European Union

Law enforcement authorities in Greece have dropped investigations against the last two out of ten politicians suspected of illegal practices in connection with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis. Last month, journalists Kostas Vaxevanis and Ioanna Papadakou, who uncovered the scandal, were accused of involvement and summoned before a special investigator. The national press reflects the diametrically opposed perspectives on the case.

With only a fraction of EU-bound containers controlled for counterfeits, a large majority of counterfeited products is guaranteed to find their European buyers unperturbed.

Rewatch this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss the EU's shift from natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen. Questions included: -Will the new legislative proposals be enough to decarbonise Europe’s gas supply, and help the EU reach its 2030 and 2050 targets? -How can the EU ensure effective integration of hydrogen within its energy system?

Viktor went to Russia, but Vladi was mean, the Commission’s taxonomy ain’t exactly green, and Eurovision countdown sparked Twitter’s inner dancing queen!

Written by Gregor Erbach with Nela Foukalova (1st edition).

As part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, the Commission presented a legislative proposal to review the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The aim of the review is to align the EU ETS Directive with the EU target set out in the European Climate Law to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55 % by 2030, compared to 1990 levels.

To this end, the amount of emission allowances would be reduced, fewer allowances would be allocated for free, and the ETS would be extended to maritime transport. This would reduce emissions in the ETS sectors by 61 % by 2030, compared to 2005. A separate new emissions trading system would be established for fuel distribution for road transport and buildings. The Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund would be enlarged, and Member States would be obliged to spend all of their ETS revenues on climate action.

In the European Parliament, the proposal has been referred to the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), which has appointed Peter Liese (EPP, Germany) as rapporteur.

Versions

• January 2022: Review of the EU ETS: ‘Fit for 55’ package (1st edition)

Proposal for a directive amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union, Decision (EU) 2015/1814 concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve for the Union greenhouse gas emission trading scheme and Regulation (EU) 2015/757 Committee responsible:Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)COM(2021) 551
14.7.2021Rapporteur:Peter Liese (EPP, Germany)2021/0211(COD)Shadow rapporteurs:Jytte Guteland (S&D, Sweden)
Emma Wiesner (Renew, Sweden)
Michael Bloss (Greens/EFA, Germany)
Danilo Oscar Lancini (ID, Italy)
Alexandr Vondra (ECR, Czechia)
Silvia Modig (The Left, Finland)Ordinary legislative procedure (COD)
(Parliament and Council
on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) Next steps expected: Vote on draft report in committee

Hundreds of Serbian environmental activists on Thursday (3 February) blocked Belgrade's city centre, demanding a ban on all lithium and borates mining and exploration in the Balkan country.

Climate campaigners have started the process of a legal challenge against the European Union over the labelling of investments in bioenergy and plastics as green in its flagship sustainable finance rulebook.

The United States warned Chinese firms on Thursday (3 February) they would face consequences if they sought to evade any export controls imposed on Moscow in the event of Russia invading Ukraine.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about France lightening the conditions for obtaining a vaccine pass, Hungary slamming the EU Commission's justice chief for his remarks about the elections, and so much more.

Russia has formulated several options as an excuse to invade Ukraine, including the potential use of a propaganda video showing a staged attack, the United States said on Thursday, as the Kremlin condemned American troop deployments in the region.

Investor groups have criticised the European Commission’s plan to label fossil gas projects as “green” under the EU sustainable finance taxonomy, saying it undermines the investment guide's purpose of promoting climate-friendly activities.

Polish president Andrzej Duda submitted legislation on Thursday to dismantle the country's controversial disciplinary chamber for judges. Warsaw hopes the bill would allow the government to end its rule-of-law dispute with the EU Commission, and thereby unblock Poland's allocated Covid-19 funds. Last October, the European Court of Justice ordered Poland to pay a €1m daily fine for failing to suspend the chamber, which it found breaks EU law.