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"A Tory Prime Minister is admitting that he cannot break apart the EU and must lead a United Kingdom that lives henceforth as a junior offshore neighbour abiding by the wishes of its bigger neighbor."

Why Boris Johnson Is Opting for a Semi-Brexit

By: EBR | Friday, December 18, 2020

An exhausted British Prime Minister simply can’t fight on two fronts

According to MEPs, the 2013 Dublin III Regulation puts a “disproportionate responsibility on a minority of member states, in particular when high numbers of arrivals occur”.

Asylum in the EU: EP vs Council

By: EBR | Thursday, December 17, 2020

Current asylum legislation neither ensures fair responsibility sharing among member states nor gives swift access to asylum procedures, to the frustration of MEPs

SMEs are the beating heart of Europe’s economy, accounting for over 90% of all businesses in the EU and for more than half of its gross domestic product (GDP) while employing about 100 million EU workers before the pandemic.

EU reshapes its vision for SMEs amid emerging threats

By: EBR | Thursday, December 17, 2020

Policymakers have started re-thinking the EU strategy for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that the European Commission unveiled only a few days before the start of the first lockdown all over Europe

"For the EU, a successful outcome will uphold the single market, which means that if the UK is to retain tariff-free access to the EU, it must not seek a competitive advantage by changing British rules in ways that undermine the level-playing-field obligations that the EU requires its members to uphold."

Britain and the EU Finally Approach the Reckoning

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Level playing field or no access to the EU’s single market? With Brexit talks in the final stages, one solution for a UK-EU trade deal seems within reach—but only if it allows for both sides to claim victory

“The closer we move to our climate neutrality target, the more natural gas will be replaced by renewables and low-carbon gases,” EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson said.

EU shifts energy infrastructure funding away from gas, into electricity grids

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The European Commission on Tuesday (15 December) proposed rules to restrict EU funding for natural gas infrastructure and instead funnel cash into electricity and low-carbon energy networks to meet climate goals

"Many online platforms have come to play a central role in the lives of our citizens and businesses, and even our society and democracy at large..."

Europe fit for the Digital Age: Commission proposes new rules for digital platforms

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The Commission has proposed an ambitious reform of the digital space, a comprehensive set of new rules for all digital services, including social media, online market places, and other online platforms that operate in the European Union

"The 2030 target will now go into final negotiations between the European Parliament, the Commission and Council and put down into the final text of the draft European Climate Law."

Reactions: Deal on EU’s 2030 climate target is a big step, but won’t close the gap to 2050

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 15, 2020

EU heads of states have agreed on a 55% reduction target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but the inclusion of carbon sinks and the choice of 1990 as the baseline year have led environmentalists to criticise the deal for lacking ambition

In order to better help those in need of international protection, Parliament also secured support for measures to identify vulnerable persons and unaccompanied minors.

Agreement on EU instrument supporting border management and common visa policy

By: EBR | Friday, December 11, 2020

On Thursday, Parliament and the Council reached a political agreement on the border management fund for 2021-2027, worth 6.241 billion EUR

"As the EU is in the process of increasing its ambition in CO2 emissions reduction to 55% by 2030, the Commission will present in early 2021 an “ambitious and comprehensive” renewed sustainable finance strategy, the Commissioner for Financial Services, Mairead McGuinness, announced in a speech in November."

Commission prepares ground for ‘ambitious’ sustainable finance strategy

By: EBR | Friday, December 11, 2020

The European Commission will present in early 2021 an “ambitious” sustainable finance strategy to mobilise the private investment needed to meet the EU’s climate targets

“Europe is the leader in the fight against climate change,” said Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, who chaired the EU summit.

EU clinches hard-fought deal on 2030 climate target

By: EBR | Friday, December 11, 2020

European leaders haggled through the night to clinch a deal on the bloc’s updated climate target for 2030 on Friday morning (11 December), agreeing an EU-wide goal of cutting net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030

“The crisis is certainly not over yet, so every instrument available should be optimised to help businesses get through the coming months.”

EUROCHAMBRES calls Council to ‘mind the gap’ between crisis and recovery

By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, December 9, 2020

EUROCHAMBRES has underlined the need to maintain measures in support of the many businesses throughout Europe that have been put at risk by the COVID-19 crisis

"Press briefings are held online, leaders speak in front of a microphone with no one behind it. Even institutional leaks are now official, channelled on dedicated WhatsApp groups."

Journalism from the couch

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Nine months have elapsed since journalists have had no other choice but to exercise their profession from the couch

“Europe needs to enable innovative and sustainable businesses to grow. Rebuilding supply chains severely disrupted due to the COVID-19 crisis is an important factor in this and it must be done in a responsible manner”.

EUROCHAMBRES clashes with the European Council

By: N. Peter Kramer | Friday, December 4, 2020

EUROCHAMBRES has severe cautions against disproportionate burdens on SMEs by the Council’s conclusions on ‘Human Rights and Decent Work in Global Supply Chains’

"In its flagship building renovation wave, the European Commission announced it wanted to double the rate of energy-related building renovation by 2030, which currently stands at 1%."

‘Complete overhaul’ of buildings needed to meet EU’s 2030 climate goal

By: EBR | Thursday, December 3, 2020

Europe needs a “complete overhaul” of its buildings to meet a higher 2030 emissions reduction target, according to new research

"With the digital revolution under way, citizens must be able to make choices where views can be expressed freely..."

European Democracy Action Plan: making EU democracies stronger

By: EBR | Thursday, December 3, 2020

The European Commission is presenting today its European Democracy Action Plan to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies across the EU

"In these extremely difficult times, guidance to Member States to promote a common approach to the winter season and in particular on how to manage the end of the year period, is of vital importance..."

Coronavirus: Commission presents “Staying safe from COVID-19 during winter” strategy

By: EBR | Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Today, the Commission adopted a strategy for sustainably managing the pandemic over the coming winter months, a period that can bring a risk of increased transmission of the virus owing to specific circumstances such as indoor gatherings

“You need some very simple mechanism easy to be understood by citizens. The energy transition will fly because the citizens will buy.”

Biggest challenge in energy transition is social justice, EU official says

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 1, 2020

While legitimate worries are being expressed about funding for low-carbon technologies to meet EU climate goals, the biggest challenge will be to manage the energy transition in a way that does not deepen social inequalities

"I am pleased that Greece is for the second time using the flexibility made available in Cohesion policy to support the economy and in particular SMEs and the employment..."

Coronavirus response: €183.5 million to support Greek economy

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 1, 2020

The European Commission has approved the modification of three national Operational Programmes (OPs) in Greece that will redirect €183.5 million to address the effects of the coronavirus crisis in the economy

"The EU prides itself on internal solidarity and the rule of law. By blocking crucial funds, the leaders of Hungary and Poland are damaging that solidarity in order to defend their own hold on power, in turn undermining the EU’s commitment to democracy at home and abroad."

Europe’s Slide Away From Democracy

By: EBR | Tuesday, December 1, 2020

If the European Union does not protect its rule of law and tackle corruption, the democratic backsliding of Hungary and Poland will deal a devastating blow to Europe’s achievements since World War II

"The rule of law enables the EU to function. The single market works because companies from one member state can rely on consistent laws, consistently applied, in the others."

Can the EU Solve the Budget and Rule-of-Law Crisis?

By: EBR | Friday, November 27, 2020

Hungary and Poland have vetoed the next EU budget in protest of a new rule-of-law conditionality. What instruments and treaties can Europe use to circumvent Budapest and Warsaw’s hostage-taking?