Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 23 October 2019 - Strasbourg

Climate and ecological emergency (topical debate)

  Marek Belka (S&D). – Madam President, transition from fossil-based energy production requires a lot of resources. Transition sometimes also has severe social cost. This cost is greater in some countries than in others. Poland is an extreme example where the cost is high. Nevertheless, it has to be done in the very interest of the country itself whose environment, airways and waterways are crumbling under the burden of coal.

Poland asks for more money and more time. Is it legitimate? It is, but only if there is a determination on the part of the Polish authorities to change the energy mix from fossil fuels to renewables. More money and time? Yes, but only if the Government puts forward a detailed, credible, verifiable and closely monitored roadmap of switching away from coal into renewables.