From the capitals
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”.
Macron wants Europe to have 10 tech giants worth €100 billion by 2030
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the objective of having “10 companies worth €100 billion by 2030” on Tuesday (15 June) after he received the "Scale-Up Europe" collective on Tuesday (15 June), which presented him with its recommendations to encourage the emergence of digital giants in Europe.
Thinking about investing in Portugal? Think again.
In 2017, a coalition of institutional investors, including Pimco and Blackrock, boycotted an issuance of Portuguese bonds to protest the risks associated with actively investing in Portuguese public or private debt “as the Banco de Portugal still has not addressed...
Parliament still hopeful for CAP deal during Portugal’s EU presidency
The European Parliament still hopes to reach an agreement on the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform during Portugal's presidency of the Council of the EU, the chair of the assembly's agriculture committee announced on Tuesday (15 June).
The Green Brief: International summit blues
After a flurry of summits, little has actually been achieved in increasing climate ambition. But the conversations behind closed doors will be the clincher as the world looks ahead to COP 26 and beyond.
EU agrifood sector rejoices at five-year trade truce with US
Agri-food stakeholders and policymakers have welcomed the extension of the retaliatory tariff reprieve with the United States for another five years, as well as the steps taken to end the civil aircraft dispute that has disproportionately affected the sector.
COVID-19 travel certificate rolled out in Belgium
A COVID-19 travel certificate expected to greatly simplify travel within the EU has been made available in Belgium from Wednesday (16 June), the country’s authorities confirmed.
Greeks in limbo over AstraZeneca jab
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Hungarian parliament passing the Russian-style LGBTQI bill, France welcoming the suspension of sanctions EU-US sanctions in 17-year-long Airbus-Boeing despite, and so much more.
Biden to confront Putin in tense Geneva summit
President Joe Biden will draw "red lines" for President Vladimir Putin at a tense Geneva summit on Wednesday (16 June), where ghosts of the Cold War will hover over modern-day US concerns that Russia has become a rogue, authoritarian state.