European Union

France and Spain alone could generate enough electricity equivalent to the EU's projected 2050 demand of around 4,000 TWh.

The post New study doubles EU wind power potential appeared first on Euractiv.

But the Commission will not accelerate ongoing investigations under the Digital Services Act, a spokesperson said on Friday.

The post 12 EU countries urge Commission do more against election interference appeared first on Euractiv.

Written by Vasilis Margaras and Emmanuel Alvarez.

Discussions on the next EU multiannual financial framework are expected to begin soon. These talks on the allocation of future budget resources have a direct impact on all European Union policies, including EU cohesion policy. A reflection on the future of cohesion policy is underway, engaging EU institutions and advisory bodies, EU Member States, regional and local authorities, and stakeholders. The European Commission set up a high-level group of specialists to examine the direction of cohesion policy, which came up with a number of conclusions in March 2024. These conclusions fed into the ninth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, which acts as a compass for the Commission’s reform options for the future design of cohesion policy. Nevertheless, there are still some crucial decisions ahead.

This reflection process not only entails technical matters, but also touches upon many other policy issues, some of which have highly political content. Negative scenarios for the cohesion budget, competing thematic priority allocations, a possible recentralisation of funds, or the future relationship with the Recovery and Resilience Facility, all have the potential for political friction. Issues requiring discussion include simplification and flexibility, better coordination of European Structural and Investment Funds with other instruments, and a more focused ‘place-based’ approach to cohesion policy. Local and regional authorities across all EU Member States highly value and support EU cohesion policy. However, political division between budget net-recipient Member States and net contributors could lead to cohesion policy being contested, especially in the light of new emerging priorities for the EU (e.g. in immigration, security and defence, or enlargement).

The appointment of a new College of Commissioners on 1 December 2024 and the beginning of a new legislative process provide a unique opportunity for regional and local stakeholders to influence national positions and those of the European institutions at an early stage.

This is an update of an October 2023 briefing by Balazs Szechy.

Read the complete briefing on ‘The future of cohesion policy: Current state of the debate‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

GDP per head (PPS) 2021 Population change in EU NUTS3 regions (2010-2021)

In November, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said the guidelines would "ideally" be ready before the deadline.

The post Commission’s AI prohibitions guidelines to arrive less than 48 hours before deadline appeared first on Euractiv.

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Fisheries
Committee on Security and Defence
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council.
Committee on Constitutional Affairs
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
Committee on International Trade
Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
Committee on Fisheries
Committee on Security and Defence
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has presented a plan called the "Competitiveness Compass" which aims to boost the European economy's global competitiveness. The strategy is based on the report presented in September by former ECB chief Mario Draghi. "Europe has everything it needs to succeed in the race to the top," von der Leyen said. Not all commentators share her optimism.

Salwan Momika, who was on trial in Sweden for burning the Quran, has been shot dead. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has said that there was a risk that 'foreign powers' were behind the killing. Momika was charged with carrying out a series of public Quran burnings in 2023 that led Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei to accuse Sweden of waging a war against the Muslim world.