EurActiv - European Union Information Website (EU and Europe)

Airlines set to win carbon credits from biofuel flights (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:52:34 +0100

The European Commission has asked airlines to report on "the amount of biomass" they use so that biofuels can be accounted as "zero emission" in the greenhouse gas emissions reports they are requested to produce each year under the EU's carbon scheme for the aviation sector.

Commission deplores Serb's Northern Kosovo referendum (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:20:11 +0100

A referendum organised in the Serbia-populated northern part of Kosovo on whether to recognise the government of the Albanian majority received a frosty reception from the European Commission today (14 February).

Unity or division in Europe's cloud computing market? (Analysis)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:41:56 +0100

The advent of cloud computing technology gives the opportunity to further strengthen the EU single market, but to capture its potential countries' laws must be sufficiently harmonised to let data flow easily across borders, writes Robert Holleyman, president and chief executive of the Business Software Alliance.

EU-India: Getting the bilateral compact right (Analysis)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:12:46 +0100

The latest EU-India summit managed to touch upon the political dimension of the partnership, yet there are still several issues which remain to be resolved, writes Gauri Khandekar.

Gazprom to double its European gas storage capacity (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:29:40 +0100

Drawing lessons from this year's cold snap, the Russian export monopoly Gazprom has announced it will double its underground gas storage capacity in Europe, raising concerns that it might abuse its dominant position.

Web giants in silent battle for 'social search' supremacy (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:37:24 +0100

Microsoft and Google are developing web platforms combining the roles of social media and search engines – ‘social search’ – in moves that reveal a raging battle to harness cloud computing and combine the web’s most popular functions.

EU strategy seeks brisk development of bio-economy (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:29:07 +0100

With warnings that Europe is “too slow and too piecemeal” in developing a sustainable economy, the EU executive has unveiled plans to encourage development of the ‘bio-economy’ through investment and innovation.

Parliament watches as ministers debate EU energy savings bill (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:23:03 +0100

The EU’s draft energy efficiency directive, set to underpin the bloc's efforts to cut 20% of its energy consumption by the end of the decade, is being debated for the first time at the ministerial level in Brussels today, with talks focusing on giving the legislation more flexibility.

Renewables chief: 2030 targets are 'a must' (Interview)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:06:42 +0100

Arthouros Zervos, president of the European Wind Energy Association, shares his perspective on how to improve Europe's ageing power grid networks so that they can integrate the large amounts of renewable energies needed to meet the EU's 2020 targets.

Euro debt crisis to test EU-China partnership (News)

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:43:57 +0100

The eurozone crisis and China’s willingness to help debt-ridden European countries will be at the core of a key EU-China summit starting today (14 February) in Beijing, even though officials in Brussels have little hope that precise figures will come out of the meeting.

After the fiscal compact, European democracy (Analysis)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:27:53 +0100

The decision of 25 EU governments to endorse a fiscal compact marked a turning point in the sovereign debt crisis, writes Guido Montani of the Union of European Federalists. Now a debate on the political future of the EU begins.

EU slams Dutch website for instigating intolerance (News)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:21:23 +0100

Viviane Reding, European Commission vice president responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, has vigorously condemned a website launched by a xenophobic Dutch party that collects complaints against Polish, Romanian and Bulgarian nationals who cause "nuisance" to society.

Air industry raises warnings over EU emissions charge (News)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:14:11 +0100

Airbus joined a chorus of concern that a European scheme to charge airlines for carbon emissions risks triggering a full-blown trade war, with implications for aircraft deals and even Europe's crippling sovereign debt crisis.

UNEP and the green economy: 40 years in development (Analysis)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:28:38 +0100

Following four decades of UNEP initiatives on the environment and the green economy, attention turns to the Rio+20 summit where the idea of a true green economy could gain flesh and bones, writes Achim Steiner, from UN Environment Programme.

EU Commission, businesses play down ACTA fears (News)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:53:44 +0100

As mass demonstrations took place across Europe over the weekend against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, the European Commission and pro-ACTA industry groups published statements intend to fend off "unjustified accusations".

Violence in Athens as Parliament votes new austerity bill (News)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:21:24 +0100

Greece's parliament approved a new austerity bill early today (13 February), backing state spending cuts of €3.3 billion in order to secure a second EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy, as buildings burned across central Athens and violence spread around the country.

Music industry looks to cloud for new business (News)

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:07:41 +0100

Cloud computing is paving the way to access music online legally, boosting new revenues for major and independent labels alike. But in Europe, national licencing systems may pose a hurdle to the development of cloud music, experts say.

EU, India hope for a trade deal by year-end (News)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:28:32 +0100

Meeting in New Delhi on Friday (10 February), EU and Indian leaders said they took a “significant step forward” to speed up negotiations to reach a free-trade pact by the end of the year, which would double trade between the 27-country bloc and the Asian partner.

Dutch website causes stir in Central Europe (News)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:34:36 +0100

Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders has launched a website, inviting people to denounce Polish, Romanian and Bulgarian nationals causing 'nuisance' to the country's society. Sofia, Bucharest and Warsaw reacted with outrage. The EurActiv network in Central Europe reports.

Senegal deserves transparent elections (Analysis)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:35:34 +0100

The stakes for the upcoming presidential elections in Senegal on 26 February are high for its democratic development, writes Ernst Stetter, secretary-general of the centre-left European Foundation for Progressive Studies.