Civil society and the Green Deal: Is the European Commission listening?

In this Policy Triangle, supported by European Movement International, we delve into civil society and the Green Deal. The European Green Deal emerged from a political landscape shaped by growing climate awareness and the electoral green wave. However, successive crises—from COVID to energy instability—have reshaped priorities, making the path forward more complex. As concerns over competitiveness, security, and strategic independence grow, how can the Green Deal adapt while staying on track?  This discussion explores whether the European Commission is truly listening to civil society, the role of disinformation in shaping public perception, and how to align environmental and economic goals for a just transition. We’re thrilled to host three experts and hear their thoughts on this topic: Elina Bardram, Director, Adaptation & Resilience, Communication, and Civil. Society Relations, DG CLIMA, European Commission; Raquel García Hermida-van der Walle, Member of the European Parliament; Petros Fassoulas, Secretary General, European Movement International.This collaboration was done in the context of the REAL DEAL, a research project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101037071.