EUROPEAN TRADE UNION INSTITUTE|«Response measures to the energy crisis: policy targeting and climate trade-offs»

 

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«Were national response measures to the energy crisis targeted, and were they social and climate friendly? 
These are the main questions addressed by this book, which examines whether and how short-term national responses to the cost of energy crisis applied social and ecological preferences. Europe has ‘survived’ two much-feared winters without energy shortages, power cuts and recession, showing a considerable level of resilience. Between September 2021 and August 2023, EU Member States allocated almost 700 billion euros to shield consumers and industry from rising energy costs. Were these resources properly targeted and is there a climate dividend? The national case studies included in this book reveal that the measures were mostly broad-based, including subsidies, tax cuts and price controls. The chapters also address questions on how such policies tackled the conflicting objectives and examine whether there are any good practices that can be identified in which short-term social protection can be aligned with longer term ecological objectives».

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Ainda daqui:

«New research conducted by the ETUI in 7 EU member states (AT-FR-DE-GR-IT-PL-ES) highlights that response measures to the energy crisis were a missed opportunity for the socio-ecological contract. With winter coming and Europe ready to get through it without energy shortages, power cuts and recession, new ETUI research highlights that, with some 80 per cent of spending being directed to broad-based measures, short-term national government support during the recent energy crisis was poorly targeted. As a result, both social and climate policy goals were rather sidelined with the biggest beneficiaries of public fossil-fuel subsidies being higher income groups and the wealthiest people. ‘Europe has survived two much-feared winters, showing a considerable level of resilience, but has missed an opportunity,' said Béla Galgóczi, ETUI senior researcher and editor of the book. ‘The response did not strengthen the social dimension of the green transition when the implementation of the European Green Deal is reaching a critical phase.’ Between September 2021 and August 2023 EU member states allocated almost 700 billion euro to shield consumers and industry from rising energy costs. A new research project, conducted by the ETUI in seven EU member states (Austria,  France,  Germany,  Greece,  Italy,  Poland and Spain), highlights that national responses did not reach those most in need but provided some incentives for more fossil-fuel use among higher-income groups. As a result, both social- and climate-policy goals were rather sidelined and the biggest beneficiaries (in terms of the absolute amount) of public fossil-fuel subsidies were higher income groups whose bigger carbon footprints have thus been co-financed by scarce public resources».