Austria is suing over controversial classification of gas and nuclear energy as climate-friendly investments. As announced by the Minister of Climate Protection, Leonore Gewessler (Greens), a lawsuit against the taxonomy regulation was brought before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Friday shortly before Monday’s deadline. Luxembourg wants to join the lawsuit.
As part of the taxonomy regulation, the European Commission has classified gas and nuclear energy as “sustainable”. With the taxonomy, the European Commission wants to determine which financial investments are considered climate-friendly in the future. This should help mobilize the billions needed for climate change and pave the way for the EU to become climate neutral by 2050.
“Nuclear Energy Greenwashing Program”
Gewessler criticized the European Commission’s taxonomy decision as a “greenwashing program for nuclear energy and fossil natural gas”. The Commission fulfills “above all the wishes of the nuclear lobby”.
Lawyers dampen Austria’s hopes
Austria bases its lawsuit on a report by international experts, according to which nuclear energy is unsustainable. However, lawyers do not find the fact that Austria will stand up to this argumentation before the Court of Justice not particularly great.
“procedural error”
Austria also considers the regulation presented by the European Commission to be legally incorrect. The European Commission does not have the power to make such far-reaching political decisions, the argument goes. Austria also mentions procedural errors. The EU countries would have had too little time to talk about it.
The planned entry into force of the new rules could still be prevented if 20 of the 27 EU states voted against with at least 65 percent of the total EU population. However, it is unlikely that Member States will still oppose it.
Source: Krone
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