European Union

A Comission's idea to merge regional and agricultural budget leads to unusual alliances, and conflicts in Germany.

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The WTO ruled in 2021 that New Delhi's financial support to the sugar industry heavily exceeds the maximum allowed under trade accords

The post EU sugar industry frets as Commission looks to step up trade talks with India appeared first on Euractiv.

The delay in taking a decision may reflect the political sensitivity of the issue.

The post Last-minute delay in decision to split power markets in France, Germany appeared first on Euractiv.

When Nokia failed to make the leap to the smartphone era, Finland felt the hit – but e-methane may change that.

The post Finland hopes e-fuels can recreate the Nokia magic appeared first on Euractiv.

If the trend becomes entrenched, the Commission would need to reconsider its fact-checking demands, a source told Euractiv

The post US Big Tech backtracks on EU fact-checking commitments appeared first on Euractiv.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) Defence Innovation Prize for 2024 was awarded at the Agency's annual conference in Brussels. The Prize focused on two critical areas: Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection, and Cognitive Sensing for Enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Systems.

An eye on the seabed

In the first category of Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection, Greece-based FEAC Engineering was recognised for its system designed to improve the monitoring and protection of maritime infrastructure. FEAC, a Greek company founded in 2014 by brothers Sotiris and Charilaos Kokkinos. It specialises in Digital Twin technology to create digital replicas of physical objects, as well as engineering physics-based simulations and artificial intelligence for predictive analytics. With expertise and an understanding of scientific principles, FEAC delivers engineering and IT solutions, from conceptual design and performance simulation to implementation.

FEAC's proposal focuses on the development and widespread implementation of its proprietary PITHIA Platform, designed to protect critical maritime infrastructure. PITHIA, generates real-time, high-fidelity digital models of assets such as harbour installations, underwater pipelines, offshore wind turbines, and communication cables, integrating various data sources for real-time monitoring. It supports predictive technical maintenance based on both historical and real-time data and addresses other threats, including military-like risks.

This AI-enhanced approach identifies patterns and anomalies, enabling accurate threat responses, enhanced situational awareness, and high operational readiness of maritime assets. Its agility and adaptability by design can significantly strengthen maritime security across the EU. "We try to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds," Charilaos Kokkinos told the conference. 

Tracking in 3D

In the second category of Cognitive Sensing for ISTAR Systems, TRAAK, a French company, was recognised for its PIXYS 3D system. TRAAK, established in 2020 by Thomas Duroyon and Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin, specialises in developing geolocation and biometric tracking solutions for challenging and complex environments.

TRAAK’s PIXYS 3D system addresses critical challenges in battlefield navigation, communication, and Blue Force Tracking. With its capability for precise outdoor, indoor, and underground positioning, it offers an operational advantage on modern battlefields and in urban warfare scenarios.

"It has been developed in-house," Duroyon said. "We are completely independent from any technology that exists today. We can be deployed in a few minutes, regardless of the environment."

PIXYS 3D, based on unique, patented European geolocation technology, delivers a sovereign, rapidly deployable solution with metric-level accuracy. This mobile 3D positioning system provides operators with live navigation across indoor and outdoor environments, particularly in urban or underground areas or in settings affected by electronic interference, where traditional geolocation systems such as GNSS prove ineffective. With its customisable, open hardware and firmware architecture, PIXYS 3D is designed to enhance operational awareness and AI-supported decision-making for defence and state security customers.

EDA’s Innovation Prize

The EDA Defence Innovation Prize, first awarded in 2018, includes €30,000 in funding for each winner to advance their innovations. Winners also gain access to the EDA’s network of experts and will present their work to the agency’s Capability Technology Groups (CapTechs), potentially paving the way for broader implementation in European defence initiatives.  EDA RTI Director Nathalie Guichard awarded the prize.

 

The prize forms part of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI), established in 2022 to promote collaborative and innovative solutions within the defence sector. HEDI seeks to involve non-traditional defence contributors, such as civil research organisations and start-ups, to ensure European armed forces have real-time access to emerging technologies. 

Written by Agnieszka Widuto.

Clean technologies are at the forefront of the EU’s ambition to pursue both decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. The global clean tech market is expected to triple by 2035, covering sectors such as solar, wind, batteries, heat pumps and electrolysers for the production of hydrogen. While the roll-out of clean technologies is increasing in the EU, its global market share is falling and manufacturing is lagging behind. This is due to a combination of factors, such as high energy prices, import dependency on raw materials and key components, skills shortages and fierce international competition, fuelled by robust public support policies adopted by the EU’s main global competitors, such as China and the United States.

The EU has already taken some steps to boost manufacturing of clean technologies. The Net-Zero Industry Act of June 2024 seeks to enhance the manufacturing capacity of strategic net-zero technologies by streamlining administrative procedures, boosting investment and improving skills. It sets a target for domestic manufacturing capacity of strategic net-zero technologies to reach 40 % of EU annual deployment needs by 2030 and 15 % of global production by 2040. The Critical Raw Materials Act of April 2024 addresses the issue of import dependencies by seeking to diversify supplies and boost domestic capacity in mining, processing and recycling of critical raw materials.

However, some challenges remain for EU clean tech. These include ensuring adequate private and public funding, swiftly implementing the recently adopted legislative framework and reinforcing a favourable regulatory environment for investment. The Clean Industrial Deal to be announced in February 2025 by the new European Commission, together with the Competitiveness Fund under the future multiannual EU budget, are expected to provide an additional boost to clean technologies in Europe.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Clean tech in the energy sector‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

To earn Podemos' support, the government would need to greenlight a permanent tax on large energy companies

The post Far-left Podemos predicts Spanish PM Sánchez won’t make it to end of term appeared first on Euractiv.

The deal was on rocky ground after Assad's government was removed in December.

The post Syria cripples Moscow’s Mediterranean presence appeared first on Euractiv.

Donald Tusk outlined to MEPs on Wednesday his goals for Poland’s helming of the EU Council presidency and the country’s "Security, Europe!" strategy.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Donald Tusk outlined to MEPs on Wednesday his goals for Poland’s helming of the EU Council presidency and the country’s "Security, Europe!" strategy.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, MEPs call on the EU to reject the upcoming presidential election in Belarus on 26 January as a sham.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, MEPs call on the EU to reject the upcoming presidential election in Belarus on 26 January as a sham.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Shortfalls in European Union military materiel are “colossal,” and the European Union needs a “big bang” approach, Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, told the European Defence Agency’s annual conference. Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov also told the conference that his country had the capacity to produce more weaponry but faced a financing shortfall in 2025 of around €18 billion. 

"The shortfalls in military materiel, if we compare with the Russian war economy, are colossal. We can no longer afford a fragmented and incremental approach. We need a real, big bang approach to increase defence production and acquisition. We also need a European approach," Commissioner Kubilius said.

General Onno Eichelsheim, The Netherlands' Chief of Defence, told the conference that what was good for Ukraine was good for NATO and good for the European Union. He also called for grouping together Member States' demands when ordering from industry.

Galileo, Europe’s flagship satellite navigation programme, shows what European collective ambition and cooperation can achieve, Kubilius said. Kubilius added: “We need to consolidate our industrial efforts, starting with research and development, and ensure that Europe builds its own production capacity. Galileo has shown us what can be achieved through cooperation. Now we need that same energy in defence.”

In the context of the EU’s approach to defence, this involves creating a unified effort, pooling resources, and prioritising projects such as air defence, cyber shields, and military mobility, he said. Kubilius, who served two terms as Lithuania's prime minister (from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012), also paid tribute to the EDA after it celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.

Ukraine’s rising armament production, funding gap 

Ukraine’s Umerov, in his speech to the conference via video link, said that Kyiv had become a leader in military manufacturing. He said his country was now the largest manufacturer of military autonomous systems worldwide, with the ability to produce over 4.5 million drones annually.

Between 2023 and 2024, Ukraine’s artillery systems production tripled, while production of armoured personnel carriers increased fivefold, he said. Other key military capabilities have seen similar growth, with ammunition production rising by 2.5 times and the production of anti-tank weapons doubling.

Ukraine has also ramped up its missile production capacity, with plans to produce 3,000 missiles in 2025. According to Umerov, long-range drones developed in response to the war have played a pivotal role in the conflict, destroying more than 300 strategic targets inside Russian territory.

However, more funding is needed to reach Ukraine's military production potential. While the country’s defence industry capacity is set to reach €34 billion by 2025, the available funding stands at only €16 billion, leaving a crucial gap of €18 billion that must be addressed to sustain and enhance production efforts. “We ask you to help us close this existing gap in financing, facilitate the transfer of technology, and set up strategic partnerships with our industry,” Umerov said. 

Aluminium is a strategic raw material for the EU’s green transition and a key enabler for critical sectors such as automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging, and clean energy technologies. NATO has also classified aluminium as a defence-critical raw material, highlighting its significance in defence applications.

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Meeting targets on a tighter timeline will require even more EU funds for defence.

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Meanwhile, the EU should also look to work with like-minded partners, including the UK.

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On Wednesday, MEPs debated the outcome of the December EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen, focussing on Ukraine, EU-US relations and the EU’s global role.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Wednesday, MEPs debated the outcome of the December EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen, focussing on Ukraine, EU-US relations and the EU’s global role.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Parliament’s President and political group leaders adopted the following statement on the recent ceasefire in Gaza:

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP