“Delivering today and preparing for tomorrow” – European Commission releases its Work Programme for 2024

On 17 October 2023, the European Commission (“Commission”) published its Work Programme for 2024, an annual document that sets out the list of the most important actions it will execute in the year ahead.  The document is an extension of President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address on 13 September, where she outlined the main priorities and flagship initiatives that will build on the European Union’s achievements over the past years. As such, in this Work Programme, there are several initiatives that will remain a priority for the years to come. As the continent prepares for the upcoming elections in 2024, the path forward hinges on unity, vision, and unwavering commitment to a sustainable, inclusive future.

A central focus of the Commission's work will remain on the European Green Deal, a world-leading effort to combat the negative impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss while propelling Europe's growth agenda. The emphasis has shifted towards implementation, with proposals on animal protection, microplastic pollution prevention, improved forest monitoring, and a mobility package slated for the latter part of 2023. Additionally, the Commission plans to work diligently to pave the path towards a digital future which prioritizes sustainability, humanity, and prosperity, in line with the goals of the Digital Decade.

The European Green Deal in focus

The European Union boasts the most ambitious green transformation plan globally, targeting climate-neutrality, circular economy, and a net-zero economy by 2050. This also includes preventing environmental degradation, conserving biodiversity, and achieving zero pollution.

As part of the Commission’s Work Programme for 2024, there are three non-legislative initiatives planned for the “European Green Deal” agenda:

1. Wind power package: presented on 24 October 2023
   • The European wind industry is crucial for achieving decarbonization goals and providing reliable electricity. To reach the 42.5% of renewables by 2023 target, the European Union aims to increase wind capacity from 204 GW in 2022 to over 500 GW by 2023. The action plan is set to focus on six main pillars:
     • Acceleration of deployment through increased predictability and faster permitting;
     • Improved auction design;
     • Access to finance;
     • Creation of a fair and competitive international environment;
     • Skills;
     • Industry engagement and Member State commitments.
2. 2040 climate target: to be presented in the first quarter of 2024
   • Will aim to accelerate Europe’s efforts in consolidating its path towards climate neutrality by 2050.
3. Water resilience: to be presented in the first quarter of 2024
   • Will address water management amidst climate change.

Additionally, a non-legislative initiative that falls under “An economy that works for the people” agenda is equally relevant to the greening of technology and the European Green Deal:

1. Advanced materials for industrial leadership: to be presented in the first quarter of 2024
   • The Commission plans to adopt a plan on advanced materials for industrial leadership, in partnership with Member States, to expedite the development of safe, sustainable, and circular advanced materials. Sectors such as healthcare, construction, transportation, and energy will be impacted as a result of this non-legislative endeavour. The initiative will significantly benefit both the green and digital transition.

These initiatives collectively reinforce the European Green Deal agenda by targeting key areas of environmental concern, to transition towards a more sustainable, low-carbon, and environmentally resilient future.

In addition to the new Green Deal initiatives presented by the Commission, efforts on finalising crucial initiatives continue to advance the digital agenda and bolster Europe's resilience. For example, two crucial pieces of legislation, such as the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Net-Zero Industry Act are planned to be completed in the upcoming months.

As a recapitulation, the Critical Raw Materials Act is poised to strengthen Europe's domestic supplies by boosting refining and recycling capacities. It aims to diversify imports of vital materials and incentivise industry to improve supply chain management, all while maintaining competitiveness. These provisions will leverage the strengths of the single market to promote more sustainable and circular practices by facilitating joint purchasing of raw materials through a dedicated platform. To further promote collaboration, the Commission will convene an inaugural meeting of the Critical Raw Materials Club in the latter part of 2023. This “Club” will be geared towards stepping up EU trade action by assembling like-minded countries willing to strengthen global supply chains under one umbrella.

Furthermore, the Net-Zero Industry Act is designed to support Europe's industry in adopting innovative technologies necessary for an economy with net-zero emissions. This encompasses technologies such as wind turbines, heat pumps, solar panels, electrolysers, offshore/onshore renewables, biogas/biomethane technologies, grid technologies, and CO2 storage. The goal of this piece of legislation is to reduce the European Union’s dependence on highly concentrated imports, address barriers to scaling up production, and enhance competitiveness while ensuring energy resilience. Overall, the Net-Zero Industry Act creates a favourable environment for the development of clean technologies by providing clear targets, supporting innovation, facilitating investments, and ensuring a skilled workforce. While the proposal was presented by the Commission on 16 March 2023, the European Parliament aims to adopt its position during the 20 November plenary session, with the European Council also aiming to adopt its negotiating mandate or “general approach” by the end of 2023. An agreement on the file between the three European institutions is due to be reached in the first half of 2024.

In tandem, the initiatives under the Work Programme for 2024 underscore the Commission's commitment to navigating the evolving technological and environmental landscapes responsibly, ensuring it aligns with broader sustainability goals and contributes to a secure, innovative, and resilient future.

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