The European Green Deal (PVE) or simply Green Deal, approved in 2020, is a set of political initiatives of the first Von der Leyen Commission with the overall objective of making the European Union climate neutral by 2050.[2]​ To this end, the Commission is working on a strategic plan to achieve the EU's greenhouse gas emissions reduction target for 2030 to at least 50% and towards 55% compared to 1990 levels. The initiative aims to review every existing law on climate issues and also introduce new legislation on topics such as the circular economy, building renovation "Renovation (construction)"), biodiversity, agriculture and innovation.[3]​.

The European Commission's climate change strategy, launched in 2020, focuses on the promise to make the EU a net-zero emitter of greenhouse gases by 2050 and demonstrate that economies will develop without increasing resource use. However, the Green Deal contains measures to ensure that Member States that rely on fossil fuels are not left behind in the transition to renewable energy.[3]​.

In January 2023, the European Commission presented the Green Deal Industrial Plan to counter the impact of foreign subsidies on the European Union economy and develop legislation for a zero-emission fabric by 2030. The plan consists of four pillars: "the regulatory environment, financing, skills and trade."[4]​ Furthermore, the Commission claimed the New European Bauhaus as a catalyst for the EVP.[5]​.

Von der Leyen appointed Frans Timmermans executive vice-president of the European Commission for the Green Deal. On December 13, 2019, the European Council decided to go ahead with the plan, with Poland opting out. On 15 January 2020, the European Parliament also voted to support the agreement, with calls for greater ambition.[7]​.

Several Member States urged the Commission to use the European Green Deal as a lever for post-pandemic economic recovery.[8]​ The European Parliament also called for promoting the digitalization of the Union's economy to advance the development of the single market.[9]​ Consequently, the main parliamentary groups demanded an "ambitious" multiannual financial framework (MFF), as well as for the EVP to be central to the recovery plan.[10]​.