European Commission

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020)

EU was the first global region to pass binding legislation to enshrine climate and energy targets and become a highly energy-efficient climate-neutral economy
EU is a global leader in the shift towards a clean and circular economy
Significant improvement in environmental quality due to confinement measures

EU’s social market economy played a key role in cushioning the effects of the COVID-19 crisis
EU devised innovative solutions and demonstrated its resilience capacities during the COVID-19 crisis (e.g., adapting production lines for medical supplies)
Implementation of safety nets to protect firms and workers during confinement measures

Improved cooperation and coordination among Member States during the COVID-19 crisis
Establishment of the first-ever common strategic reserve of medical equipment as part of rescEU
Implementation and coordination of green lanes allowing freight transport to move unhindered

Long-term Goals:

COVID-19 crisis exposed health and social vulnerabilities in Europe (e.g., unpreparedness of residential care facilities, shortages of medical supplies)
Economic, gender, skills, regional, and ethnic inequalities worsened due to the crisis
Multilateralism and the global financial system under increasing pressure
Shifting power balance towards East and South
Fragility of key infrastructure and need to protect it against physical and digital threats
Overreliance on non-EU suppliers for critical raw materials
Climate change increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events
Unsustainable exploitation of natural resources and biodiversity loss
Sophisticated hybrid attacks threatening cybersecurity and democracy
Digital divide between urban and rural areas
Lack of readiness in the data economy

Next Generation EU aims to build a more resilient, sustainable, and fair Europe through large-scale financial support for investment and reforms
EU safety net packages for workers, businesses, and governments
Investment in human capital and innovation
Strengthening the banking sector, capital markets, and equity financing
Boosting Europe’s open strategic autonomy
Developing diversified value chains for critical raw materials
Promoting nature-based solutions
Investing in the production of primary and secondary raw materials
Strengthening cybersecurity and protecting critical infrastructure
Investing in digital capacities in rural areas
Developing a ‘European way’ of governing the use of data

The report highlights the alignment of EU policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).