Letter: Brussels should resist US calls to roll back green agenda
María Mendiluce
This letter was first published in the Financial Times.
The growing pressure to roll back EU sustainability regulations in response to US deregulation is deeply concerning (Report, January 27)
Brussels is under pressure to curb its green agenda in response to Donald Trump. Your article insists European businesses and national governments claim these rules stifle investment and competitiveness. But while simplifying implementation is important, it should not justify rolling back core regulations.
The key is for the EU to distinguish between these two actions: simplifications that will help companies continue to build competitive advantage based on sustainable investments, and deregulation that will favour laggards.
The suggestion that Europe’s regulations are “frivolous, excessive, and expensive”, as one businessman is quoted as saying, ignores the reality that long-term economic stability depends on a just, stable transition to clean energy. Deregulation should not enable companies to invest in outdated, polluting technologies that ultimately harm EU competitiveness. Markets increasingly reward firms that embrace responsible practices, and EU regulations can make Europe a more attractive market for new clean investments that bring growth and jobs. Moreover, many European businesses have already adapted to these standards, investing in compliance, clean technologies and greener supply chains. The real issue is regulatory predictability, not overregulation. Changing course now would penalise forward-thinking companies that have followed the rules, and reward those that have delayed action.
Instead of dismantling progress, the EU should focus on streamlining compliance and removing red tape, for example reducing permitting times for clean energy, while maintaining core legislation that will future-proof its economy.
Signed,
Maria Mendiluce
Chief Executive, We Mean Business Coalition
Geneva, Switzerland