The EU’s Green Deal is not working

Michiel Hoogeveen | 7th November 2023 | Comment
52765798041_e6ca9e15f7_o

The Green Deal – the flagship priority of the von der Leyen Commission for the past 4 years – is suddenly up for debate.

With European elections now less than 12 months away, political parties across Europe have woken up to the reality that the Green Deal’s proposals will increase costs, lower investment, and endanger traditional jobs and industries across the continent. The political shift has been well-documented – Frans Timmermans’ is heading back to Dutch politics; President Macron now supports a ‘regulatory pause’; a very public fight over the Nature Restoration Law happened just before the European Parliament’s summer recess. Those are symptoms though, not causes. The cause of the falling support for the Green Deal is much simpler: it is not working. Imposing new regulatory-driven trade barriers on everything from steel to coffee to palm oil, is increasing prices for European consumers. Subsidising inefficient and unproven technologies like e-kerosene, and trying to kill off core European manufacturing sectors, is leaving Member States with a huge bill while undermining domestic jobs and investment...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



‘Drill, baby, drill’ is not a long-term strategy, bodies warn.

Pablo John | March 19, 2026

Whilst oil and gas may seem like seductive choices, the government must look beyond the soundbites, warns Pablo John.

Logistics body sends an important reminder to the government

Edwin Morgan | March 19, 2026

Despite the importance that logistics and supply chains carry in Britain's economy, the government routinely ignores the significance of the sector, argues Edwin Morgan

Chancellor eyes energy windfall tax despite trade body warnings

Oliver Dean | March 17, 2026

As war continues and oil prices climb, Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out a windfall tax on oil and gas firms.

With Greens polling second, will May 7th be execution day?

William Cash | March 14, 2026

The Greens surge into second place in the polls confirms that the two-party system is no longer fit for purpose. But can Starmer and Badenoch survive execution on

Digital Confidential: Politics and technology column by Damian Collins

Mace | March 12, 2026

As AI turbocharges social media, tech giants must be held accountable says the former chair of the DCMS select committee who now leads law firm Geradin Partners' public

The Political Celebrity Roadshow Has Found Its Perfect Act

Oliver Dean | March 10, 2026

Anthony Scaramucci spent eleven days as White House communications director. This autumn, he will spend considerably longer touring Britain.

Britain faces a crisis of statecraft – not power.

Azeem Ibrahim OBE | March 9, 2026

Despite being criticised for its dwindling position on the world stage, Britain is not lacking in power. What it really needs is statesmanship.

Industry on notice- is the golden age of lobbying over?

William Cash | February 28, 2026

William Cash asks: Will the Mandelson scandal result in real lobbying reform?

Lobby group angered as assisted Dying Bill looks to be killed off by peers

Thomas Edwards | February 26, 2026

With the assisted dying bill looking like it will now fail, The Mace looks at how lobby groups were a driving force behind the controversial bill.

Is Dudley Reform’s Detroit ?

William Cash | February 25, 2026

On the eve of the Gorton and Denton by-election, The Mace reports from the Black Country on why the Midlands vote matters for all parties