The session was conducted in Spanish and gathered an audience interested in learning about the role of the European Green Deal in the EU’s economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic. For this, we had the participation of Daniel Calleja, Director-General for Environment of the European Commission. During the session, Daniel Calleja presented a detailed analysis of the EU’s recovery plan to address the post-COVID-19 situation. The speaker highlighted, within these plans, the Commission’s priorities on green issues and its role in driving solutions to the crisis.

Calleja began by underlining the major global challenges we are currently facing that require urgent action, such as climate change, overexploitation of resources, pollution, and ecosystem degradation. These problems are compounded by the global COVID-19 crisis, a pandemic that has had a devastating impact on the health, economic, and social dimensions, creating an unprecedented recession in Europe. In response to this situation, the European Union has driven actions across the three dimensions affected by the pandemic. The speaker highlighted the mobilization of an unprecedented economic package, “Next Generation EU,” designed to reactivate the economy, promote investment, and support the transition to a more sustainable and digital model.

Building on this foundation, the question arises of the compatibility of the EU’s green commitments with crisis relief strategies. In this regard, Daniel Calleja recalled that among the priority strategies presented by Ursula von der Leyen at the beginning of her term in 2020 is the European Green Deal; an agreement aimed at ensuring that the EU’s economic development is sustainable and aligned with the rest of the organization’s policies, prioritizing decarbonization initiatives, a new industrial policy based on the circular economy, biodiversity protection, and pollution reduction. According to the speaker, the framework of this Deal would create an opportunity for sectors such as construction, mobility, energy, and tourism to be boosted as pillars of an economic recovery based on sustainable development.

Finally, Daniel Calleja pointed out that the push for European initiatives does not imply abandoning the global dimension. On the contrary, the Green Deal should be supported by other international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, and foster green alliances with countries from other regions of the world.

The session concluded with a debate where participants had the chance to ask questions about the topics discussed. This exchange highlighted the importance of understanding the instrumental role of the European Green Deal in the recovery process after the pandemic.

Lucía Rodríguez
Communication Assistant, INCIPE