efr – key for the european semester to deliver green budget europe environmental fiscal reform in...
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EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Green Budget Europe
ENVIRONMENTAL FISCAL REFORM IN THE EUROPEAN SEMESTER
Putting resource efficiency back on the agenda?
24 November 2014 · Brussels · Friends of the Earth Europe
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Outline
The European Semester: Does it matter?
Role of resource efficiency in the European Semester
Hook or much ado about nothing?
Critical assessment of 4 EU Semester cycles
Recommendations
How could a greening of the European Semester contribute to a more sustainable EU
The European Semester – Does it matter? ?
Europe 2020 strategy & Fiscal Policies
Fiscal surveillance
Macro-economicsurveillance
Thematic surveillance
Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines (IG)
Europe 2020 five headline targets
Stability and Growth Pact
National Reform
Programmes
Stability and Convergence Programmes
Commission’s Annual Growth Survey EU annual policy guidance and recommendations
EU flagship initiatives and levers
National level
EU level
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Rising labour costs
Labour costs have continually and visibly risen:
Labour costsmanufacturing industry
1969–2004in €/h (2010)
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Falling commodity prices
Overall, commodity prices have fallen since the beginning of the industrial revolution:
Economist „Metal-Detector“:Industrial metal-index
1845–2011(1845 = 100%)
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
TELL ME….
…what you tax and what you spend, and also what you don´t tax and don´t spend -and I´ll tell you what your true objectives are!
Dr. Anselm Görres, GBE President
Increase taxes on activities harmful to the environment
Reduce taxes on activities not harmful to the environment, e.g. labour
Tax what you burn….not what you earn
RATIONALE: price = strongest market signal & driver for changes and efficient allocation of resources
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Tradable permits
Border tax Adjust-ments
fees
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Environmental Tax revenue in % of GDP
Source: Eurostat 2013
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Environmental Tax revenue in % of GDP
Source: Eurostat 2013
Denmark: 4,1 %The Netherlands: 3,5 %Slovenia: 3,4 %
Spain, France, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia: below 2 %
Hook or much ado about nothing?
A critical assessment of 4 Semester cycles
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
CSR assessment 2012-2014
2012 2013 2014
Tax Shift / implement green taxes
12 11 8CZ, ES, IE,
HU, IT, LI, LU, LV
Environmentally harmful subsidies
0 2 3BE, FR, IT
Energy 8 17
Source: European Commission and Green Budget Europe
Implementation of CSRs 2010-2012
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Weaknesses
Democratic legitimation European and national Parliaments have a very weak role Consultation of CSOs, MoE, regional decision makers!
Enforcement Low political priority regarding green taxes, 2030 “targets” Deliver robust data! CEPRiE
Visibility Communication between Ministries, Services other MS? FRE-communicate! contra EU jargon
Implementation Strong sectoral lobby Best practices and front runners
15
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Green Budget Europe activities
Developing alternative CSRs Lobby European Commission (Sec Gen, Cabinets
DG ECFIN, ENVI and CLIMATE), at Hearing (EP), Green New Deal WG (EP), Member States (EESC), ESOs
European Commission Experts Group Monthly meetings with environmental NGOs in
Brussels Get involved in the National Reform Programmes
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Recommendations
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
Recommendations
Stop thinking in dichotomies Europe 2020 versus fiscal surveillance EFR is part of the solution!
Climate and energy scoreboard and indicators deepening or broadening?
Assess CSR implementation via cohesion policy Enhance process: Strong CSO’s involvement
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
CONTENT:
Raise environment and resource taxes 10% of total taxes
Member States should develop a concrete strategy by 2015 on how to phase out Environmental Harmful Subsidies by 2020
PROCESS:
EP needs to get involved in the decision making process
CSRs should deliver on all Europe 2020 targets with strong CSO’s involvement
EFR – key for the European Semester to deliver
T H A N K Y O U!
Dr. Constanze Adolf Director Brussels Office
Rue du Trône 4 • 1000 Brussels T: +32 25 88 57 65M: +32 486 66 65 79