MEPs threaten the European Commission with a lawsuit if its plan to include gas and nuclear energy in the green taxonomy becomes law.
This was said by MEP Paul Tang, the European Parliament's lead negotiator on green bond laws and part of its negotiating group on taxonomy, reports Reuters.
Next week (July 4-8), the European Parliament will decide whether to accept or reject the Commission's proposal to classify gas and nuclear power plants as climate-friendly on the list of sustainable investments.
"Parliament will definitely try to go to court. We will argue that this is against primary legislation, and we will definitely fight for it," Tang said.
A proposal for a parliamentary vote would see the plan rejected on the grounds that it does not comply with current EU law, which requires an investment to significantly contribute to one of six environmental goals and not harm others. Tang noted that the vote will be tight.
For the proposal to pass, it must be supported by a majority of the 705 lawmakers in the assembly.
The European Commission declined to comment.
Sirpa Pietikäinen, one of parliament's leading taxonomy negotiators, said she would support legal action if parliament did not block the rules.
"If it comes to that, I will support a lawsuit and part of a group of MEPs who will take it to court," Pitikainen said.
Opponents of nuclear power, namely Austria and Luxembourg, have also threatened legal action against Brussels over the proposals.
"Through the Sustainable Investment Label, the EU aimed to set a single standard for green finance and direct private capital to investments that support climate change goals," explained Reuters.
However, the plan has divided EU countries and lawmakers, reflecting wider disagreements over how Europe should cut its emissions. The invasion of russia (the main supplier of gas to Europe) into Ukraine intensified the discussion.
Some countries, notably Poland and Bulgaria, have lobbied for a taxonomy to encourage gas investment to phase out coal. Others, such as Denmark and Luxembourg, argued that the proposal to call fossil fuels green was not credible.
We will remind activists demand a veto on the green taxonomy, to stop russian lobbyists.
As previously reported by EcoPolitic, the European Commission introduced gas and nuclear projects to the green list.
