Beyond the strategy review: the ECB must act on climate
By: EBR | Thursday, July 22, 2021
The European Central Bank (ECB)’s new monetary policy is a positive step, but it needs more ambition to tackle its climate problem
Europe’s Looming Unpredictable Autumn
By: EBR | Thursday, July 22, 2021
There will be no respite when European leaders return from a summer break punctuated by floods, cyber attacks, coronavirus, and challenges to the EU’s rule of law. All the more reason for them to explain to citizens what is at stake for Europe’s future
2021 Rule of Law
By: EBR | Wednesday, July 21, 2021
EU report shows positive developments in Member States but also points to serious concerns
EU wants its flag to fly at Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony
By: EBR | Tuesday, July 20, 2021
European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa said they had asked athletes from Slovenia – currently holding the EU Council’s rotating presidency – to be allowed to bear the bloc’s starred flag
Europe’s hydrogen split: blue vs green and north vs south
By: EBR | Tuesday, July 20, 2021
The only element keeping blue hydrogen projects alive are subsidies and as green hydrogen declines in cost more government subsidies will be needed. This might be good for Shell and Exxon but is unlikely to be popular with voters
Merkel sees ‘surreal’ wreckage as Europe flood death toll tops 180
By: EBR | Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday (18 July) that she was horrified by the “surreal” devastation in the flood-ravaged region of Germany, as the toll in western Europe reached at least 184 people dead with dozens still missing
This is how the 2020 recession affected Europe’s public and private sectors
By: EBR | Tuesday, July 20, 2021
One of the positive surprises about last year’s recession is how little damage it inflicted on average household and corporate balance sheets in Europe
Climate-focused investors give warm welcome to EU masterplan
By: EBR | Friday, July 16, 2021
A European Union climate masterplan to raise the cost of pollution and eliminate emissions is a step towards a single carbon price that many investors striving to make companies more sustainable say can help to engineer deeper change
Europe fiddles while forests burn
By: EBR | Friday, July 16, 2021
The European Commission’s approach to using forest wood for energy could prove a faux pas ahead of the COP26 UN climate summit in November, a dangerous move which contradicts the findings of the EU executive’s own research department
The EU Angela Merkel Leaves Behind
By: EBR | Friday, July 16, 2021
Chancellor Merkel’s last official visit to the White House holds a special political significance. President Biden has placed human rights and rule of law at the top of his agenda, just as these values are under attack from within and outside Europe
EU maps proposed share-out of emissions targets between countries
By: EBR | Thursday, July 15, 2021
The European Commission on Wednesday (14 July) proposed a template for sharing out the burden of cutting greenhouse gas emissions within the EU, setting out national targets that the 27 member states are certain to wrangle over
EU unveils plan to cut emissions 55% by 2030, wave fossil fuels goodbye
By: EBR | Thursday, July 15, 2021
The European Commission tabled a root-and-branch review of the EU’s energy and climate laws on Wednesday (14 July), aiming to cut carbon emissions by 55% before the end of the decade and initiate a decisive break away from fossil fuels
Ideological debate over EU industrial strategy heats up
By: EBR | Thursday, July 15, 2021
An ideological debate over the future of Europe’s industrial strategy is heating up as the bloc reconsiders how best to achieve strategic independence from foreign suppliers in key economic areas
Independent Ethics Body: improving transparency and integrity in EU institutions
By: EBR | Thursday, July 15, 2021
The new EU Ethics Body would be able to initiate investigations on possible conflicts of interest or “revolving door” cases for Commissioners, MEPs and staff
EU plan puts spotlight on carbon sinks to tackle climate change
By: EBR | Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Europe will need to increase the amount of carbon stored by its forests and wetlands to meet a new, more ambitious target for carbon removals in Europe
Recovery plans: When the game will toughen up
By: EBR | Tuesday, July 13, 2021
The recovery plans of 12 member states are expected to be adopted by EU finance ministers at a meeting on Tuesday. For now, the atmosphere is positive but things are expected to change when the first payment requests are made following the progress reports
What you need to know about the European Green Deal - and what comes next
By: EBR | Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Nearly two years after the European Commission launched the European Green Deal in December 2019, the EU’s landscape has changed greatly, with the COVID-19 pandemic causing a contraction of the bloc’s GDP by 6.1% in 2020
Europe could save €2 trillion by 2050 with low-carbon hydrogen, says report
By: EBR | Monday, July 12, 2021
A new report by Deloitte says massive cost savings can be achieved on the way towards climate neutrality if gas is given a more prominent role
Balance climate ambition with recovery efforts so that East can meet West
By: EBR | Friday, July 9, 2021
The Visegrad capital cities can help lead the region towards meeting the EU’s climate ambitions and in halting a growing East/West divide
Global wind and solar power capacity grew at record rate in 2020
By: EBR | Friday, July 9, 2021
BP’s annual report reveals renewable energy boom in pandemic coincided with slump in demand for oil



By: N. Peter Kramer
