ECR puts forward Czech MEP as their Spitzenkandidat nominee

Czech MEP Jan Zahradil will be the lead candidate of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) to run for the presidency of the next European Commission, party chief Syed Kamall announced on Tuesday (13 October).

Solar PV sector hails EU deal on small-scale ‘citizen energy’

EU negotiators reached agreement Monday evening (12 November) on a legal framework for “citizen energy communities” in a deal solar PV manufacturers hailed as a victory for small-scale renewable energy production.

Metals: Friend or foe of the green economy?

The green economy usually brings to mind traditional renewable materials such as wood, biomass, water and earth. Less likely poster children are the big metals that have formed the backbone of the industrial revolution – steel, copper, iron, tin and aluminium.

Seychelles issues the world’s first ‘Blue Bond’

For the first time, a state – Seychelles – has issued a 'Blue Bond', which will finance the protection of marine ecosystems and the development of sustainable fishing. EURACTIV France’s media partner, the Journal de l’environnement reports.

Wanted former Macedonian PM seeking asylum in Hungary

Macedonia's former prime minister Nikola Gruevski, who has been sentenced to jail for abuse of power, said on Tuesday (13 November) he was in Hungary where he has requested political asylum.

Trump tweet-strafes Macron as Europe moves on defence without US

Donald Trump on Tuesday (13 November) unleashed an extraordinary attack on Emmanuel Macron, mocking the French president's approval rating and lashing him over European defence proposals which enjoyed a crucial new boost from Germany.

WindEurope: Regulated prices ‘can only slow the pace of the energy transition’

With growing shares of renewable energies added to the system, the dynamic pricing of electricity becomes even more important in order to provide flexibility on the demand side, says Pierre Tardieu. This is why regulated energy prices can only slow the pace of the energy transition, he argues.

Parliament rubber-stamps Europe’s 2030 clean energy laws

The European Parliament voted on Tuesday (13 November) a set of three clean energy laws for 2030, including binding targets for renewable energies, an indicative objective on energy savings and a separate text on the governance of the Energy Union.

Time to take stock of EU citizen consultations

The European Council will consider in December the outcomes of the citizen consultations. However, some MEPs are already calling for the EU not to stop at this experiment. EURACTIV France reports.

MEPs clash with Commission over sardines and anchovies

The European Parliament adopted on Tuesday (13 November) a report on regulating mainly sardine and anchovy catches in the Adriatic Sea, rejecting the essence of the European Commission's proposal after a heated exchange with EU fisheries boss Karmenu Vella.

The Brief, powered by EUSALT – A harbinger of Brexit defeats to come?

One of the reasons why detail on the UK’s strategy on the Brexit negotiations has been so elusive lies in Theresa May’s tactic of permanent obfuscation, and of concentrating information in the hands of a handful of her very closest...

Seizing the window of opportunity to rethink Brexit

The UK government is paralysed by Brexit as it reaches decision time over whether to agree a messy compromise or crash out with no deal. In the meantime, support for a second referendum is growing, writes Sandra Khadhouri.

Commission lauds Bulgaria, castigates Romania on judicial reform

The European Commission published on Tuesday (13 November) reports on Bulgaria and Romania under the so-called Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), commending Bulgaria for progress made and lambasting Romania for backtracking. Both countries, however, were warned to uphold media freedom.

No freedom of choice in vaccination, top EU health official insists

There is no freedom of choice when it comes to vaccination because it involves putting other people’s health at risk, a top EU health official has warned, adding that ongoing debate in Italy about inoculations is verging "on the absurd".

Croatian ombudswoman to report police treatment of migrants to EU institutions

Croatia's ombudswoman requested access to records on the treatment of migrants at the police station in Donji Lapac, central Croatia, in September but was refused. The relevant parliamentary committee does not seem to care either. EURACTIV Croatia reports.

Opposition chief Navalny barred from leaving Russia

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Tuesday (13 November) he was prevented from flying out of Moscow for a European court ruling on whether his recent detentions have been politically motivated.

Healthy rivers and lakes are not ‘nice-to-haves’, they are essential to our existence

Healthy rivers, lakes and wetlands are our life support system, but EU member states are trying to destroy the law that protects them and the window to save them is closing, warns Andreas Baumüller.

Paris Peace Forum harbours ambition to become annual gathering

It was billed as a "Davos for democracy". But will the newly launched Paris Peace Forum, the latest addition to international conferencing, have an impact?

France and Germany turn up the heat on EU digital tax

German Finance Minister, Olaf Scholz, and his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire, rallied their support for the European Commission's digital tax plans on Monday (12 December), with the former stating that he wants a deal tied up at a December meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels. 

Energy poverty hinders EU push to end regulated electricity prices

The European Commission has renewed its push to phase out regulated electricity prices, arguing they distort the market and slow down the transition to clean energy. But faced with reluctance from EU countries, it has now tabled a compromise based on a common EU definition of energy poverty.

Maltese opposition calls for minister to quit over power station contract

Malta's opposition on Monday (12 November) called for the tourism minister and the prime minister's top aide to resign after an investigation by Reuters and Times of Malta showed that Panama companies they had set up had arranged to receive money through a mystery company called 17 Black in Dubai.

US belittles EU’s ‘special purpose vehicle’ as companies flee Iran

The United States is not too concerned by Europe's idea for a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to get around US sanctions with Iran as companies are already withdrawing from the country in droves, the senior official for financial intelligence said.