The path towards a socially just Fit for 55 Package

Social considerations have become increasingly prominent in the European Parliament’s work on the Fit for 55 Package. But there are still differences across political groups, committees and legislative files in emphasis, on which social aspects should be addressed.

There are different perceptions of how regressive distributional impacts can best be avoided. Some emphasise compensatory measures, while others focus on employment or providing basic services and public goods. Debates have also addressed questions around structural issues, such as the lack of representation and access as well as discrimination and disadvantages.

To map out how the inclusion of social issues into European climate policy has taken place in the European Parliament, this expert meeting aimed to foster a dialogue between members of different political groups, researchers and policy experts.

Members of the European Parliament were invited to share their reflections on how they had conceptualised the social dimension, which social issues they had regarded as most important, and how they had translated their ideas into concrete policy proposals in the four legislative files that were addressed in this research project. Participants were invited to share their views on how the meaning of the social aspects in the Fit for 55 Package was evolving in the changing (geo)political context.

On this occasion, we launched the policy study “The path towards a socially just Fit for 55 Package: How did social elements of the Fit for 55 Package evolve in the context of climate, energy and cost of living crises” written by:

• Sanna Markkanen, Research Programme Lead and Senior Analyst, Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
• Krisztina Zálnoky, Research Project Manager, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
• Francesco Giannelli, Policy Intern, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

The discussion aimed to provide crucial inputs by policy-makers, academics and civil society representatives on the role of the European Parliament in shaping the meaning of the social dimension of climate policy through concrete policy interventions.

Among the speakers

• Claudia Detsch, Director of FES Just Climate
• Sanna Markkanen, Research Programme Lead and Senior Analyst, Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)
• Mohammed Chahim, MEP and Vice-President of the S&D Group
• Tsvetelina Penkova, MEP and Shadow Rapporteur for the EPBD file
• Joachim Schuster, MEP and Shadow Rapporteur for the ETD file
• Saïd El Khadraoui, EEA Brussels Representative and institutional expert
• Delara Burkhardt, MEP S&D Group, ENVI
• Frank Siebern-Thomas, Head of Unit, DG EMPL in charge of “Fair Green and Digital Transitions, Research”
• David Rinaldi, FEPS Director of Studies & Policy  

This expert meeting was moderated by Kevin Le Merle, Junior Policy Analyst on Climate and Environment, FEPS and Reghina Dimitrisina, Policy Advisor, FES Just Climate

The expert meeting took place on 7 February (Tuesday), from 14:00 to 18:00, at FEPS headquarters on Avenue des Arts 46, 5th floor, 1000 Brussels.