Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have been investing in coal plants, heavy industries in Southeast Europe at a time when Chinese President Xi Jingping promised during a recent speech to the UN Assembly that China will aim to hit peak emissions before 2030 and for carbon neutrality by 2060.
“The EU needs to insist on a halt to coal projects in the EU and accession countries being agreed in the comprehensive investment on trade (CAI) it is currently negotiating with China, Pippa Gallop, Southeast Europe Energy Advisor at Bankwatch, told New Europe on September 29, stressing that compliance with EU law must also be a binding condition for any infrastructure project.
“The EU also needs to improve law enforcement in accession countries, including by strengthening the Energy Community Treaty to enable effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties to be issued. Introducing a carbon border tax for electricity would also help get the message across that coal is no longer economic,” Gallop said.
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