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
Is the Paris Climate Agreement legally binding? Experts explain
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 23, 2021
One question has long dogged the Paris Agreement, the 27-page accord that set the terms for this month’s climate negotiations at COP26: Is it legally binding?
LEAK: EU strategy seeks to remove carbon from atmosphere
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 23, 2021
The European Commission will reward green farming practices like afforestation and soil conservation while putting rules to identify activities that “unambiguously remove carbon from the atmosphere”
Energy crisis could worsen poverty for millions of Europeans
By: EBR | Monday, November 22, 2021
Energy prices have skyrocketed in the past months, increasing the concern that millions of Europeans will have to choose between paying their bills and putting food on the table this winter
The review of the general pharmaceutical legislation: an opportunity that should not be missed?
By: EBR | Monday, November 22, 2021
This year, the end of December will not only mark the Holiday rush, preparation of family gatherings and last attempts to buy presents – at least for the healthcare policy specialists
3 ways to expand EU taxonomy and accelerate green transition
By: EBR | Friday, November 19, 2021
The EU taxonomy is set to be a game changer for the deployment of the Green Deal in Europe
EU Budget 2022 deal: investing more for a strong recovery
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 17, 2021
MEPs have fought for and obtained better support for health, research, climate action, SMEs and the young in next year’s EU budget, after talks with Council on Monday
EU invests over €1 billion in innovative projects to decarbonise the economy
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 17, 2021
The European Union is investing over €1.1 billion into seven large-scale innovative projects under the Innovation Fund
How Europe Can Build Upon COP26
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 17, 2021
If climate action fails, the EU will succumb to economic breakdown of supply chains and migratory pressures. To avoid this, the bloc must advance climate justice and restore trust between developed and developing economies
EU’s solidarity with Poland has its limits
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Poland can count on EU solidarity over the escalating Belarus border crisis. But this solidarity has its limits while people are dying at the EU external border, trapped in freezing conditions
The EU must open its ’next pandemic’ plans to public debate
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Giles Merritt welcomes the creation of a new body to fashion the EU’s defences against future pandemics, but urges wider discussion of its authority and financial muscle.
By: N. Peter Kramer
