Energy Web Foundation: Blockchain essential for EV growth, community solar
Distributed energy solutions such as solar PV, batteries, and smart controls are getting cheaper by the day and will soon outperform traditional energy sources such as coal, gas, and nuclear power, says Hervé Touati. In any case, Blockchain-type solutions will be needed for the mass deployment of electric vehicles, he warns.
Pesticides: greater transparency in the approval process?
The system for approving pesticides has to show greater transparency, a special committee of the European Parliament has concluded. An article by EURACTIV France’s media partner, the Journal de l’environnement.
Hogan: EU member states will decide on agriculture innovation after 2020, not Brussels
Member states and not the European Commission will direct the precise support and funding for innovation and digitisation of farming in the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan told EURACTIV Romania in an interview.
European left plans to take over the social democrats in EU elections
The Party of the European Left vows to be “the only alternative” to the conservatives and “the real alternative” to the far-right, according to a draft manifesto seen by EURACTIV.com; However, the fragmentation in the leftist family creates barriers.
EU citizens call for an end to the use of cages for farm animals
Earlier in September, the European Commission registered a new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) called END THE CAGE AGE, which aims to put an end to the most appalling symbol of industrial animal farming – the cage, writes Olga Kikou.
Rising inequality calls for a new social contract
The gap between rich and poor in Europe has increased compared to thirty years ago, affecting young cohorts in particular. Yet the social protection systems currently in place across European countries were designed during the past century and are no longer fit for the present, argues Cyril Muller.
Iran, major powers labor to keep nuclear deal afloat
The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal agreed on Monday (24 September) to keep working to maintain trade with Tehran despite scepticism this is possible as U.S. sanctions to choke off Iranian oil sales resume in November.
UK to favour skilled migration, no EU preference after Brexit-reports
UK Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers have agreed to focus Britain's post-Brexit migration system on high-skilled migrants and will not offer preference to European Union workers, newspapers said.
US, EU still in ‘exploratory’ talks on trade -EU’s Malmstrom
The European Union and the United States are still in exploratory talks about how they can pursue a limited trade agreement, with no real negotiations yet started, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Monday (24 September).
After the copyright win, what strategy for Europe’s media sector?
The European Parliament has just voted to back the copyright directive, as part of the ‘Digital Single Market’ priorities. Now, fighting fake news before the EU elections is not enough: we should prepare a vertical strategy for the media sector 2019-2024, writes Cristophe Leclercq.
The Brief, powered by AmCham EU – Curtains for Germany’s government
It is exactly a year that the federal elections took place in Germany, on 24 September 2017. A year after, vessel Germany is wandering in stormy waters, its commanding team proving incapable of setting a direction as to where to head at. And no safe shore is in sight.
Putting agriculture at the heart of Africa’s rising
Farming accounts for around 60% of all jobs in sub-Saharan Africa. Governments, the African Union and the EU are keen to promote the industrialization of the African farming sector. But rapid population growth, the effects of climate change and lack of access to finance are among the threats to the future growth of African agriculture and its capacity to feed its people.
‘Cashew means future’ in Swahili
Cashew nuts: They are not only meant to make you happy but also to strengthen the heart. On average, every European consumes an average of one kilo of this nut per year. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Global oil and gas majors sign up to methane reduction pact
Some of the world’s leading oil and gas producers pledged on Monday (24 September) to limit methane emissions to 0.25% of their total marketed product by 2025, as the fossil fuel industry moves towards curbing one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
‘Fictitious and false invoices’: Commission raps UK for budget fraud
The European Commission sent a stark warning to the UK government on Monday (24 September), after it was revealed that Britain has outstanding customs duty contributions to the EU budget worth €2.7 billion.
After attacking Google, Vestager now turns to Amazon
The European Commission suspects the e-commerce giant of using the data it collects from third-party vendors on its marketplace to gain a commercial advantage. An article by our partner, La Tribune.
Commission refers Poland to EU’s top court over Supreme Court Act
The European Commission referred Poland to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on Monday (24 September), upping the ante in the dispute with Warsaw over a controversial legislation that would send dozens of Polish Supreme Court judges into early retirement.
‘Smart villages’ are modernisation tools to be taken seriously
The expansion of e-tools in rural areas will enable villages to become more agile, make better use of their resources as well as improve their attractiveness and the quality of life of rural residents, argue MEPs Franc Bogovic and Tibor Szanyi.
Where are the e-tools to modernise the CAP?
The European Commission presented last June its proposals about the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In light of the rising global competition, analysts stress the need for a quicker adoption of new technologies in the sector, warning that otherwise the EU will be left behind.
German coalition brokers weekend compromise over Maaßen
The leaders of the CDU, CSU and SPD are determined not to let the German government coalition burst over the personality of the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Hans-Georg Maaßen. EURACTIV Germany’s media partner “Der Tagesspiegel” reports.
Time to banish wet wipes from our sewers
Plastics in our sewer system costs consumers money and the European water sector has its daily challenges, one of them being sewers getting clogged regularly by plastics and wet wipes, explain Oliver Loebel and Maxime Bineau. VideoPromoted content
VISION 2050: A Pathway for the Evolution of Liquid Fuels
Vision 2050 has already started. Discover all the technologies that are well advanced to develop low-carbon liquid fuels for transport and feedstocks.
Europe should lead in greening digitalisation and AI
Greenhouse gas emissions linked to digitalisation are rapidly increasing, despite efforts by tech groups to get more of their energy from renewables. The negative environmental effects need to be addressed more clearly than today, argues Mats Engström.