Europe’s neocon Christians vs Pope Francis
By: EBR | Wednesday, December 8, 2021
It’s common knowledge that we’re living in an era where ideological lines are often blurred. Equally clear is that far-right populists interpret religion according to their political views
Police Cooperation Code: Boosting police cooperation across borders for enhanced security
By: EBR | Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Today, the Commission is proposing an EU Police Cooperation Code to enhance law enforcement cooperation across Member States and give EU police officers more modern tools for information exchange
The EU and Western Balkans: a friendship through thick and thin
By: EBR | Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Over half (57.4%) of young people in Western Balkan countries support EU accession, according to the recently published UNICEF U-Report, but only 9.4% think that their country will join the EU within the next five years
EU plans ‘digital product passport’ to boost circular economy
By: EBR | Monday, December 6, 2021
The European Commission plans to introduce a “digital product passport” early next year that would contain information about the composition of goods on the European market to help boost their chances of being reused and recycled
Eric Zemmour: France’s New Elitist-Extremist Menace
By: EBR | Friday, December 3, 2021
In next year’s presidential election, will France retreat from reason and science to embrace radical politics?
EU and WTO members strike major deal to simplify trade in services
By: EBR | Friday, December 3, 2021
A group of 67 World Trade Organization (WTO) members, including the EU, have today concluded negotiations on a landmark agreement to cut red tape in services trade
Far-right Zemmour makes Le Pen look normal
By: EBR | Wednesday, December 1, 2021
After several months of artificial suspense, radical right Eric Zemmour officially entered the 2022 French presidential election race to “save” the country on Tuesday (30 November)
‘Let’s reach for the stars’: EU aims for green hydrogen below €2/kg by 2030
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 30, 2021
The cost of producing green hydrogen with renewable energy is set to fall and the capacity to produce it in Europe and nearby countries will likely surpass current targets by 2030
Commission welcomes agreement on a stronger European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 30, 2021
European Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on a reinforced role for the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
EU’s emissions rose nearly a fifth as economy bounced back
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Greenhouse gas emissions from EU countries jumped by 18% last spring, according to data from Eurostat, Europe’s statistics office, as the economic sector recovered from pandemic shutdowns and returned to releasing climate-damaging gases into the atmosphere
International public procurement: a new instrument to support EU firms
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 30, 2021
The Trade Committee adopted its position on the draft international procurement instrument aimed at restoring the balance of opportunities for EU companies tendering outside the EU
Digital Europe: MEPs call for quick introduction of EU social security pass
By: EBR | Friday, November 26, 2021
MEPs demand a legislative proposal from the Commission for a European social security pass before the end of 2022, to reduce the administrative burden on mobile workers
Germany’s New Government Upends the Status Quo
By: EBR | Friday, November 26, 2021
A new coalition in Germany has ambitious plans to modernize a country that slipped into complacency and risk aversion. Its newfound energy could give the EU a much-needed impulse
Minimum wage: green light to start negotiations with Council
By: EBR | Friday, November 26, 2021
MEPs on Thursday decided to start talks on a directive that will guarantee all workers in the EU a fair and adequate minimum wage
Nascent hydrogen market needs low-carbon nuclear power: EU official
By: EBR | Friday, November 26, 2021
As Europe rediscovers the merits of nuclear power as a low-carbon source of electricity, policymakers in Brussels are now looking to leverage the non-stop generation of atomic energy to ramp up the production of low-carbon hydrogen
A piecemeal approach on energy standards for buildings won’t work
By: EBR | Thursday, November 25, 2021
Decarbonising Europe’s building stock requires robust Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), not a piecemeal approach that fails to regulate buildings that are ripe for renovation projects
Critical raw materials: The EU should secure its own supply
By: EBR | Thursday, November 25, 2021
To boost an autonomous and sustainable EU supply of materials needed to produce key technologies, MEPs call for diversification, more recycling and domestic sourcing
Common Agricultural Policy reform gets final approval from MEPs
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 24, 2021
On Tuesday, Parliament gave the green light to the new EU Farm Policy. This reformed version aims to be greener, fairer, more flexible and transparent
Europe’s social climate fund too small to make a difference, critics say
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 24, 2021
The European Commission proposed a “social climate fund” to protect vulnerable people from changes brought by the energy transition. Still, it is not fit for purpose
Another list of priority gas projects won’t help the EU achieve fossil free energy
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Europe’s continued support for fossil fuels, like in the 5th projects of common interest (PCI) list, risks damaging the environment, but decision-makers could be about to make the same mistake in negotiations on the rules for supporting cross-border energy infrastructure
By: N. Peter Kramer
