The European Green Deal, approved in 2020, is a group of policies created by the European Commission. Its main goal is to make the European Union (EU) climate neutral by 2050. The plan includes reviewing current laws to see how well they help the environment and creating new laws about the circular economy, building repairs, biodiversity, farming, and innovation.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, called the European Green Deal "Europe's 'man on the moon moment.'" On December 13, 2019, the European Council decided to continue with the plan, allowing Poland to not participate. On January 15, 2020, the European Parliament supported the deal, asking for stronger goals. A year later, the European Climate Law was passed, making it official that greenhouse gas emissions should be 55% lower in 2030 than in 1990. The Fit for 55 package includes many proposed laws to help the EU reach this goal. ETS2 is the new EU Emissions Trading System, which will start in 2027. It will set a price for CO2 emissions from fuels used in buildings and road transport for the first time in history.

The European Commission’s climate change strategy, launched in 2020, aims to make Europe a net-zero emitter of greenhouse gases by 2050. It also shows how economies can grow without using more resources. The Green Deal includes steps to help countries that rely on fossil fuels during the shift to renewable energy. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and becoming climate neutral by 2050 are top priorities for EU member states.

In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen appointed Frans Timmermans as Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal. He was replaced by Maroš Šefčovič in 2023, and Teresa Ribera took over in 2024.

European Climate Pact

The European Climate Pact is a program started by the European Commission to help carry out the European Green Deal. It is an effort to create a more environmentally friendly Europe by offering a place where people can work and learn together, find solutions, and make real improvements.

The Pact allows individuals, groups, and organizations across Europe to take part in actions that help the environment and fight climate change. When groups or people join the Pact, they promise to take specific steps that can be tracked or checked. Being part of the Pact gives organizations a chance to share their progress with others and work together with different groups to reach shared goals.

Aims

The main goal of the European Green Deal is to help the European Union become the first region in the world that does not produce any greenhouse gases by 2050. The plan covers many areas, such as buildings, nature, energy, transportation, and food.

The plan may include taxes on countries that do not reduce their greenhouse gas pollution at the same rate. This system is called the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Other parts of the plan include:

• A circular economy action plan. The European Commission has shared several reports about creating a circular economy, which requires countries to change their economies to reuse resources and reduce waste. A circular economy is now an important part of the European Green Deal and the Coronavirus Recovery Plan, as well as a goal from earlier plans to build a sustainable, low-carbon, and efficient economy.
• A review and possible changes to climate-related policies, including the Emissions Trading System.
• A Farm to Fork strategy that focuses on rewarding farmers for improving soil health, managing nutrients, and reducing emissions.
• A revision of the Energy Taxation Directive, which looks at reducing support for fossil fuels, such as in aviation and shipping.
• A plan for sustainable and smart transportation.
• An EU forest strategy that aims to plant more trees, protect forests, and restore damaged areas.

The plan also relies on Horizon Europe, which helps encourage investments in research and innovation. Through partnerships with industries and countries, Horizon Europe supports work on technologies like batteries, clean hydrogen, low-carbon steel, and eco-friendly building materials.

The EU plans to fund the Green Deal through an investment plan called InvestEU, which expects to raise at least €1 trillion. To meet the goals of the Green Deal, the EU will need about €260 billion each year in investments by 2030.

More than half of all homes in Europe were built before 1970, when energy use was not considered in construction. At the current rate of improving buildings, it may take over 100 years to make all buildings highly energy-efficient. A major goal of the Green Deal is to increase the rate of building improvements from about 1% to at least double or triple that rate. This is also needed outside the EU. In addition to repairing old buildings, new buildings must be designed to be energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.

In July 2021, the European Commission released the "Fit for 55" package, which includes rules for the car industry: all new cars sold in the EU must be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.

Under the Paris Agreement, emissions in the EU dropped by 25% from 1990 levels by 2019. A goal to reduce emissions by 55% from 1990 levels by 2030 means a 40% reduction compared to 2019 levels. This can be calculated by subtracting 25% from 55% and then dividing by 75%.

According to the Emissions Gap Report 2020 by the United Nations Environment Programme, to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C (with a 66% chance of success), global emissions must be reduced by 57% from 2019 levels by 2030. This is higher than the EU’s 40% target. The 57% reduction is an average worldwide goal, and countries with more developed economies are expected to contribute more.

Policy areas

By 2050, the European Green Deal aims to achieve climate neutrality, meaning the European Union will no longer produce more greenhouse gas emissions than it can absorb. To meet this goal, the EU plans to reduce emissions from its energy system to reach "net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050." The EU will review and update its energy rules if challenges arise. Other existing regulations will also be examined. In 2023, member countries will update their climate and energy plans to align with the EU’s 2030 climate targets. Key goals include:

• Focusing on using energy more efficiently.
• Developing a power system that relies mostly on renewable energy sources.
• Ensuring an affordable energy supply for the EU.
• Creating a fully connected and digitalized energy market across the EU.

In 2020, the European Commission introduced a strategy to transition to a cleaner energy future. The EU Strategy for Energy System Integration provides a framework for this change, including steps to create a more circular system, increase the use of electricity, and develop clean fuels like hydrogen. The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance was launched to support hydrogen’s role in this transition.

By 2023, green technology became one of the few areas in the EU where venture capital investments matched those in the United States. This reflects the impact of the EU’s climate goals and government support. The European Green Deal and related policies have increased investments in green technology, especially in energy storage, circular economy projects, and agricultural technology. These efforts have helped the EU close the investment gap with the U.S. in these areas.

Another goal is the introduction of a Circular Economy Industrial Policy. In March 2020, the EU announced its Industrial Strategy, aiming to "empower citizens, revitalize regions, and use the best technologies." Key aspects include modernizing industries, creating markets for climate-friendly products, and reducing emissions in energy-intensive sectors like steel and cement.

A new "Sustainable Products" policy will focus on reducing material waste. It will encourage reuse and improve recycling processes, targeting materials like textiles, construction materials, vehicles, batteries, electronics, and plastics. The EU plans to stop exporting waste outside the EU and will update rules on waste shipments and end-of-life vehicles to support circular business models. The European Commission estimates that green investments in Europe will cost an additional €350 billion annually by 2030.

This policy area also targets building and renovation practices that are currently unsustainable. Many non-renewable resources are used in these processes, so the plan promotes energy-efficient methods, such as climate-proofing buildings, increasing digitalization, and enforcing energy performance standards. Social housing renovations will help reduce energy costs for those who cannot afford them. The EU aims to triple the rate of building renovations to cut pollution.

Digital technologies play a key role in achieving the European Green Deal’s environmental goals. Technologies like smart city mobility, precision agriculture, and environmental monitoring can help address environmental challenges.

The "From Farm to Fork" strategy focuses on food sustainability and supports farmers and fishermen. It aims to improve production and transportation methods to be more climate-friendly while maintaining product quality and affordability. Specific goals include reducing chemical pesticide use by 50% by 2030, increasing organic farming to 25% of EU agriculture by 2030, and cutting fertilizer use by 20% by 2030. The strategy also seeks to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 and invest €10 billion in research related to food sustainability.

The "Zero Pollution Action Plan," planned for 2021, aims to eliminate pollution from all sources by 2050, ensuring clean air, water, and soil. It will enforce strict environmental standards for industries and replace harmful substances like microplastics and chemicals with safer alternatives. The "From Farm to Fork" strategy also helps reduce pollution from agriculture and food production.

Some experts have criticized terms like "toxic-free" and "zero pollution" as misleading, arguing that all substances can be harmful in high amounts.

Reducing emissions from transportation is another focus. A "Sustainable and Smart Mobility" strategy will promote alternative fuels for road, maritime, and air transport, set stricter emission standards for vehicles, and improve public transportation. It will also expand charging stations for electric vehicles and develop smart traffic systems. The "Single European Sky" plan aims to improve air traffic management for safety and environmental benefits.

In 2021, the EU will introduce a strategy to protect biodiversity. This includes managing forests and marine areas, protecting ecosystems, and addressing species loss. Efforts will include restoring ecosystems through organic farming, reducing harmful pesticides, reforestation, and protecting 30% of land and sea areas.

Motivation

The main goal of the European Green Deal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The reasons for creating the plan are linked to environmental problems such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, ozone depletion, water pollution, urban stress, waste production, and others. The following statistics show climate-related issues in the European Union:

• Regarding climate change, carbon dioxide levels may double by 2030, and Europe’s summer temperatures could rise by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius.
• Europe is responsible for about one-third of the world’s gas emissions that damage the ozone layer.
• More than 50% of the land in Europe with ecosystems faces threats from poor management and other pressures.
• On average, 700,000 hectares of forest are burned each year by fires, often linked to social and economic issues, causing damage to forests.

• In 2017, more than 75% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU came from producing and using energy.
• In 2017, 17.5% of the EU’s total energy use came from renewable resources.

• Studies show that the world’s yearly extraction of resources tripled between 1970 and 2017, causing 90% of all biodiversity loss.
• Industry in the EU produces 20% of these emissions.
• Recycled materials account for 12% of resources used in the EU’s industry.

• Building and renovation use 40% of all energy used in the EU.

• In the EU, 20% of food is wasted, while 36 million people cannot have a good meal every day.

• Up to €189 billion is spent on health problems caused by pollution from 50,000 industrial sites in the EU.

• Transportation produces 25% of these emissions. Road transport accounts for 71.7% of this total, followed by 13.9% from aviation, 13.4% from water transport, and the rest from railways and other methods.
• The Single European Sky strategy could reduce aviation emissions by 10%.

• In the EU, €40 trillion depends on nature and its resources.
• Wild species populations have dropped by more than 50% on average in the last two generations.

All 54 actions were adopted or implemented by 2019. The EU is now recognized as a leader in circular economy policies worldwide. The waste legislation was adopted in 2018 after discussions with the European Parliament and Member States in the European Council. According to Eurostat, jobs in circular economy activities increased by 6% between 2012 and 2016 in the EU. The action plan also encouraged at least 14 countries, eight regions, and 11 cities to develop circular economy strategies.

Timeline

• 11 December 2019: The European Green Deal was introduced.
• 14 January 2020: The European Green Deal Investment Plan and the Just Transition Mechanism were introduced.
• 4 March 2020: A proposal for a European climate law was made to ensure the European Union becomes climate neutral by 2050. A public consultation was held about the European Climate Pact, which aims to unite regions, local communities, civil society, businesses, and schools. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
• 10 March 2020: The European Industrial Strategy was adopted, which is a plan to prepare for a future-ready economy.
• 11 March 2020: A proposal for a Circular Economy Action Plan was made, focusing on using resources in a sustainable way.
• 20 May 2020: The 'Farm to Fork Strategy' was introduced to improve the sustainability of food systems. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 was also introduced, focusing on protecting fragile natural resources.
• 8 July 2020: The EU strategies for energy system integration and hydrogen were adopted to create a fully decarbonized, more efficient, and interconnected energy sector.
• 12 July 2020: The taxonomy for sustainable activities became effective, helping to reduce misleading claims about green practices and guiding investors to choose environmentally friendly options.
• 17 September 2020: The 2030 Climate Target Plan was introduced.
• 9 December 2020: The European Climate Pact was launched.
• 14 July 2021: The "Fit for 55" Package was introduced by the European Commission, including many legislative proposals to achieve the goals of the EU Green Deal.
• 5 April 2022: Several initiatives under the action plan were adopted, including: a legislative proposal to ensure companies make accurate green claims, a review of packaging and packaging waste rules in the EU, a new policy framework for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics, and measures to reduce the environmental impact of microplastic pollution.
• 21 December 2024: The European Union Green Bonds Regulation becomes effective, allowing companies, regional or local authorities, and EEA supranational organizations to issue "European Green Bonds" (or "EuGB").

Recovery program from COVID-19

In 2020, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the European Union caused leaders to focus less on the European Green Deal. Some leaders, including Poland’s deputy minister, Kowalski, a Romanian politician, and the Czech prime minister, Babiš, suggested pausing or ending the deal for a year or permanently. Many believed the European Union should prioritize solving the immediate crisis caused by the pandemic rather than addressing climate change.

The financial stress on markets and reduced economic activity also made it harder to support the European Green Deal. Public and private funding for the policy, along with the impact of the pandemic on the European Union’s GDP, limited the budget available for climate action.

However, as recovery efforts began in the European Union and the first wave of infections decreased, most ministers supported restarting the deal. In mid-April 2020, representatives from 17 governments signed a letter urging the deal to continue as a way to address the economic crisis and build a sustainable, climate-neutral economy.

In April 2020, the European Parliament called for including the European Green Deal in its economic recovery program. Ten countries encouraged the European Union to adopt a "green recovery plan" because they feared the pandemic’s economic effects might slow progress on climate change.

In May 2020, leaders of the European Commission stated that the ecological crisis contributed to the pandemic, highlighting the need to continue the European Green Deal. That month, the European Union announced a €750 billion recovery package (called Next Generation EU) and a €1 trillion budget. The European Green Deal is part of this plan. Funds will only support projects meeting specific environmental standards, with 25% of all money going to climate action. Funding excludes fossil fuels and nuclear power. The recovery package also aims to reduce economic differences between wealthier and poorer countries in the European Union.

As part of the European Union’s response to the pandemic, several economic programs were created, including CRII, CRII+, the European Social Fund+, and REACT-EU. These programs allow flexibility, and CRII and CRII+ can use funds for crisis recovery through the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, or European Social Fund Plus. Some programs, like REACT-EU, also support the European Green Deal.

In July 2020, a "Green Recovery Act" was proposed in the United Kingdom by a think tank and academic group. The plan included recommendations from a "Green New Deal" for Europe (a separate initiative from the EU Green Deal) and noted that European car manufacturers lag behind China in ending fossil fuel production.

That same month, EU leaders agreed on the recovery package and budget. The share of funding for climate action increased to 30%. The plan includes green taxes on European products and imports, but critics say the amount of money is still not enough to meet the European Union’s climate goals. It is also unclear how to ensure all funds are used for green projects.

Burden of Transition

The "Just Transition Mechanism" aims to help countries shift to a greener economy in a fair way. This policy gives more financial support to countries with more workers in coal and oil shale industries, as well as those with higher greenhouse gas emissions. According to Frans Timmermans, the mechanism will also help these countries access more investment and provide a support package worth "at least 100 billion euros." The Mechanism is part of the Sustainable Europe Investment Plan and is expected to help raise €100 billion in investments during the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This funding will come from the EU budget, member countries, and contributions from InvestEU and the European Investment Bank.

The Just Transition Mechanism offers several ways to support areas most affected by the transition. The first part, the Just Transition Fund, will provide €17.5 billion in EU grants to the most affected regions, with member countries required to contribute about €10 billion. The second part creates a special plan under InvestEU to help attract private investment. The third part sets up a new public sector credit program to use public funds more effectively. These efforts will also include advice and technical help for affected areas and projects.

The European Investment Bank Group can support these efforts by providing Structural Programme Loans alongside European structural and investment funds (ESIF) co-financing operations.

At COP26, the European Investment Bank shared a set of common principles for a just transition, agreed upon with other international development banks. These principles align with the Paris Agreement and focus on directing funds toward moving to zero-carbon economies while considering social and economic impacts. They also include plans for involving communities, ensuring fairness, and promoting gender equality to achieve long-term economic changes. The European Investment Bank also announced it plans to help raise $1 trillion for climate action by 2030.

Criticism

Studies show that ExxonMobil, an American oil company, had a major influence on the early talks about the European Green Deal. The company tried to change the deal so that it would not focus as much on reducing carbon dioxide emissions from transportation.

Critics say the current proposals are not enough to stop the use of fossil fuels or help the environment recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. Greenpeace says the deal is not strong enough to slow climate change. The Corporate Europe Observatory calls the deal a good first step but points out that the fossil fuel industry had too much influence. Many groups, including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth Europe, and the Institute for European Environmental Policy, say the plan is not ambitious enough. Greenpeace says the plan is "too little too late," and the IEEP says the goals for solving key environmental problems are unclear. Greta Thunberg said some governments are using the deal to avoid making stronger climate promises.

Nickel and cobalt are important materials used in most electric vehicle batteries. Open-pit mining for nickel has caused environmental harm in countries like the Philippines and Indonesia. In 2024, nickel mining was a major cause of deforestation in Indonesia. Open-pit mining for cobalt has led to deforestation and loss of animal habitats in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The European Environmental Bureau and Friends of the Earth Europe released a report about the European Green Deal. The report says that simply switching to renewable energy sources, like electric vehicles and solar power, will not be enough to create a sustainable society. This is because producing these technologies uses many resources and causes environmental harm. The report states that the EU uses between 70% and 97% of the world’s safe resource use limits. This means the EU is close to exceeding the limits that Earth can handle without harm. The report suggests the EU should set stronger goals for reducing resource use, limit industries that provide little benefit to society, protect areas from mining, and promote sharing resources.

In 2021, people in Serbia protested against a lithium mine planned by the Rio Tinto company. In 2022, the Serbian government canceled the project’s license. In 2024, after pressure from the EU, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the EU’s European Commission Vice-President signed an agreement to help the EU access lithium mined in Serbia. This could meet 90% of Europe’s current lithium needs. The project led to new environmental protests in Serbia in 2024.

In 2024, more than 60 organizations sent a letter to the EU about the "bioeconomy" idea mentioned in the Green Deal. They say this idea could harm ecosystems. The Green Deal also aims to protect 30% of land and water and restore ecosystems. The groups warn that switching from fossil fuels to bio-based resources without reducing overall consumption could cause serious environmental damage.

A plan for the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was shared in 2021 and officially introduced in 2021 as part of the Green Deal. Many countries, including China, India, Japan, and the United States, opposed the plan. Studies suggest that CBAM could be hard for developing countries to handle, especially China, because its economy relies heavily on products that use a lot of energy.

If the EU does not adjust export rules, it could hurt industries that sell goods abroad and lead to job losses in manufacturing. In 2025, the EU announced a plan to reduce these risks.

Between 2019 and 2023, the EU lost over 853,000 manufacturing jobs, including in the automotive industry. Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Germany had the most job losses. Trade unions warn that the Green Deal could put 11 million jobs at risk. The EU predicts 180,000 coal mining jobs could be lost by 2030. A 2021 study said the automotive industry could lose half a million jobs. A 2019 study estimated that Poland could lose up to 41,000 jobs, with similar losses possible in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Romania.

The EU’s carbon pricing plan for road and heating fuels (ETS2), which starts in 2027, will make fossil fuels like heating gas, petrol, and diesel more expensive.

The European Green Deal could reduce food production in Europe and raise global food prices.

In 2023, Manfred Weber, a leader of the European People’s Party, tried to stop a law about restoring nature, saying it would harm farmers and food supplies. Former Romanian president Traian Băsescu warned that the deal could push some EU countries to leave the union. Some EU countries are moving away from coal, but others still rely on it heavily. This shows that the deal may benefit some countries more than others. Polish lawmaker Ryszard Legutko asked, "Is the Commission trying to take power from member states?" Countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, which depend on coal, were most opposed to the deal.

In 2021, Europe faced very high gas prices because of increased demand, reduced gas supplies from Russia and Norway, less renewable energy production, and a cold winter that used up gas reserves. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blamed the Green Deal for the high prices. EU officials said they would not change their Green Deal plans despite the high costs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe needs to reduce its dependence on gas and speed up the shift to clean energy.

German industries that use a lot of energy were hit hardest by the energy crisis.

European farmers have protested against rules like carbon taxes, pesticide bans, and limits on water and land use. They also oppose low food prices and trade with countries like Ukraine and South America.

History of opposition by countries

In December 2019, all EU leaders agreed to the European Green Deal. However, they had disagreements about the goals and how long it would take to reach them. Poland said it cannot become climate neutral by 2050 because it relies heavily on coal for energy. Poland’s climate minister, Michał Kurtyka, said support and resources should be shared more fairly among countries. A plan to increase the goal of reducing carbon emissions caused disagreement in the EU. Countries that depend on coal, like Poland, argued that the plan could harm jobs and economic strength. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said his country cannot meet the 2050 goal without using nuclear energy.

Some countries are arguing about the Just Transition Fund (JTF), which aims to help coal-dependent nations transition to cleaner energy. Spain, which already reduced its environmental impact before the policy, said the JTF is unfair because it only helps countries that did not start becoming greener earlier. Pieter Cleppe, head of the Open Europe think tank, said sarcastically, “What could possibly go wrong” about the plan.

Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the EU’s carbon pricing system unfairly harms poorer countries in Southern and Eastern Europe. At the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Czech Prime Minister Babiš criticized the European Green Deal, saying the EU cannot succeed without the help of major polluters like China and the United States, which produce 27% and 15% of global CO₂ emissions, respectively.

In August 2023, the Polish government filed complaints with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) against parts of the Fit for 55 package, claiming three EU climate policies threaten Poland’s economy and energy security. In February 2024, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he would push for changes to the European Green Deal after protests by Polish farmers. In March 2024, Tusk said Poland would follow its own path “without European pressure.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the EU’s plan to ban new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, saying it could make Europe dependent on China’s electric vehicles. She said, “Reducing pollution is important, but we must do it with common sense.”

Analysis

A study in 2023 found that the European Union needs to invest much more money in certain types of infrastructure to help reduce climate change. The study said power plants, electricity grids, and rail systems would require about 87 billion euros more than planned between 2021 and 2025. These projects would need policies that support environmentally friendly funding.

A paper from Bruegel suggested that the European Union Emissions Trading System, which helps reduce pollution, should be used in more industries.

In May 2024, a report was published that reviewed the European Union’s environmental progress from 2019 to 2024. It focused on the Green New Deal, a set of policies aimed at protecting the environment. The report stated that without these policies, environmental conditions would have been worse. However, it also noted that the world is still expected to warm by about 2.9 degrees Celsius.

Research from a science group in New Zealand found that the European Green Deal could create challenges for New Zealand’s agricultural exports. At the time, New Zealand did not have a national rule for organic farming like the EU, and it banned only 27 chemicals and pesticides, compared to the EU’s ban on 195. Without changes to these rules, New Zealand’s exports to the EU might face difficulties.

Artistic movement

The New European Bauhaus is an artistic movement started by the European Commission, led by President Ursula von der Leyen. Its goal is to support the European Green Deal by combining beauty, sustainability, and inclusiveness.

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is an effort that brings together many areas, such as art, design, architecture, and urban planning. It is inspired by the historical Bauhaus movement, which was started by German architect Walter Gropius. The NEB aims to address modern challenges using these creative fields.

The NEB is still being developed by an international group of researchers, led by artist Alexandre Dang. However, some artists criticize the name "New European Bauhaus" for not being inclusive enough.

The movement is organized in three phases: the Design phase (2020–2021), the Delivery phase (2021–2023+), and the Dissemination phase (2023–2024+).

During the Design phase, the NEB focused on finding ways to improve ideas related to culture and technology. These areas are seen as important for solving modern problems in architecture and urban planning. The European Union and other organizations began offering support, such as funding, to projects that fit the NEB’s goals.

A group of 18 experts and creators, including architects Shigeru Ban and Bjark Ingels, and others, was formed to help shape the NEB’s direction.

In September 2021, the European Commission released a document titled "New European Bauhaus: Beautiful, Sustainable, Together." This document led to the Delivery phase, which included five pilot projects. These projects aim to create sustainable changes in housing, architecture, transportation, and urban and rural areas to help achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

The NEB is based on the original Bauhaus movement’s principles, such as working across different levels (global to local), involving many people, and combining different fields. Through open conversations with citizens, professionals, and organizations, the NEB identified three key ideas: "Sustainability" (climate goals, zero pollution, and biodiversity), "Aesthetics" (quality and style), and "Inclusion" (diversity, accessibility, and affordability). Four themes guide the NEB’s work: reconnecting with nature, building a sense of belonging, helping those in need most, and promoting long-term thinking in industry. Three types of changes are expected: changes in places, changes in the environment that support innovation, and changes in how new ideas are shared.

During the Dissemination phase, the NEB will share its ideas with a wider audience, including people outside the European Union. This phase will involve sharing knowledge, helping creators repeat their work in different areas, and inspiring future architects and designers.

In 2021, the European Commission started awards to recognize projects that match the NEB’s goals. In September 2021, 20 projects were honored in Brussels. A second award event took place in 2022.

The NEB LAB is a space where the NEB’s community, which includes over 450 partners, experts, and prize winners, works together. Its goal is to test solutions and create policies, such as tools to label sustainable projects. It began by inviting public groups, companies, and political organizations to join.

The European Commission plans to host a New European Bauhaus Festival to showcase creators’ work, encourage sharing progress, and connect people. The festival will have three parts: "Fair" (showcasing completed projects), "Fest" (cultural events with artists), and "Forum" (discussions on new ideas). The first festival will be in Brussels from June 9–12, 2022. After this, the festival will be held yearly in locations inside and outside the EU starting in 2023.