Italy leads push to weaken green rules in €2 trillion EU budget

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🗞️ Driving the news: Italy is leading efforts to weaken environmental safeguards in the EU’s proposed €2 trillion budget for 2028-2034, challenging the expansion of the “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) principle that would prevent EU funds from supporting projects that damage environmental objectives

🔭 The context: The European Commission introduced DNSH rules to align public spending with climate and environmental goals, including reducing fossil fuel dependence and protecting nature
• Italy and other critics argue stricter requirements could restrict funding for industrial sectors and infrastructure projects at a time when Europe is competing with the U.S. and China

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The debate will shape whether future EU investments accelerate decarbonisation or continue supporting activities with higher environmental impacts
• Stronger safeguards could direct public funding towards cleaner technologies, while weaker rules could increase the risk of financing projects that undermine climate and biodiversity goals

⏭️ What’s next: EU governments will negotiate the budget guidelines in the autumn, with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of the year
• The European Parliament is expected to debate the DNSH principle during wider budget negotiations in 2027

💬 One quote: “We cannot afford to use the EU budget to destroy our planet, and therefore strong safeguards are a must.” – Rasmus Nordqvist, European Parliament lawmaker

📈 One stat: The proposed EU budget for 2028-2034 would allocate approximately €2 trillion in public funding

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