Who's going to pay for Europe's Green Deal?

A first, gruelling round of overnight budget talks between EU leaders on Thursday/Friday has already cast doubt, if more were needed, on the likelihood of the EU boosting budget spending to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss – or anything else, for that matter. 

As ENDS went to press, the “frugal four” of Denmark, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands, along with Germany, appeared to be digging in their heels, refusing to countenance a budget of more than 1% of gross national income. European Council president Charles Michel proposed 1.07%; the European Parliament wants 1.3%; the Commission originally proposed 1.11%. Parliament’s breakdown of the figures can be found here.