EU Green Transition: EU's green transition 'will have slightly positive economic effect'

The EU's move towards a carbon-neutral economy to tackle climate change will have a "slightly positive" economic effect, it's been claimed.

Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU's economy commissioner, speaking to Euronews in Berlin, admitted the green transition would have winners and losers but that it should be done in a "socially acceptable way".

EU countries reached a deal last month on making the bloc climate neutral by 2050.

It came after Brussels unveiled €100 billion in public and private funds to help the fossil-fuel reliant EU nations make the transition to lower emissions
.
Dombrovskis, asked about the impact of the energy transition on citizens, said: "When we are discussing green transition, then it has to take place in a socially acceptable way. And actually the assessment is that it is going to have a slightly positive effect on the economy.

"Because on the one hand, one can say, yes, certain jobs will disappear, certain fossil fuels will get more expensive, but at the same time there will be many new jobs created in the green economy and there will be many new economies that will make green energy and the green transition affordable.

 Read more: The Brief: EU's green transition 'will have slightly positive economic effect' | Euronews

EU-US Trade Negotiations: Concerns rise over US-EU trade talks - as Europe demonstrates against talks - by Andrew Walker

An eneven match

There are rising concerns in Europe over negotiations to liberalise trade with the United States. 

The project, the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, aims to remove a wide range of barriers to bilateral commerce.

Opponents are planning demonstrations and protests across Europe today October 11, with large numbers of events in Germany, France, Spain and Italy,

In Britain, events are planned in at least 15 cities and towns.

One campaigner involved in planning the day of action said she expected at least 400 local actions in about 24 European countries.

The EU and the US launched the negotiations last year and the aim is to stimulate more trade and investment, and, in the process, to produce more economic growth and employment.

One aim of the negotiations is to reduce the costs to business of complying with regulations. A firm in, say Europe, that wants to export to the US often has to comply with two sets of rules.

Critics say the result of this would be lower standards of protection for workers, consumers and the environment. Food safety is a particular concern among European opponents of the negotiations.

In the EU, campaigners say that consumers could be faced with more genetically modified food, hormone treated beef and chicken meat that has been rinsed with chlorine.

Another major concern is the provisions under discussion to enable foreign investors - for example American firms investing in the EU - to sue a host government in some circumstances if they are hit by a change in policy.

That turned out to be so controversial that the European Commission decided to hold a public consultation. There were 150,000 responses which the Commission is still analyzing.

The conduct of the negotiations is also contentious. Campaigners say they are secretive and undemocratic. They also dispute TTIP advocates' claims about the economic benefits.

Overall these negotiations have proven to be extremely controversia and should not be allowed to be shoved down the throats of European Citizens.

Read more: BBC News - Concerns rise over US-EU trade talks