The EU Green Deal in turbulent times: insights from the EU Green Policy Tracker from Sweden and Estonia

The briefing identifies capacity constraints and policy incoherence as primary obstacles to implementing the European Green Deal in Sweden and Estonia, specifically regarding CBAM, EED, LULUCF, and JTF regulations.

• Implementation of the European Green Deal (EGD) in Sweden and Estonia is hindered by two systemic challenges: capacity constraints resulting from high policy volume and rapid change, and a lack of policy coherence caused by conflicting demands during implementation.
• The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) faces implementation hurdles including disagreements over data repository management, a lack of emissions measurement frameworks in exporting countries, and high administrative burdens for small importers due to a low exemption threshold of EUR 150.
• The Revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) is constrained by excessive reporting requirements and a shortage of administrative and financial resources, leaving most member states unable to meet implementation timelines.
• Implementation of the Revised Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) regulation is complicated by unclear reporting guidance, the need to harmonise data with UNFCCC inventories, and conflicts between carbon sequestration goals and the economic demand for wood.
• The Just Transition Fund (JTF) experienced significant delays in Sweden and Estonia due to conflicts between funding goals and EU state aid rules, which required lengthy negotiations with the Commission to secure exceptions.
• There is a growing trend of 'backsliding' on green ambition at the EU level, evidenced by the withdrawal of the Regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products and the watering down of the Nature Restoration Law.
• The European Commission's shift toward a 'Clean Industrial Deal' prioritizes competitiveness and clean industry over environmental objectives, potentially scaling back original EGD ambitions.

APA

Kappe, K., Mikaelsson, M. A., & Krustok, I. (2025). The EU Green Deal in turbulent times: insights from the EU Green Policy Tracker from Sweden and Estonia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/189760/eu-green-deal-turbulent-times-eu-green-policy-tracker-sweden-estonia.pdf

Chicago

Kappe, Kira, Mikael Allan Mikaelsson, and Ivo Krustok. The EU Green Deal in turbulent times: insights from the EU Green Policy Tracker from Sweden and Estonia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2025. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/189760/eu-green-deal-turbulent-times-eu-green-policy-tracker-sweden-estonia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kappe |first1=Kira |last2=Mikaelsson |first2=Mikael Allan |last3=Krustok |first3=Ivo |title=The EU Green Deal in turbulent times: insights from the EU Green Policy Tracker from Sweden and Estonia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=April 2025 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/189760/eu-green-deal-turbulent-times-eu-green-policy-tracker-sweden-estonia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kappe2025green, author = {Kappe, Kira and Mikaelsson, Mikael Allan and Krustok, Ivo}, title = {{The EU Green Deal in turbulent times: insights from the EU Green Policy Tracker from Sweden and Estonia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/189760/eu-green-deal-turbulent-times-eu-green-policy-tracker-sweden-estonia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }