European Union

Poland’s turn at holding the UN’s annual climate summit is meant to be the one shot at making the Paris Agreement a reality. But the hosts also want to make sure “no-one gets left behind” by what promises to be a major societal change.

Britain accused Russian military intelligence on Thursday (4 October) of directing a host of cyber-attacks aimed at undermining Western democracies by sowing confusion in everything from sport to transport and the 2016 US presidential election.

At the Healthy Buildings Day (HBD) in Brussels last week (26 September), academic experts painted a vivid picture of how the edifices we spend our days in shape our lives and the planet itself.

The Paris agreement confirmed the need for the transport sector to urgently curb its CO2 emissions drastically. The revision of the CO2 standards for cars and vans is an opportunity for to take a stand for a fully decarbonised transport system and to make Europe lead in the fight against climate change.

Europe has the scale, the cities, the institutional capacity and the financial muscle to lead the world in new mobility. Should it grab the opportunity, then an exciting future awaits, says Ross Douglas.

Under the European Commission’s indulgent eye, the race to the bottom in the EU’s pig industry pushes profits to the edge at the cost of pig welfare, against law and public opinion. But a movement of citizens and NGOs is gaining momentum to demand change in the industry's methods.

US ambassador to the EU Gordon Snodland revealed in a heated exchange during a private meeting with European journalists on Wednesday (3 September) that the US is abiding by EU data protection rules and has employed an ombudsman to monitor complaints in the field.

Agitation took hold of the European chamber concerning the reform of the Romanian judicial system, which aims to lighten corruption proceedings. EURACTIV France reports.  

Theresa May warned her warring Conservative party on Wednesday (3 October) that Brexit may never come to fruition if they do not back her Chequers plan, as she spoke at the party's annual conference in Birmingham.

A spectre has returned to haunt Europe: missile defence and deterrence. Washington’s NATO envoy perhaps shockingly called on Russia to halt development of new nuclear-ready missiles and warned that the US could “take out” the Russians’ missiles system if it becomes operational.

The European Parliament voted on Wednesday on draft legislation that will determine the CO2 emission reductions required by 2030. Where the EU commission had proposed a 30 percent cut, MEPs opted for a 40 percent reduction.

The next week will be decisive in Brexit talks in Brussels as the deadline for a deal rapidly approaches. At her party conference in Birmingham, the British PM promised not to hold a second Brexit referendum.

When he looks back on his youth in China's far-west Xinjiang region, Akikat Kaliolla, an ethnic Kazakh, recalls the place's natural beauty and the big, colourful weddings typical of his majority-Muslim community.  

MEPs voted in Strasbourg on Wednesday (3 October) in favour of a 40% CO2 reduction target for light vehicles by 2030. The target is higher than what the Commission has proposed and tough talks with national capitals now loom large on the horizon.

From MEPs expenses, to denial of Freedom of Information requests, to the backroom deal to appoint Martin Selmayr - the EU's institutions are failing to live up to their own standards.

EU environment ministers will refer to limiting global warming to 1.5C, when they meet on 9 October, a day after the release of the much-awaited, landmark IPCC report, according to draft conclusions seen by EURACTIV.com.

The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted its position on the climate action required from the automotive sector up until 2030. A majority of MEPs supported a 40% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 using 2021 as a baseline. The European Commission had proposed a less ambitious 30% target. Next week, EU environment ministers will determine their position, following which negotiations on the bill's final text can begin. Read more.

Plenary session, Strasbourg

Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP

Whatever the negotiation result of the revision of the electricity market design will be, the agreed framework for “capacity mechanisms” needs to be reviewed regularly due to the changing conditions of the European electricity sector, says Frank Umbach.

A big controversy is ongoing in Greece following reports that the country’s largest opposition force, New Democracy, which strongly opposes the name deal with Skopje, has had secretive contacts with the Prime Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Zoran Zaev.