From the capitals

Data protection 01-11-2021

LEAK: Draft impact assessment sheds some light on upcoming Data Act

The draft impact assessment of the EU Data Act, seen by EURACTIV, illustrates the key aspects of the upcoming legislative proposal that has recently failed an independent review. The Regulatory Scrutiny Board, an independent body that quality-checks the Commission’s impact...
Climate change 01-11-2021

The Brief – Bad climate for COP26

The COP26 conference in Glasgow opened today (1 November), a day after US President Joe Biden criticized China and Russia for not bringing proposals to the table at the G20 meeting in Rome.
Climate change 01-11-2021

G20 leaders wrangle over climate ahead of COP26 summit

Leaders of the G20 world's major economies approved a global minimum tax on the largest companies on Saturday (30 October), but were still haggling over the pressing issue of climate change.
Global Europe 01-11-2021

Macron says Australia PM lied over submarine deal

French President Emmanuel Macron said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lied to him over the cancellation of a submarine building contract in September, and indicated more efforts were required to rebuild trust between the two allies.
Standing up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth
Digital & Media 01-11-2021

One Free Press Coalition – “10 Most Urgent” List of November 2021

In conjunction with The International Day to End Impunity, November 2, the One Free Press Coalition is highlighting cases of journalists murdered around the world, where those responsible for their murder have still not been held to account. There is...

The uncomfortable truth about the EU Forest Strategy’s opponents

The outcry against Europe's new forest strategy is baffling, signalling that EU countries and the private sector, as well as a faction of European Parliament lawmakers are in denial about the serious problems face by Europe's forests, argue Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg and Michal Wiezik.
Climate change 01-11-2021

Global climate talks open to cries of betrayal, blame

A UN conference seen critical to averting the most disastrous effects of climate change launches amid acrimony on Monday (1 November) after major industrialised nations were accused of dragging their feet on ambitious new commitments.
Global Europe 01-11-2021

Biden butters up Europeans at G20

US President Joe Biden went on a charm offensive with European allies at the G20 summit in Rome, unveiling a steel deal and promising to mend ties strained to breaking point by Donald Trump.
Politics 01-11-2021

A Balkan ‘traffic light’ coalition could rule Bulgaria

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about the G20 summit in Rome falling short of setting significant climate goals, most Serbs seeing the influence of China and Russia as positive, and so much more.
Joe Biden and Ursula von der Leyen
Economy & Jobs 01-11-2021

EU and US slash tariffs, start cooperating on ‘green steel’

The US and EU on Sunday (31 October) agreed to end their trade dispute on steel and aluminium and announced steps to promote low-carbon steel production – a move analysts said could open the door to a new way of organising trade around climate objectives.
01-11-2021

Poland’s most-watched news programme uses Netflix series to call refugees criminals

A scene from a Netflix series was used by the main edition TVP Wiadomosci, the most-watched news programme on public television, to argue that refugees are criminals, EURACTIV Poland’s media partner Gazeta Wyborcza reports. TVP has become increasingly politicised since...
Europe's East 01-11-2021

Georgian opposition vows ‘biggest ever’ protests, decries vote fraud

Georgia's opposition parties on Sunday (31 October) announced plans for a mass anti-government protest rally next weekend, denouncing as fraudulent local election runoffs won by the ruling party.
Global Europe 31-10-2021

Global Europe Brief: Lebanon is facing a crisis within a crisis

In this week’s edition: Winter is coming in Lebanon, EU-US tariffs end and Western Balkans focus.
Agrifood 29-10-2021

Farm to Fork studies do not give ‘whole picture’, agri stakeholders warn

Agricultural productivity could decline if several studies on Farm to Fork policy impact are to be believed. But critics say the studies do not paint the whole picture and the EU's flagship food policy is on the right track.
Brexit 29-10-2021

EU–UK talks make slow progress as UK prepares to suspend protocol

EU–UK talks aimed at overhauling the Northern Ireland Protocol are far from resolved, officials conceded, as the UK prepares for the fallout from suspending it.
Coronavirus 29-10-2021

MEPs vs Commission in court over vaccine contracts

EU lawmakers from the Greens/EFA group have filed a case application to the European Court of Justice stating "implicit refusal" from the Commission to provide access to information in the context of vaccine contracts between the European Commission and vaccine manufacturers.
Brexit 29-10-2021

The Brief, powered by Facebook — Who needs Nelson or Napoleon when you can have Brexit?

With a British trawler seized by France, and Royal Navy boats poised to enter the Channel, we could be in 1805, not 2021. Who needs Nelson and Napoleon when you can have Brexit?
Competition 29-10-2021

Vestager tries to keep Illumina and GRAIL apart during merger investigation

After two US biotech companies, Illumina and GRAIL, defied the EU’s competition authority by closing a merger without waiting for the results of the EU’s investigation, the European Commission adopted on Friday (29 October) interim measures to ensure that the companies continue to be run as separate entities.
Agrifood 29-10-2021

Hard or soft law: what’s the status of EU sustainable agriculture goals?

With the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Commission wants to make the policy more performance oriented. However, non-binding targets and national leeway might hinder the Commission’s quest to keep track of results.
Non-discrimination 29-10-2021

Migrants brace for harsh winter in Bosnia

In Bosnia, close to the border with EU member Croatia, fears of cold, isolation, and evictions persist for asylum seekers soon to face sub-zero temperatures outside camps, as the opening of a new housing facility has been delayed several times.
Future EU 29-10-2021

Future of Europe Conference insufficiently fills EU political vacuum

The great expectations some have for the ongoing Conference on the Future of Europe, and the little that is known about it, weigh heavily on it, writes Christian Moos.
Agrifood 29-10-2021

Special CAPitals edition: State of play of organic agriculture in the EU

In this second edition of CAPitals special brief, the EURACTIV network takes a look at the state of play of organic agriculture in 12 EU countries.
Digital & Media 29-10-2021

Digital Brief powered by Facebook: killer acquisitions, Meta, NIS2

Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here.    “The Commission may impose on gatekeepers a restriction on engaging on acquisitions in certain areas and for a limited...
Global Europe 29-10-2021

‘Just give us our money’: Taliban push to unlock Afghan billions abroad

Afghanistan's Taliban government is pressing for the release of billions of dollars of central bank reserves as the drought-stricken nation faces a cash crunch, mass starvation and a new migration crisis.

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