European Union

Nearly half of Europe’s energy is used up by buildings but new rules adopted by the EU earlier this year wants to inject efficiency en masse into the sector and improve massively the edifices in which we live and work. EURACTIV spoke with the lawmaker behind the new legislation.

‘Healthy mind, healthy body’, so the saying goes - but both are affected by the buildings in which we live and work. This year’s edition of the Healthy Homes Barometer reveals what the challenges and solutions might be.

The ruling CDU/CSU faction in the German Bundestag has voted its leader Volker Kauder out of office. In a surprise development Kauder's deputy Ralph Brinkhaus won the vote for the post. Because Kauder is considered one of Angela Merkel's closest allies the vote was seen as a test of the mood in her party after the internal row over asylum and the Maaßen affair. For commentators Merkel has suffered a serious setback.

Italy's government has approved tougher asylum laws. Among other measures the proceedings of applicants who are deemed to be "socially dangerous" or have been convicted of a crime are to be suspended. Commentators are furious.

The EU wants to create a "special purpose vehicle" for processing payments between European companies and Tehran in a bid to enable Europe's industry to continue trading with the country without violating US sanctions. Some commentators praise the initiative for attempting to preserve the nuclear deal. Others doubt that it will keep the regime in Tehran in line.

Now that the offensive against the last Syrian rebel stronghold in Idlib has been fended off for now, the question arises of what the post-war order could look like. A group of international jurists warned on Tuesday in an appeal to UN Secretary General Guterres that human rights could be disregarded in the reconstruction phase. The West must not once again turn a blind eye, commentators admonish.

Luka Modrić has been named Best Fifa Footballer of the year. The Real Madrid midfielder and Croatian national team captain dethroned Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have shared the honour for the past decade. Commentators - in particular the Croatian ones - are delighted at the distinction and that someone else has won the trophy.