The European Green Deal Under Pressure: From Ambition to Delivery
Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and shifting political priorities have put the European Green Deal under growing strain. A new Sieps analysis by four researchers at the Stockholm Center on Global Governance shows that key parts of EU climate and sustainability policy have been delayed or watered down – even though the overall framework still stands.
The EU has set ambitious climate goals – but key parts of the European Green Deal have been delayed or weakened, according to a new Sieps analysis. Photo: Kirill Ryzhov/Mostphotos
In the analysis – The European Green Deal under Geopolitical Turbulence: Strengthening, Delay or Dismantling? – Karin Bäckstrand, Johanna Coenen, Jana Gheuens and Maria-Therese Gustafsson from the Department of Political Science trace what has happened to central parts of the Green Deal since it was launched in 2019.
The picture is mixed. Early crises such as the pandemic and the energy crisis actually strengthened EU climate ambitions. But more recent political turbulence has led to delays and weaker rules – not least for newer supply-chain legislation on corporate due diligence and deforestation-free products. At the same time, EU climate policy is so well established that an outright rollback has not happened.
The authors’ conclusion: the challenge for the EU is no longer setting ambitious climate goals, but delivering on them. That also matters for the EU’s credibility as a global climate leader.
Last updated: 2026-11-11
Source: Department of Political Science