On the occasion of the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, which takes place today at Palazzo Chigi, and in view of the Italian Presidency, which begins July 1, Monica Frassoni, Co-Chair of the European Green Party, and Rebecca Harms, Co-Preisdent of the Green Group at the EU Parliament, reaffirm the importance of a straight forward action by the Italian government in the next six months to come.
"The Italian Presidency should be an opportunity to demonstrate that the Prime minister Renzi is not a driver of innovation and 'audacity' only in words but also in deeds: starting with the EU energy plan and a change of course on the decree Spalma Rinnovabili (to spreadrenewables).
"By October, right in the middle of the Italian semester, the EU will have to decide on the Climate and Energy Package 2030, by means of how to present itself at the upcoming climate negotiations in Paris and what kind of energy future give to Europe.
"Renzi needs to start working in order for the EU to engage in the definition of three ambitious and binding targets by 2030, following the resolution of the EP in February this year: at least a reduction of CO2 emissions to 55%, the use of renewable energy to 45% and energy efficiency to 40%.
"By defining the EU common position, Renzi must also revise the decree Spalma Incentivi, which continued in the wake of the previous governments, it "kills renewables" with deep cuts to incentives, resulting in the runaway of investors, putting at stake the future of energy in Italy and going in the opposite direction to the ambitious targets taht the EU needs.
"These are the foundations for the green economy, the only way for true innovation and what is supposed to be one of the central themes of the Italian Presidency: starting with the Informal Council of 17 July in Milan, attended by the Ministers of the Environment and Labour."
