From the capitals
The Brief, powered by ITI – Biden vs Putin: Who won?
As the dust settles after the meeting of the two leaders on the neutral Swiss playground, a legitimate question to ask is which one of them got the most out of this risky summit. And who were the collateral victims.
Ireland gives green light to medical cannabis prescriptions in ‘milestone’ move
Patients in Ireland will now for the first time be able to get medical cannabis via prescription, in what has been described as a “milestone” move expected to bring hope to many families, although barriers to access medical cannabis still remain.
Digital industry afraid of being seen as a polluter, says Commission adviser
Digitalisation must be part of the solution and not a part of the problem, EU lawmaker Geese said at a EURACTIV event on Tuesday (15 June), where the participants deliberated on the complex relationship between digitalisation and sustainability.
The Hungarian Bill against the LGBTQI+ minority and North Macedonia’s policy win with UEFA
This week, the Yellow Room takes us to Budapest, where the government passed a new bill introducing tougher penalties for paedophilia, in the wake of several cases of child abuse. However, the new amendments put the LGBTQI+ minority on...
EPP and Greens take aim at road charging agreement “loopholes”
A late-night deal reached by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament on road-charging rules on Wednesday (16 June) has been criticised by the parliament’s largest group, the European People’s Party (EPP), for having “more holes than a Swiss cheese”. VideoPromoted content
Good Off-Label Use Practice of Medicines
Before a drug makes it onto the market it is vigorously tested and needs to be authorized, either by a national competent authority or EMA, the European Medicines Agency. All the information on when a medicinal product can and cannot...
Japan says China’s military strategy unclear, of serious concern
Japan said on Thursday (17 June) China's military intentions are unclear and its armed forces' rapid expansion is of serious concern, circumstances that require Europe, the United States and other Asian nations to come together to stand up to Beijing.
Biden’s visit: What does it mean to rejoin Europe?
Given that Europe is not inclined to make the painful decisions that a modernized relationship requires, it is hard to understand what a return to Europe means, except for having dinner with some interesting people, writes George Friedman.
EU eyes tighter rules for ‘renewable’ biomass energy
The European Union is considering tightening rules on whether wood-burning energy can be classed as renewable and count towards green goals, according to a draft document seen by Reuters on Wednesday (16 June).
Euro fiscal watchdog endorses suspension of Stability Pact in 2022
The European Fiscal Board supported on Wednesday (16 June) maintaining the suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact throughout next year but called for reinstalling a revised set of fiscal rules from 2023 to minimise risks.
Armenia, on edge after war lost, holds vote to end crisis
Armenians vote Sunday (20 June) in snap parliamentary elections called by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to end a political crisis ignited by his country's humiliating military defeat to Azerbaijan last year.
EU Council reaches agreement on road charging
The Council of the European Union (EU), chaired by Portugal, has reached an agreement with the European Parliament to revise the rules on road charging, the so-called Eurovignette, to reduce emissions of polluting gases and infrastructure congestion.
EU Commission approves COVID-19 recovery fund for Spain, Portugal
Brussels has approved the coronavirus recovery funds for Spain and Portugal during a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the two countries. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
Spain expected to abolish mandatory outdoor mask-wearing
Face masks worn in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus may “soon” become something of the past in public spaces, Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Wednesday. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.OpinionPromoted content
Has Covid-19 left a ‘pandemic scar’ on young people?
The end is in sight. Restrictions are lifting and slowly but surely, we’re starting to feel ‘normal’ again. Across Europe and beyond, offices are starting to reopen, empty classrooms have welcomed back students, and spending time with family and friends...
EU agrees additional Belarus sanctions after forced Ryanair landing
The European Union agreed additional sanctions on Belarus on Wednesday (16 June) in response to the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk and the arrest of a dissident journalist on board in May, an EU diplomat said.
Time running out for Afghan peace process, EU envoy warns
The European Union's envoy for Afghanistan said on Wednesday (16 June) time was running out for Afghan peace negotiations and more needed to be done to boost the discussions as international forces withdraw from the war-torn nation.
The Brief, powered by ITI – Nothing left to say
We are looking into it. That is the answer that the Guardian of the Treaties - documents that enshrine the principles of equality and human rights into EU law - gave in response to a new Hungarian law that tramples those very rights by lumping together LGBTQI+ people in with paedophiles.
Little progress, little time left to resolve Irish customs row, warns UK minister
Little progress is being made towards breaking the impasse with the EU on the customs procedures for goods travelling to Northern Ireland and time is running out, the UK's Brexit minister David Frost admitted on Wednesday (16 June), adding that London was "keeping all options open".OpinionPromoted content
Why the unmet needs of Sickle Cell Disease communities must be recognised
Under the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals, European countries have committed to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one third, and to promote mental health and well-being, by 2030. Moreover, under the European Commission’s EU Pharma Strategy, addressing unmet need in rare disease is a priority.
London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam are most eco-friendly sports cities in Europe
A recent Reebok study has ranked the most eco-friendly cities for practising sports, with London, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam coming out on top in Europe, and France trailing behind in 19th place.
Social media challenge urges French athletes to be more green
Former rugby player and founder of the Fair Play For Planet label Julien Pierre has launched a challenge to film himself on social networks collecting waste or cycling to the stadium as part of the #FPFP challenge.
Germany launches Europe’s first ‘revolutionary’ quantum computer
Europe's first quantum computer was launched in Ehningen, Baden-Württemberg on Tuesday (15 June), amid expectations from experts that the tech’s exorbitantly high computing power will do away with “traditional computing”.