European Union

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen maintained her position that Crimea is Russian, claiming that Crimea’s inhabitants freely voted for the referendum to validate the attachment to Russia in a Wednesday parliamentary hearing. Le Pen was heard by the National...

To face the issue of climate change and today’s multiple societal, energetic and economic challenges, we need to create a greener growth model. The Circular Choices Coalition - a coalition of the wood, fibre-based, paper and board, and renewables sectors   - believes the choices we make can shape a more sustainable present and future.

Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria continues to enjoy “de facto free gas” from Russia’s Gazprom – a situation which satisfies no one but ensures political stability in the Russian-controlled region, the country’s energy minister told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.

Belgium’s Green Party, including  Climate and Environment Minister Zakia Khattabi, criticised Prime Minister Alexander De Croo’s call for a regulatory break on EU climate that echoes French President Emmanuel Macron’s call, also condemned by national Greens.

Business associations have expressed concern over a proposed energy tax on fossil fuels in a letter to parliament claiming this could lead to a steep rise in costs due to a lack of alternative energy sources.

Austria does not have a clearly defined short-term plan to reduce Russian gas imports, the European Commission said as part of its European Semester review on Wednesday (24 May).

MPs of the largest Bulgarian party, GERB will vote “against” all requests to remove parliamentary immunities until the judicial reform bill is passed, effectively boycotting the prosecutor’s office, the party said after the prosecutor’s office filed a request to lift...

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suffered a chaotic start to his 2024 presidential election race on Wednesday (24 May) when glitches marred an online forum hosted by Twitter owner Elon Musk that was meant to showcase DeSantis' fitness for the job.

The European Commission has asked Bulgaria to suspend the current scheme of state subsidies for the private sector to reduce the budget deficit and implement measures to reduce electricity consumption. As part of the 2023 European Semester Spring Package, the Commission...

The Italian government led by Giorgia Meloni (Fratelli d’Italia/ECR) continues to work for a greater presence on the African continent, with a particular focus on the Horn of Africa region, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia/EPP)...

The ongoing row between members of Germany’s three-party coalition reached new heights on Wednesday (24 May), with the ruling Greens warning trust within the government is now severely damaged.

Slovakia’s parliament is debating whether to ask the European Commission to fire its Head of Representation in Slovakia, Vladimír Sucha, over comments about Slovakia’s DNA having broken chromosomes when it comes to gender equality. Sucha spoke at a conference promoting...

The European Commission sent Poland six formal notices to pay the outstanding daily fine for failing to comply with the EU Court of Justice’s decision obliging Poland to dismantle the newly-established and highly-criticised Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court, Polish...

Lobbyists and NGOs must be registered on the EU’s transparency register, before they can participate as invited guests or co-host events in the European Parliament, according to a decision adopted by the Parliament’s leadership earlier this week. 

Seven EU parliamentarians have formed a new group to steer institutional discussions on the therapeutic application of psychedelics. On Wednesday (24 May), an MEP Action Group for the Medical Use of Psychedelics was launched in combination with PAREA and PsychedelicsEUROPE, which...

European governments are set to discuss how the EU can better make its voice heard at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations telecom agency, and might request the EU executive and diplomatic branches provide a roadmap. The point...

With persistent upward pressure on prices, the European Commission has urged EU countries to reduce their public spending to avoid further fueling inflation, notably by phasing out energy aid granted to households.

On Wednesday, the Environment Committee adopted its position on EU rules to further reduce pollution and steer large agro-industrial installations in the green transition.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

On Wednesday, the Environment Committee adopted its position on EU rules to further reduce pollution and steer large agro-industrial installations in the green transition.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2023 - EP

"If energy prices increase again and support cannot be fully discontinued, targeted policies to support vulnerable households and companies — rather than wide and less effective support policies — will remain crucial," the commission said in its assessment.