Prof. Dr. Mirjana Radovanović was invited to take part in an online event within the regular Europe Calling meetings, during which decision-makers talk to citizens and answer questions from certain areas. This meeting was organized under the title “How can the European green transition be successful?”, and the questions were answered by Mr. Robert Habeck, Deputy Chancellor of Germany.
According to the organizers, the meeting was attended by about 6,000 participants from 40 countries. The meeting started at 18:00.
Mr. Robert Habeck answered the participants’ questions related to the challenges facing Germany and the European Union as a whole when it comes to the green transition. The issue of economic security was singled out as a priority, and the ways in which the economic sector needs to change and adapt in order to perform its role, but also to stay on the path of green transition, were singled out as the biggest problems. New economic models (including the circular economy) face a large number of problems, the most important of which are energy efficiency, the issue of waste and the imbalance in the labor market. Decarbonisation of the electricity generation and recycling sectors is expected to be the most important priorities.
The Green Agenda (EU Green Deal) has been fully adopted and worked out, but an effort is needed to stay on that path, which is not an easy task for either member countries or candidate countries.
It was pointed out the fact that EU funds exist for these purposes, but that the procedure is extremely bureaucratic and potential users give up their applications. Changes in this domain must certainly happen.
The audience is aware of the fact that the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia is financing a project to assess the potential for the transition to a circular economy, as well as the first results, which show that certain challenges exist and that more detailed assessments and the selection of the economic sector with the greatest capacity for circularity are needed. .
It can be concluded that there are big problems after the termination of the supply of gas to the EU from the Russian Federation (disabling Nord Stream 1 and 2), because liquid (so-called fracking) gas that can be obtained as a substitute from the USA is harmful to the climate, and cannot be consider acceptable. The issue of reliable energy supply to citizens and the economy is certainly a priority.
It was pointed out the need to look at rural and urban areas differently on all the above grounds in the future – which requires special changes that cannot be expected very soon. An answer must also be found to the problems faced by citizens with lower incomes (problem of social justice). The situation is further complicated by the decision to transfer certain funds to Ukraine, which calls into question meeting the needs of EU countries, especially when it comes to social benefits.
The aforementioned will greatly affect the future of the EU economy, with consequences that cannot be seen at the moment.
The meeting ended at 19:00.
Agenda (PDF)