"The Green Deal is in fact our new growth strategy. A strategy aimed at transforming the EU into an area of prosperity whose economic and social development does not necessarily imply large emissions of carbon dioxide," Minister Grlic Radman said in his address to a high-level conference on the implementation of the European Green Deal.
The conference, hosted by the European Commission's Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans, attracted about 400 participants.
Grlic Radman said that the Green Deal would be a topic of discussion at meetings of various formats during the Croatian presidency of the Council of the EU.
He added that meeting the objective of climate neutrality by 2050 would not be an easy task and that it was necessary to watch out so that no one was left behind.
"We cannot ignore the different circumstances in member states. We are all aware of that. Not all member states are in the same position nor do they have the same capabilities to respond to new challenges and that is why we have to act as one, together with the Commission, and not one country must be left behind," Grlic Radman said.
Timmermans, too, underscored the social dimension of the Green Deal. "If this is not a social Green Deal, the Green Deal will not happen. If this is not a Green Deal where the most vulnerable regions in Europe – coalmining regions and others – do not see solidarity from other parts of Europe, it will not happen. So we need a level of solidarity with vulnerable individuals and vulnerable regions, to make sure the Green Deal can be delivered for all our citizens."