
Summary
About
‘What the Chiefs Say’ events are exclusive, small, informal and off the record regular roundtable debates which offer the opportunity to engage directly and get to the heart of a specific policy issue with a senior decisionmaker from a European institution or government.
These events are geared to be in tune with the interest of our members and are strategically linked to emerging trends within the EU sphere. It allows us to focus on the opportunities and identify the possible challenges in the European Commission’s own agenda and provides the possibility to go into greater depth and discuss the ‘nitty-gritty’ of policies affecting Europe in the next five years and beyond. Over the course of 2020 the monthly ‘What the chief says’ series will be inextricably linked with the new EU mandate.
The ‘What the Chief Say’ series (WTCS) conversations are held under Chatham House rules. The speaker gives a short, 10-minute introduction to the topic under discussion, after which the floor is open to any possible comments or questions which may be posed to the speaker for the remaining 50 minutes.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Paddy O Sullivan on Unsplash
Schedule
As part of the 50+ ideas of the Green Deal that will have to be transformed into concrete actions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the EU Climate Law is the boldest. It will aim to enshrine in legislation a target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and making it irreversible for member states. Passing the target into law means that actions going against it can theoretically be taken through the judicial system. In its design, it will be significant that the law is implemented in an economically and socially balanced way, providing predictability for investors and other actors.
Questions include:
- Is the EU Climate Law enough to tackle the climate crisis across the continent?
- What implications will the EU Climate Law have on businesses?
- Is it only a statement of intent or will it truly transform our economy?
Speaker
Clara de la Torre
Deputy Director-General at the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action
Luca de Carli, is replaced by Clara de la Torre who has kindly made herself available to share her senior expertise on this occasion.
Moderator
Dharmendra Kanani
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Spokesperson of Friends of Europe
Speakers

Deputy Director-General at the European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action
Clara de la Torre has held a number of senior positions in the European Commission. In her current portfolio, she is at the forefront of the Commission’s efforts to implement the new EU Climate Law. Before her latest appointment, she served as Director for Transport at the Directorate-General for Research & Innovation as well as the Director for Key Enabling Technologies and Research and Innovation. Prior to her work in the institutions, she was an advisor to the Director of the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies in Seville.
Activities
A bold vision for a climate-neutral and competitive Europe
Next event In person & livestreamed

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources
European Oceans Pact: is maritime transport on board?
Past event In person & livestreamed

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources
Staying the course: driving sustainability forward in a shifting…
Past event In person & livestreamed

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources
Navigating risks and enhancing resilience: charting Europe’s energy and…
Past event In person & Livestreamed

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources
Europe’s blackouts call for a NATO-level response
- Category
- #CriticalThinking
- Author
- By Maurizio Geri
We need a new cultural strategy for global climate action
- Category
- #CriticalThinking
- Author
- By Saman Rizwan
A betrayal of the future: the EU must act now
- Category
- #CriticalThinking
- Author
- By Benjamin Van Bunderen Robberechts
Citizen-led recommendations for the Horizon Europe Missions on…
- Category
- News
- Area of Expertise
- Democracy

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources

- Area of Expertise
- Climate, Energy & Natural Resources
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- Debating Europe