While internet value chain grows, telecom operators lag behind

While internet value chains continue to grow by 15% per year, a new report by GSMA warns that market imbalances between network operators and online service providers could threaten global growth prospects in several sectors.

Russia’s war in Ukraine dominates EU-US trade and tech talks

Russia's war in Ukraine has been at the centre of the ongoing Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in Paris, on which the EU and the US gave a second update on Monday (16 May). EURACTIV France reports.

NGO biofuel claims are harming climate, energy and food security aims

Environmental NGOs have been quick to attack the green credentials of biofuels, with some calling for fuels from crops to be curtailed. But their criticism ignores objective evidence, writes James Cogan.

Radical Left refuses to join Mélenchon’s left-wing bloc over EU stance

France's Radical Left Party will not take part in the new 'united left' group set up by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise, the party's president, Guillaume Lacroix, said, citing concerns over the alliance's EU stance. EURACTIV France reports.

The Brief – Is Putin a CIA asset?

According to Russian propaganda, Gorbachev and Yeltsin were CIA agents tasked with destroying the USSR. This narrative, although debunked by the EU’s foreign affairs service, still holds in parts of Russian society; the last President of the USSR and the first...

To protect our freedoms, we need stronger, better government

Liberal European governments need to act to quickly the reform the structural flaws that allow illiberalism and extremism to thrive, writes Dita Charanzová.

EU study: CAP support for ‘couch’ farmers negatively impacts farm communities

Common Agricultural Policy support for landowners not actively engaged in farming has indirectly negatively impacted farming communities, at the same time as the EU continues to haemorrhage farms at an alarming rate, a new EU study has found.

EU ministers urge Hungary to sign up to planned Russian oil embargo

EU foreign ministers sought to publicly pressure Hungary on Monday (16 May) to lift its veto on a proposed oil embargo on Russia, with Lithuania saying the bloc was being "held hostage by one member state".

Cardiovascular disease: Not only about lifestyle?

According to European Commission data, there are more than six million new cases and over 1.8 million cardiovascular disease-related deaths in the EU. In this event report, EURACTIV will examine the different proposals patients and industry stakeholders suggest for Europe to face its "number one killer".

Europe needs screening to kill its number one killer, stakeholders say

The pandemic should be seen as a wake-up call for EU policymakers to take a more focused approach toward cardiovascular diseases (CVD), Europe’s number one killer, as patients have already paid a heavy price due to COVID-19, stakeholders have warned.

Isolate Putin. Insulate homes.

As part of the plan to break away from Russian fossil fuels, due to be tabled on Wednesday (18 May), Europe needs new action on energy efficiency, energy savings and the renovation wave writes Ciarán Cuffe.

Heating neglected in EU plan to ditch Russian fossil fuels, industry says

The European Commission is due to table plans on Wednesday (18 May) to break free from Russian fossil fuels but, apart from a renewed push for heat pumps, there are major oversights when it comes to decarbonising heating and cooling, according to industry representatives.

China’s economy skids as lockdowns hit factories, retailers

China's retail and factory activity fell sharply in April as wide COVID-19 lockdowns confined workers and consumers to their homes and severely disrupted supply chains, casting a long shadow over the outlook for the world's second-largest economy.

Neutral Switzerland leans closer to NATO in response to Russia

Switzerland's fabled neutral status is about to face its biggest test in decades, with the defence ministry tilting closer to Western military powers in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Iran considering gas exports to Europe: official

Iran is considering the possibility of exporting gas to Europe, an oil ministry official said Sunday (15 May) against the backdrop of soaring energy prices due to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Berlin pushes for a €60 minimum price on EU carbon markets

Discounting allegations of speculation on the EU carbon market, Berlin is throwing its weight behind a minimum price of €60 per tonne of CO2, saying it will ensure this through national measures if the EU does not take action.

Enlargement could be bargaining chip to trigger EU-Reform

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Sweden's ruling Social Democrats being in favour of a NATO application, the Slovenian parliament getting a record number of women, and so much more.

Eastern Europe’s experience can help EU’s future enlargement

Hesitation about EU enlargement is short-sighted and potentially very dangerous, as this year's events have shown. The bloc's enlargement must be conceived of and executed as a geopolitical expansion, write Pavlína Janebová and Pavel Havlicek.

‘EU politicians advocating to save Putin’s face are wrong’

European politicians who are appealing for making a peace treaty with Russia or arguing about the need to "help Putin save his face" are sharing responsibility for all Russian war crimes in Ukraine and the blood of Ukrainian civilians and children, writes Roman Rukomeda.

Lebanon vote brings blow for Hezbollah allies in preliminary results

Iran-backed Hezbollah has been dealt a blow in Lebanon's parliamentary election on Sunday (15 May) with preliminary results showing losses for some of its oldest allies and the Saudi-aligned Lebanese Forces party saying it had gained seats.

Scholz’s SPD suffers historic defeat in major state election

The German Social Democrats suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday’s state election in Germany’s most populous state and lost to the conservative CDU. The Greens were able to triple their vote and logged a historical result in the election.