A report for the European Parliament’s environment committee says EU budget subsidies in transport, energy and other areas should be removed because they can be environmentally harmful.
[mailchimp_signup][/mailchimp_signup]The report specifically found subsidies for long-distance road transport can have a damaging effect. It did not consider indirect subsidies such as tax exemptions. Environmentally harmful subsidies are due to be discussed as part of negotiations on the next EU budget, which takes effect in 2013.
Europe must stand firm over its future targets for carmakers as it cannot afford to fall further behind China.
The decision to create a Europe-wide carbon price was right but creates significant political risk. The good news is it can still be fixed.
It's about time the EU requires parts of key products to be made locally – and nowhere is this more urgent than in the battery sector.