Czech PM to Leyen: Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 55 percent “unrealistic”

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 in the next ten years is unrealistic in the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš told reporters shortly after he and the heads of the three other Visegrad group states met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday.

Last week, the Commission proposed tightening the emission target for 2030, while the current plan envisages a 40 percent decrease compared to 1990.

The talks also focussed on the coronavirus crisis, where Mr. Babiš called for greater cooperation among Europe’s leading epidemiologists, and newly proposed migration polices with a system of "mandatory solidarity" by all states.

The proposals include tougher border checks and new rules on deportation. The Visegrag group stressed the need to intensify the fight against people smugglers.

Mr. Babiš said it was important for individual states to be able to choose in what way they would demonstrate solidarity. He did not say whether Prague would be willing to engage in the deportation of migrants who were refused asylum in the EU.