The deal meant that Knotek had until Friday, July 25, to submit his report — forcing him to file a simple rejection report rather than a more complex position. Some centrist MEPs worried that if the far right had, for example, suggested a watered-down target, parts of the center-right European People’s Party could have been tempted to side with the Patriots.
Other MEPs can now file amendments to the position by early September, with an environment committee vote scheduled for later that month. If a majority of centrist MEPs in the committee agree on their own submission, they can pass a counterproposal, which will then be voted on by all lawmakers in October.
Centrist MEPs hit back
The motion for rejection encountered instant criticism.
“Mr. Knotek’s rejection of the 2040 target confirms the destructive agenda of Patriots leading this file and the impossibility of building a functional majority with the far right,” said Javi López, the Socialists and Democrats’ lead MEP on the proposal.
He called on the EPP, which is divided over whether to support the target, to work on an “ambitious agreement among pro-European forces.”
Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, who leads the centrist Renew Europe group’s work on the file, said: “This is economically illiterate, and pursues a path that will hurt the most vulnerable regions and people.”