Tuesday

19th Mar 2024

Letter

Right of reply: Erik Bergkvist, S&D MEP and shadow rapporteur

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Dear EUobserver,

In an opinion piece by Global Witness, Hypocrisy of S&D and Left MEPs on fossil-fuel gas pipelines it is argued that I, in my position as an S&D rapporteur, don't have a clear stance on fossil fuels in the negotiations on the EU energy infrastructure (also called TEN-E). That is far from the truth.

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I have a clear mandate from my group to do everything I can to keep fossil fuel out of the revised legislation.

This week we have been negotiating several compromise texts in order to update the regulation and to make sure that it is in line with our climate ambitions; to be a climate neutral continent by 2050.

From start the different political groups were far apart, but now I believe we are about to land in progressive compromises, really putting the climate law to practice.

We are setting the standard for many years to come. Rest assured; I have a clear mandate from my group and I am doing everything in my power to kick out fossil fuels from EU financing. It is not empty rhetoric – it's hard work.

Erik Bergkvist, MEP and shadow rapporteur from S&D

Author bio

Erik Bergkvist is a Socialists & Democrats MEP and shadow rapporteur.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author's, not those of EUobserver.

Hypocrisy of S&D and Left MEPs on fossil-fuel gas pipelines

The majority of members of the European Parliament's energy committee, including the Socialists and the Left, look set to green-light measures proposed by conservative parties which would lock the EU into fossil gas for years to come.

MEPs vote to support gas in cross-border projects rules

MEP in the energy committee reached a common position over the revision of the controversial TEN-E regulation, which governs funding for energy infrastructure - paving the way for negotiations with member states to agree on a final law.

Potential legal avenues to prosecute Navalny's killers

The UN could launch an independent international investigation into Navalny's killing, akin to investigation I conducted on Jamal Khashoggi's assassination, or on Navalny's Novichok poisoning, in my role as special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, writes the secretary-general of Amnesty International.

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