Csaba Borboly: the challenge is to balance the energy tax system so that the burden does not fall on the vulnerable and the quality of life is not damaged
Peer Parliament event organized for the first time in Harghita County on energy and electricity tax
The Peer Parliament online event held on 7 February was attended by: Csaba Borboly, President of the Harghita County Council, Member of the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) Committee of the European Committee of the Regions, Mr. Gyula Winkler MEP, Senator Lóránt Antal, Member of Energy Committee of the Romanian Parliament, Roxana Șunică, Coordinator of the Denkstatt (Climate Pact Ambassadors), and by Mr. László CSÁK, expert.
“The transition to climate neutrality is a common goal of EU member states and we need to consider rethinking investment and action plans to protect vulnerable groups. Most of the measures needed to achieve the climate goals have a specific territorial dimension, so local and regional authorities are in the best position to assess and formulate them at local level” said Csaba Borboly.
According to the President of Harghita County Council, the green transition must be socially fair in order to be effective. We, in Brussels, often say that we will not leave anyone behind, so concrete policies need to be developed.
According to Mr. Gyula Winkler, Member of the European Parliament, a multi-level approach is needed, and he acknowledged the importance of the contribution of local and regional authorities and the costs involved as well.
“The starting point for the debate is the current energy crisis. All of Europe will face an energy crisis and Romania needs to rethink its energy strategy, how to move forward and how to deal with the situation. I would like to emphasize that the most important thing for us is to represent the citizens and that we face many challenges in this sector to provide the population with investments that help their resilience” – said Mr. Lóránt Antal, senator of the Romanian Parliament and member of the Energy Committee.
Roxana Șunică, Denkstatt’s coordinator, appreciated the importance of such discussions, which convey to politicians the ideas and opinions that will shape the future of the Green Deal and the EU’s quest for a first climate-neutral continent. With the help of an advisory group she represents, they organize events to gather suggestions for a correct understanding of the problems society is facing.
Dr. László Csák, expert, formulated the conclusions of the event: policies aimed at the green transition must be designed in such a way that the lives of vulnerable groups are not affected by even higher taxes.
“The challenge is common and we must act decisively in order to ensure that good solutions are not left out of the elaboration of final documents related to the socially equitable implementation of climate neutrality,” said Csaba Borboly.
The draft opinion of the European Committee of the Regions on Towards a socially fair implementation of the Green Deal elaborated by Csaba Borboly, rapporteur, was discussed in the ENVE Commission of the CoR on 10th of March 2022.
More information on: https://cor.borbolycsaba.ro/ro/?page_id=1089
