??TROJAN HORSE

Is this the end of the Green Deal? For weeks, this speculation has been swirling as the new EU Commission unveils its priorities. Competitiveness. Simplification. New buzzwords that fail to inspire and remain suspiciously undefined. Until Wednesday. On 26 February, we finally saw the details of the EU Commission's flagship policies for this mandate – a package designed for energy-intensive industries, an exclusive club made up of some of Europe's biggest polluters. Citizens, please move to the back; the front rows are reserved for large corporations.?

In this newsletter, we break down the essentials of the new EU policy direction, covering industrial policy, energy prices and simplification of rules for companies. But first, a spoiler: the Green Deal isn’t dead – yet there is a clear attempt to subordinate it to corporate interests, which (unsurprisingly) often don’t align with the public good.?

?? NOT SO CLEAN INDUSTRIAL DEAL?

'MAN IN THE BOARDROOM’ MOMENT?– Ursula von der Leyen once hailed the Green Deal as Europe’s “man on the moon” moment. Five years later, the planetary challenges remain (and have grown), but her narrative and audience have shifted significantly. This time, she pitched the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) to CEOs behind closed doors at an event hosted by the chemicals industry lobby, CEFIC, in Antwerp.?

OK, MESSAGE RECEIVED – Let’s take a moment to unpack this telling moment. Von der Leyen stood before 400 energy-intensive companies and declared that the industrial deal is “directly tailored” to their demands, as outlined in the Antwerp Declaration – a wish list written by polluters, for polluters. And where did she deliver this speech? In one of the world’s most polluted regions. Antwerp, recently described as a “PFAS-contaminated dystopian disaster,” is a place where children are advised not to play outside in dry weather, and locals are warned against eating homegrown food due to toxic?pollution?caused by a company that was in that very room, applauding her words. Seriously: we are speechless.?

POWER TO THE FEW – Industrial policy should serve the public interest; not just corporate profits. What's more: the EU’s industrial landscape is far more than energy-intensive sectors. Yet their demands are taking centre stage. A just transition must also include other sectors, from agriculture (where emissions remain high) to non-male-dominated key fields like education and healthcare. Moreover, a "clean" industrial deal that ignores pollution and environmental responsibility is a glaring contradiction. And let’s be honest: should boosting productivity growth in sectors like steel, chemicals, and cement really be our top public priority??

THE GOOD – Looking at the content, there are some positives. The deal stays the course on climate action, reinforcing two key drivers for decarbonising energy-intensive industries: electrification with renewables, and circularity. We applaud the central role given to the circular economy: without breaking the extract-produce-dispose model, we won’t cut the massive carbon and material footprint of industry. That said, the plan lacks concrete targets to reduce resource use.?

BUT IS IT COMPETITIVE? As for the very purpose of the plan, boosting industry’s competitiveness, we are not convinced by the measures. The proposed annual investment plan is rather modest, and state aid rules need stronger social and environmental conditions. And are we really going to subsidise polluting industries with taxpayers' money without demanding they clean up their mess? On a more positive note, we welcome the extension of the border carbon tax to more sectors and the use of green public procurement to support clean domestic production.?

Read our full press release for more takeaways.?

???PLAN TO CUT ENERGY PRICES?

PLUG, BABY, PLUG – The EU Commission also launched the Affordable Energy Action Plan, laying out strategies to cut energy bills and prepare for future crises. The focus is on the right priorities: scaling up renewables, strengthening grids, and expanding flexibility solutions. These are essential moves to drive down costs. We also celebrate the EU’s push to reform taxes and tariffs to make renewable electricity permanently the cheapest option on the market.?

WHAT ABOUT US? While the plan highlights the importance of reducing energy bills for households, it lacks concrete measures to ensure renewable electricity and heating benefit the most vulnerable. Overall, the package is based on an analysis of the accumulated economic disadvantage of European industries. This seems to ignore that the cost of living is the main concern of Europeans and the driving force behind the growth of reactionary forces in Europe. The EU must act to support low- and middle-income households – not just industry...?

COSTLY NUCLEAR AND GAS – Neither of these energy sources will deliver affordable power, yet both are included in the plan. Investing in LNG infrastructure abroad (particularly in the US, the world’s top exporter) is hardly a smart move for Europe’s energy independence. And Small Modular Reactors? Still expensive, unproven, and far from market-ready. Meanwhile, renewables are replacing fossil fuels faster and at far lower cost.?

?? SIMPLIFICATION: A TROJAN HORSE?

AGGRESSIVE DEREGULATION – The third pillar of this EU plan is the omnibus simplification package. When the Commission first announced its intent to “streamline” legislation and ease reporting burdens for businesses, civil society feared this meant deregulation. Turns out, it’s even worse than expected.?

JUSTICE DENIED – Months after its adoption, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) is already being gutted. Instead of clarifying rules, the “simplification” proposal weakens corporate accountability below international standards. It scraps mandatory civil liability, limits enforcement, and even blocks NGOs and civil society from filing lawsuits. Now, victims of corporate abuse will be left to navigate complex legal systems alone.?

A BLOW TO DEMOCRACY – The Commission has rewritten EU laws without democratic oversight or impact assessment – there is zero evidence that yet-to-be-implemented rules harm competitiveness. By defining “stakeholders” as only those “directly impacted,” directly affected communities and workers are being shut out of decisions that shape their lives.

THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEM?– Combined with attempts to weaken civil society, Europe's future increasingly risks being decided in the boardroom – not through democratic processes that truly listen to people.?This leads to a rollback of vital protections for people and the planet. Read our press release.?

?? CHANGING WINDS IN DEUTSCHLAND?

BRUSSELS AWAITS BERLIN?– The stability of the EU this term largely hinged on Germany’s recent elections. On Sunday, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) secured victory with 28% of the vote, installing Friedrich Merz as Germany’s next chancellor. Merz has ruled out a coalition with the far-right AfD, which came second with over 20%. A government formed by conservative and progressive parties could stabilise the pro-EU majority in the EU Parliament, but only time will tell.?

SEISMIC ALERTS – Germany's elections weren't immune to foreign interference and disinformation. In an era of rising instability and growing threats to European democracies, the EU’s largest economy and most populous nation must step up. A stronger, more united, and sustainable Europe is critical for protecting the well-being of its people. Now, more than ever, Berlin must lead on reinforcing democracy, environmental action, and social protections.?

? DON’T TAKE US FOR GRANTED?

GETTING THE FACTS STRAIGHT – On Thursday, our Policy Director, Faustine Bas-Defossez took part in the European Economic and Social Committee’s timely plenary debate on the role of civil society in the EU. She confronted baseless attacks on environmental NGOs’ LIFE funding head-on, reminding those in the room that a mere 0.3% of the EU budget gives over 30 million citizens a voice at the EU level — and that these attacks are part of a broader tactic to silence civil society — and muzzle the millions of people it represents.?

CONSENSUS ON NGOS – A range of stakeholders took part in the panel, including MEPs representing a broad political spectrum. Yet despite political differences, there was consensus on the panel and within the room: now is not the time to challenge funding for NGOs. With democracy and justice under siege from rising authoritarianism and unchecked corporate influence, civil society stands as a courageous counterforce — amplifying the voices of citizens and holding power to account. If anything, it needs to be strengthened.?

STANDING TOGETHER?– Yet, member organisations and partners are facing similar attacks at the national level. Fresh off their victory in Germany, the CDU raised 551 parliamentary questions targeting the funding of civil society. We stand in solidarity with our national members and partners, emphasising again that civil society organisations are vital for democracy and environmental action across Germany and the EU.

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By:?Alberto Vela. Special thanks to the EEB's editorial team:?Ben Snelson,?Ruby Silk,?Roi Gomez, Carlotta Di Pasquale.?Editor:?Christian Skrivervik