. If you’re already a subscriber, adjust your newsletter settings to receive it directly to your email inbox.

BRUSSELS—The European Commission unveiled its mammoth proposed climate package Wednesday, called “Fit for 55.” It might sound like an exercise video or a dating service, but in fact it’s a package of 12 legislative proposals designed to get the union to its new target to reduce carbon emissions by 55 percent by 2030, raised from 40 percent in December.

It is the largest regulatory proposal ever put forward by any government on climate change, and it will impact many facets of daily life in the European Union, such as how EU citizens and residents refuel their cars and heat their homes, and how much they pay for goods. But the element that’s likely to create the most diplomatic friction is the proposal for a carbon border tax to prevent companies from skirting the tougher proposed EU legislation by shifting production outside the EU.

Keep reading for free!

Get instant access to the rest of this article by submitting your email address below. You'll also get access to three articles of your choice each month and our free newsletter:

Or, Subscribe now to get full access.

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

What you’ll get with an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review:

A WPR subscription is like no other resource — it’s like having a personal curator and expert analyst of global affairs news. Subscribe now, and you’ll get:

  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of tens of thousands of articles.
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday.
  • Regular in-depth articles with deep dives into important issues and countries.
  • The Daily Review email, with our take on the day’s most important news, the latest WPR analysis, what’s on our radar, and more.
  • The Weekly Review email, with quick summaries of the week’s most important coverage, and what’s to come.
  • Completely ad-free reading.

And all of this is available to you when you subscribe today.

More World Politics Review