Work in Parliament Intervention on the Fit for 55 package

Maria da Graça Carvalho intervention on the Fit for 55 package at the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg:

"Dear president,
Dear vice-president,
Dear Colleagues,

Fit for 55 is a much-needed package. The current status quo is not enough for Europe to reach climate neutrality by 2050. If we want to achieve what we pledged ourselves to do, in the Paris Agreement, we need to go further.

With this proposal, the EU addresses climate change in several sectors. Previous interventions focused mainly on energy production and industry. This is a step in the right direction.

On the other hand, there is room for improvement. We need a better connection between the climate agenda and research and development.

Fit for 55 is very comprehensive about regulation, standards, taxation and carbon pricing. It falls short when it comes to the development of clean, affordable technologies.

The Horizon Europe partnerships are just an example of an initiative that could help us to develop the technological resources that we need to achieve our goals.

We want a package linked to the real world.

• One that ensures a fair distribution of the burden we will put on different sectors of the society;
• Paying special attention to our citizens;
• Counting on existing and emerging technologies and infrastructures;
• And contributing to the creation of wealth and new jobs.

Thank you!"