European Union

The European Union must increase the amount of renewable energy it uses and cut energy consumption by 2030 under proposals the bloc's executive Commission published on Wednesday (14 July) to help meet a more ambitious goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

French MPs and Senators reached an agreement on the final version of the country's Climate and Resilience Law - an emblematic text of the presidential term that aims to support the country’s ecological transition by helping it reach its 40% emission reduction target by 2030. A final vote is expected this summer. EURACTIV France reports.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about Kosovo restoring reciprocity measures against Serbia, France facing protests over Macron's new vaccination rules, and so much more.

Interim measures imposed on the Polish judicial system by the top European court are against the Polish constitution, Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal said on Wednesday, intensifying the rule of law spat between Warsaw and Brussels. The comes come as the EU’s...

Police in Sarajevo on Wednesday detained the director of BiH’s Intelligence-Security Agency (OSA), Osman Mehmedagić, whom prosecutors suspect of abuse of office, document fraud and money laundering. According to Mirza Hadžiabdicć, Sarajevo Canton Interior Ministry (MUP KS) spokesperson, the police...

EU climate chief Frans Timmermans faced lawmakers in the European Parliament on Wednesday (14 July), hours after the European Commission presented a new legislative package aimed at reaching the EU's 2030 climate goals.

Two NGOs have filed criminal charges against Rio Tinto’s subsidiary in Serbia and their subcontractors, alleging that they polluted the environment. The Coalition against Corruption in the Environment and the Drina valley anti-corruption team PAKT filed a criminal report with...

Significantly tighter rules for entering Slovenia took effect on Thursday, as the colour-coded list of countries was replaced with the requirement that passengers who wish to enter the country need to have a COVID-19 certificate regardless of where they come...

Bulgaria will donate 172,500 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Bhutan, with all delivery costs to be borne by the recipient. Earlier this month, both said they wanted to begin donating vaccines in order to avoid the destruction of expired...

Croatia’s government is calling on employees in the health, social care and education sectors to get vaccinated, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković announced in a speech broadcast by HRT. Workers in the health and social care sectors should get vaccinated to...

Sekizkök said that a large number of Gülen’s supporters reside in North Macedonia, under the guise of educational and trade institutions. “FETO groups remain active in North Macedonia. We raise this before the relevant North Macedonian authorities every chance we...

Voluntary schemes have not been enough to protect biodiversity in Europe's forests and more coordinated measures are needed to protect nature in the EU, according to Green lawmaker Ville Niinistö.

An ideological debate over the future of Europe’s industrial strategy is heating up as the bloc reconsiders how best to achieve strategic independence from foreign suppliers in key economic areas. The disruption of international supply chains due to the pandemic...

Slovakia’s Constitutional Court will decide whether rules for crossing the borders issued by the Public Health Authority are in compliance with the constitution. The rules have until then been suspended. Under the new regime, vaccinated people did not have to...

The European Commission has issued a press release denying having said it wants to place LGBTQI+ activists in Hungarian schools following comments by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to that effect. “Brussels wants to send LGBTQ activists to Hungarian schools. We...

Czechia’s lower house of parliament, the chamber of deputies, this week overturned the senate’s veto of an amendment to a building law drafted by Regional Development Minister Klára Dostálová. The law was adopted with the backing of the Communist Party....

The Greek government has decided to postpone a draft pension bill after the European Commission warned about its impact on the country’s public debt, EURACTIV has learned. An EU spokesperson told EURACTIV: “We do not have any comment on the...

Portuguese Environment Minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes told parliament on Wednesday it was possible to bring forward the 2040 target for the closure of gas-fired power plants as was the case for coal-fired plants. The minister stressed that he does not believe it makes...

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Justice Minister Marta Cartabia visited the prison of Santa Maria Capua Vetere in Campania on Wednesday, which was rocked by violence in April 2020. It was the first time an Italian prime minister paid...

Two Lithuanian parliamentary committees have suggested pushing for tighter EU immigration policies, calling on Lithuania’s foreign ministry to draft proposals and initiate discussions in Brussels. The initiative comes in reaction to a recent spike in irregular migration to Lithuania. Vilnius...