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EU lawmakers reject attempts to limit the influence of far-right politicians in climate talks

The European Parliament rejected on Wednesday a proposal for fast-tracking talks on the EU’s new climate goal, undermining a bid by liberals, socialists and greens to limit the influence climate sceptic legislators have on this goal.

The far-right Patriots of Europe, which rejects EU policy to curb climate changes, took over the role of leading negotiators on Tuesday for the 2040 target. They were seeking to steer discussions on this goal, to which they said they strongly opposed.

On Wednesday, lawmakers rejected a proposal to speed up the negotiation process. This would have bypassed the stages in which the Patriots had the most influence and restricted their ability to determine the timing of negotiations.

Total 379 legislators rejected the plan for accelerating the talks. 300 lawmakers voted in favor and eight abstained.

With this vote, the Patriots are now in the driving seat for the Parliament as it negotiates with EU members the final climate target 2040. Patriots will draft an initial negotiation proposal for the Parliament.

Patriots spokesperson stated that the group will not prioritize meeting the September deadline by which countries must submit their new climate targets at the United Nations.

"What is important is to reach a deal which delivers real benefits to our citizens." The spokesperson stated that Patriots had never negotiated like traders on a market.

The Patriots is the third largest group of legislators in the EU Parliament. It includes the far-right parties of France’s Marine Le Pen, and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

EU officials said that the Patriots won the top negotiating position in a meeting held behind closed doors on Tuesday, by outbidding parliament's largest group, the centre right European People's Party.

Green legislators expressed concern that the goal would be diluted or delayed. Michael Bloss, a German EU legislator, said that there is a danger the EU's climate goal will be forgotten.

The EPP, the party of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, did not support the attempt to speed up the talks.

Jeroen Lénaers, a Dutch EPP EU legislator, said that the group didn't deem the fast track procedure necessary and that it wanted to "improve", without providing any further details, the target set by the Commission to reduce emissions 90% by 2040.

Some EPP legislators have stated that a target of 90% is too ambitious. This year, governments from Italy to Poland have been reluctant to adopt ambitious goals for reducing emissions. They cited concerns about the costs of industries.

(source: Reuters)