Spain asks Brussels not to reverse green rules for companies

Spain has asked the European Commission that its plan to simplify the environmental and social sustainability rules of companies does not represent a step backwards in the European Union’s climate objectives, a position that differs from that of France and Germany.

In a letter sent to the EU executive, the Third Vice-President and Minister of Ecological Transition, Sara Aagesen, and the Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, underline the “importance” of this simplification exercise being carried out “without questioning” the ambition in fundamental European values and “ensuring regulatory certainty and stability”.

“Hundreds of companies are making progress towards achieving climate goals. Eliminating certain obligations would not necessarily improve our competitiveness, but it risks sending a dangerous signal of regression in our fundamental European values and ambitions,” says the letter addressed to the four commissioners responsible for the proposal, including Vice-President Teresa Ribera. The European Commission plans to present on February 26 the first of its ‘omnibus’ proposals to simplify EU legislation in an attempt to reduce the administrative burden on European companies, which point to this factor as one of the great barriers to competing with Chinese or American firms.

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