Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is being discussed at the highest level

At an informal video conference of the EU Environment Council on Thursday, Environment Minister Simonas Gentvilas, together with First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius and high-ranking politicians from other member states, discussed how to speed up the adoption of an EU-wide climate protection law.

“The European Parliament will probably adopt the Climate Law this spring, which all EU countries will have to comply with,” said Lithuanian Minister of the Environment Simonas Gentvilas after the Environment Council meeting.

According to the Minister, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism of the EU internal market is also gaining ground in the highest discussions.

“If we want to raise environmental standards for Lithuanian industry, it is especially important for us that our eastern neighbors, Asian countries, have the same tax and environmental obligations as we do when importing goods into Europe. Therefore, when raising the standard in Europe – from batteries to oil and cement – we must set the same standards for imported products as well,” commented Simonas Gentvilas.

According to the Minister of the Environment, EU ministers and diplomats are still discussing how to include more sectors, such as aviation, road and maritime transport, in an effective emissions trading scheme.

After signing an agreement on financing from the European Union Recovery Fund at the end of April, Lithuania will receive about 2.4 billion EUR and 37% funds will have to go to the Green Deal.

“In Brussels, we are deciding at the highest level how to fund the economy of the future, not the past. When using these funds, we will be guided by the principle of “do no harm”, so that when investing European public resources we do not cause negative consequences for ecosystems and the environment, damage to nature,” said Simonas Gentvilas.

The Climate Law, which requires the EU to become climate neutral by 2050, was adopted by the EC in early March this year.