BRUSSELS — Efforts to curtail far-right influence over a decade-defining climate law failed after the center-right European People’s Party refused to support left-leaning and centrist groups.
A narrow majority of members of the European Parliament on Wednesday rejected a motion to fast-track the legislative body’s discussions on the EU’s 2040 climate target, a proposal that would have limited the far-right Patriots for Europe’s control over the legislation.
The motion, brought by the center-left Socialists and Democrats, the centrist Renew Europe, and the Greens, failed by 300 votes in favor to 379 votes against, with eight abstentions.
The vote came after the Patriots on Tuesday outbid other political groups to field the lead MEP for the file, a shock move giving the group — which opposes the proposed target and the EU’s green agenda more broadly — unprecedented influence over climate legislation.
