The normative values of the European Green Deal

The European Green Deal (EGD) Communication of 2019 inaugurated a remarkable season of reform—but what is it that characterizes the Green Deal? It is argued that the EGD and the Green Deal actions express a set of normative values that unifies the numerous reforms and policy actions that have taken place over the past four years. The article explores the significance and the content of these normative values. It is proposed that there are two primary values in the Green Deal: the first connected to the substantive content of the principle of integration, and the second related to equality in the distribution of the costs and responsibilities for the Green Deal actions. It is argued that understanding these values can aid us in interpreting the current backlash against the Green Deal from the agricultural sector and the ongoing farmer’s protests.