European Union

Newsletter - 2-5 October 2023 - Strasbourg plenary session

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

In Europe and in countries where coffee, cocoa, rubber, soy, palm oil, wood, beef and leather are produced, supply chain actors are busy preparing for the upcoming European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)... Or they should be.

Belgium has launched a call for proposals to prepare its ports to import massive amounts of green hydrogen as part of its efforts to become a 'hydrogen gateway', Belgian Energy Minister Tinne Van der Straeten announced.

A few dozen companies from across NATO countries and partners have come together to address the growing threat to the alliance - the use of drones to hit military and infrastructure targets - as demonstrated by the events in Ukraine.

Ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh said on Thursday (28 September) they were dissolving the breakaway statelet they had defended for three decades, where more than half the population has fled since Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive last week.

The declining rate of vaccinations for children in Amsterdam is causing concerns among policymakers, who are still puzzled as to whether this trend is related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Germany on Thursday (28 September) signed a deal to acquire the Israeli-made Arrow 3 hypersonic missile system that will become a key part of Europe's defence against air attack.

Austria has made a renewed push to support EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, naming possible policy areas for advancing 'gradual integration', according to a non-paper prepared for next week's informal EU summit in Granada, seen by Euractiv.

As the European Union finalises its hydrogen and gas rulebook, key issues remain on how to remunerate network operators for building and maintaining Europe’s future hydrogen grid.

The demand for sustainable mobility is growing rapidly while at the same time, the fight against climate change and atmospheric pollution has emerged as one of the paramount challenges for the European transportation sector.

The European right is leading agriculture to its grave, writes MEP Christophe Clergeau, calling for the immediate launch of a citizens' conference on the future of agriculture and food to reconsider the EU's farming policy.

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, president of the European Committee of the Regions, is advocating a revamp of the EU's regional policy so that it better supports all regions in addressing major challenges such as the green and digital transitions.

Slovakia's parliamentary elections on Saturday could bring former prime minister Robert Fico back into power. The populist politician, who is under investigation on suspicion of criminal activities, has vociferously positioned himself against support for Ukraine. Fico's Smer party has a narrow lead in the polls over liberal Progresívné Slovensko led by MEP Michal Šimečka. Europe's press stresses the importance of this vote.

French President Emmanuel Macron this week presented his long-awaited climate plan. The national strategy is intended to make the country less dependent on foreign energy sources and be socially equitable. Commentators are at odds as to whether Macron has hit the nail on the head.