The EU has an agenda for sustainable prosperity. It’s worth a read on this side of the Atlantic, too.

In September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled her vision for the next European Commission, dishing out twenty-six portfolios and a revamped leadership structure for the European Union’s (EU’s) executive arm. The Commission’s political guidelines, released this summer and now followed with more concrete plans for the next five years, make for a thought-provoking read for both sides of the Atlantic. Read together, it amounts to an ambitious agenda for achieving sustainable prosperity. The EU is looking to address its multiple, simultaneous challenges and priorities concurrently: social and economic wellbeing, enhancing security, and addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.

The EU taking this ambitious approach was not a given. Concerns have swirled across Europe over the bloc’s commitment to climate action and sustainability amid a growing political focus on competitiveness and security over the past couple years. There have been worries over the future of the European Green Deal, the EU’s sustainable growth strategy of the past five years. Right-wing politicians have criticized it. Far-right influencers have spread mis- and disinformation about climate change, and conservative politicians, including some members of von der Leyen’s own party, have pushed false claims about the EU’s climate and environmental policies.

What to expect over the next five years

In her proposal for the new European Commission, von der Leyen makes it unequivocally clear: The European Green Deal continues to guide EU action, and addressing the climate crisis remains central to the bloc’s activities. Moving forward, the Commission plans to integrate the goals of the Green Deal across all policy areas and focus on implementation. It has put delivering on the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals squarely on its agenda, and commissioners are expected to contribute to achieving climate and sustainability objectives when developing and implementing EU laws. Importantly, von der Leyen has instructed all commissioners to tackle disinformation within the EU, signaling that this Commission intends to act on science rather than on irresponsible rhetoric.

The Commission’s political guidelines, published in July, laid the foundation for its work over the next five years. The letters to the twenty-six commissioner candidates clarified the plans further. Competitiveness is not a standalone agenda. Economic and industrial strategies are necessary, but they must be aligned with the EU’s sustainability goals. Security and defense are essential, but so is the health of the planet and the environment, as well as ensuring European citizens and businesses can benefit from the green transition. By framing the clean and just transition and competitiveness as complementary goals, the new Commission is demonstrating its commitment to achieving sustainable prosperity that benefits the planet, people, and businesses. 

Planned actions

The Commission’s plans, as laid out in these documents, provide an inspiring read for responsible leaders—politicians, policymakers, businesses, media, and other opinion influencers—on both sides of the Atlantic looking to enhance sustainable prosperity. They acknowledge the geopolitical risks, the impacts of import dependencies, and the pressures that companies and people are facing—but also recognize the urgent need to address the planetary crisis. The Commission’s plans provide a comprehensive starting point for addressing today’s complex challenges, carrying the potential to address the multiple short- and long-term priorities for the economy, security, society, and the planet—all at the same time. 

The following examples illustrate how the Commission aims to turn its ambitions into action:

  • Sustainable transport: To make European transport more competitive, sustainable, and accessible, the Commission lists several action points including a “swift build-up of charging infrastructure” to electrify road transport, as well as making corporate car fleets clean and using digitalization to modernize the transport system.
  • Clean energy transition: The Commission will continue focusing on energy efficiency, as well as the deployment of renewables and energy storage. It plans to address inefficiencies in the building sector, which can address both energy poverty and the climate crisis. It mentions small modular nuclear reactors and carbon capture utilization—as well as storage—as specific areas for development. It looks to “rid [the EU of its] dependencies on fossil fuels,” including by phasing out “the use of fossil fuel subsidies.”

Turning words into action will require courage and leadership

While these plans are ambitious, they are not without limitations. The Commission could have proposed more concrete measures to ensure a just transition, particularly for the most vulnerable. The EU doesn’t just need a single market for sustainable products—it also needs one for sustainable services, which hasn’t received sufficient attention. The plans could have been clearer on turning digitalization, data, and digital solutions, into enablers for sustainability. The Commission should recognize that the prospects for climate-induced migration provide a strong rationale for enhancing climate action and climate financing beyond its borders. Moreover, the links between new trade agreements and climate and environmental goals could be stronger.

Furthermore, these plans mark only the beginning. Each commissioner must now be confirmed by the European Parliament, and their responsibilities better defined, given overlapping portfolios. Although time is of the essence, turning the set priorities into concrete actions will be a complex task. Expect political tensions and tugs-of-war on the Commission’s upcoming policy proposals in the European Parliament and across member states. International partners will undoubtedly push back when the EU measures affect them, as has been the case with the carbon border adjustment mechanism and the deforestation regulation, which underscores the importance of EU communication about envisaged actions and global engagement. The Commission will likely be repeatedly pressured to compromise on science-based policies in favor of political expediency. 

Maintaining progress will require political courage and responsible leadership. The Commission must resist the pressure from politicians and businesses that have strong vested interests to maintain business as usual. Addressing mis- and disinformation campaigns and upholding the Green Deal’s priorities will be essential to achieving the EU’s goals. 

A call for transatlantic cooperation

The Commission’s proposed structure and priorities send a clear message to the rest of the world, especially the United States: The EU is committed to the green transition and making its energy, food, and mobility systems, as well as its production and consumption patterns, more sustainable. Its envisaged policies and initiatives, the implementation of existing rules, and the use of financial and economic incentives reflect this ambition. It wants to create a market for sustainable solutions and ensure that European businesses can be competitive solution-providers in the growing global market. The EU recognizes that the green transition is now central to great power competition, including vis-à-vis China, and it looks to join this race with the allies and tools it has. 

The question is if the United States wants to join forces with the EU to embrace and spearhead this transition. The alternative—clinging to the past, ignoring the complexity of today’s challenges and the benefits of cooperation, and doubling down on antiquated, costly solutions such as fossil fuels and gas cars—would be a missed opportunity for transatlantic collaboration and risk making the United States an outlier among global economies. 

The EU is sending a signal from the heart of Europe, one that offers significant opportunities for transatlantic cooperation in creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for all. The EU is looking for allies and solutions to achieve its goals. Leaders, businesses, and policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic have a unique opportunity to harness the benefits of this collaboration. The Commission’s vision and plans for the next five years provide a source of inspiration for those seeking a path to sustainable prosperity.


Annika Hedberg is a nonresident senior fellow at the Europe Center.

Further reading

Image: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for a meeting of the Board of Commissioners in Brussels, Belgium, September 18, 2024. JOHN THYS/Pool via REUTERS