European Union

Written by Magdalena Pasikowska-Schnass.

From his childhood in the Warsaw Ghetto to his tragic death in a road accident while working at the European Parliament in 2008, Bronisław Geremek faced many personal, professional and political challenges during a period of constant turbulence. A world-renowned historian, he was interested in the poor, the excluded and the marginalised during the Middle Ages, mainly working as a researcher at the Sorbonne and Warsaw University.

The Soviet army’s invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 marked the start of his political involvement with those opposing the communist regime. He secretly gave history lectures, spoke in defence of workers persecuted following the cost-of-living riots in 1976, and went to Gdańsk in August 1980 to support the strike led by Lech Wałęsa. Geremek subsequently became an adviser to the founder of the Solidarność trade union.

His involvement led to his imprisonment following the military coup in December 1981 and the loss of his position as a professor, but guaranteed his place in negotiations between the communist regime and the democratic opposition in 1989. As a member of the first semi-democratic parliament in the Soviet bloc, he subsequently became Foreign Minister and started the negotiations for Poland’s accession to the European Union. He was elected as a Member of the European Parliament in 2004.

His research as a historian focused on Europe as a civilisation, on questions of European identity and integration, and on civil society. Due to his historical research, he had a capacity for in-depth analysis that he used in his European political work and involvement. He concluded that a European public space was essential in order to encourage European civic engagement and awareness.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Bronisław Geremek: In search of a united Europe‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

The new European Commission-powered Alliance for Industrial Data, Edge and Cloud was officially launched on Tuesday (December 14). With 39 members, the initiative gathers some of Europe's top-notch tech companies to collaborate on next-generation computing technologies.

The European Commission has proposed the introduction of minimum energy performance standards for the 15% worst performing buildings in Europe, which would be rated “G” on the EU’s energy performance scale, whether they are residential or not.

In an emerging multipolar world, Germany will need to be more assertive to defend European and transatlantic values. However, it remains to be seen if the new Chancellor Olaf Scholz will rise to the occasion, and the first signs are not too promising.

The Commission’s newly proposed methane legislation offers important technical measures but ignores the bulk of Europe’s methane footprint from imported gas. It is now up to MEPs and member states to build on international momentum and bolster Europe’s ambition.

On the back of the COVID pandemic, experts point to mounting evidence suggesting that women's involvement in the agrifood sector creates businesses more able to withstand crises, yet women still make up less than one-third of agri start-up leaders.

Changing the names of institutions, forming transnational lists, and questioning the unanimity vote are among  39 recommendations approved by the citizens' panel on democracy at a Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) panel in Florence last weekend. But some of the recommendations headed for the Commission might be met with resistance.

The European Commission’s efficient and green mobility package aims to cut transport emissions by making urban mobility cleaner. But electrifying our vehicles is not enough: To reach Europe’s Green Deal goals, cycling must be championed, writes Jill Warren.

The Regulation on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) was adopted by the European Parliament on Monday (13 December) after more than three years of work.

Pornhub has criticised France's broadcasting regulator for sending warnings on Monday (13 December) to five porn-hosting websites over easy accessibility for minors. According to the pornography giant, the decision "encroaches upon the privacy of adults" and ignores most of the industry that remains uncontrolled. EURACTIV France reports.

Alexei Navalny’s daughter Daria Navalnaya received the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize on behalf of her imprisoned father at a ceremony on 15 December.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Alexei Navalny’s daughter Daria Navalnaya received the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize on behalf of her imprisoned father at a ceremony on 15 December.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The European Commission on Wednesday (15 December) proposed rules allowing EU countries to jointly buy strategic reserves of gas, under plans that would also bolster gas storage and aim to add more low-carbon gases to the network.

Written by Liselotte Jensen.

At a time when the European Union (EU) is preparing a major revision of its climate and energy framework in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the targets set in the European Climate Law, this briefing looks at overall progress on climate action.

Although the EU met its 2020 targets for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) and increasing renewable energy use and energy efficiency in the extraordinary context of the coronavirus crisis, pandemic recovery led energy consumption and emissions to rebound in 2021. Member States are required to invest 37 % of EU Recovery and Resilience Facility Funds on climate objectives.

The European Climate Law sets the targets of reducing net GHG emissions by ‘at least’ 55 % by 2030, compared with 1990, and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. However, current climate and energy legislation for the 2021-2030 period is still based on a lower 2030 target of 40 % emission reduction, as are Member States’ national energy and climate plans (NECPs) for the 2021-2030 period, required by the Governance Regulation. With the ‘fit for 55’ package presented in July 2021, the Commission is aiming to bring EU climate and energy legislation in line with the new targets. Member States need to update their NECPs by June 2024.

Read the complete briefing on ‘Climate action in the European Union: Latest state of play‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

Renewable energy shares and targets per Member State Renewable energy share of gross final energy consumption (EU-27) Average EU-27 emissions: New passenger cars (g CO2/km) Primary and final energy consumption (Mtoe, EU-27) Emissions under the Effort-sharing Decision/Regulation (MtCO2e, EU-27) Total GHG emissions by sector (MtCO2e) (rounded data, EU-27) Carbon intensity of the EU-27 economy: GHG emissions (gCO2e) per unit of GDP (euro in 2015 prices) Emissions and allocations per policy sector (EU-27) Total, LULUCF and net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (MtCO2e, EU-27) Total greenhouse gas emissions (tCO2e) per inhabitant in 2019

Alexei Navalny’s daughter, Daria Navalnaya, received European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize on behalf of her imprisoned father at a ceremony on 15 December.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Alexei Navalny’s daughter, Daria Navalnaya, received European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize on behalf of her imprisoned father at a ceremony on 15 December.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

The European Commission on Tuesday (14 December) unveiled four initiatives aimed at readying Europe's transport network for a low-carbon future – a set of proposals hailed by Greenpeace for "exceeding expectations" when it comes to promoting rail transport.

The European Commission on Wednesday (15 December) unveiled a package of gas legislation that aims to steer Europe away from fossil gas towards more sustainable energy sources, like renewable and low-carbon hydrogen.

A new recommendation to the Dutch government suggests a hybrid risk approach on Legionella bacteria monitoring in implementing the new EU's tap water rules at member state levels.

The most effective response to the resurgence of COVID-19 is vaccination, say MEPs, addressing the main topic on the agenda of the European Council.

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP