From the capitals
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.
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.
Unleashing the power of data
Data is the critical resource of the digital age. As data is an inextricable part of virtually all digital technologies, Europe’s approach to data governance will largely affect EU digital priorities. The way data is managed, stored and processed in...
Commission convinces markets with first issuance of recovery bonds
The European Commission raised €20 billion in the markets on Tuesday (15 June) to start financing the EU’s €800 billion recovery fund, beating its expectations for the planned monthly bond sale.
EU health ministers back stronger pandemic role for EMA
EU health ministers have met for the last time under Portugal’s presidency of the Council of the EU to agree on that body’s postition for negotiations with the European Parliament on new rules to strengthen the role of the European...
Opportunity for whom: The EU-Africa partnership and sustainable energy transitions
The new EU-Africa partnership should focus on strengthening African governments and working with them on their renewable energy strategies, argues Jesse Ovadia.
Pardons expected for jailed Catalan separatists in ‘coming weeks’
The Spanish government could grant pardon in a matter of days to several Catalan separatists jailed for their involvement in holding an illegal pro-independence referendum in 2017, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reported.
The truth behind BES and Novo Banco!
If the EU wishes to borrow in the financial markets, it must first demonstrate to international institutional investors that it will treat them fairly and equitably.
Lithuania says Belarus is helping Middle Eastern migrants to cross its borders
Lithuania's Prime Minister says she believes Belarus is behind a recent spike of illegal immigration into Lithuania, following a threat by its president that it will no longer prevent migrants from crossing its western border.
The untapped potential of data-driven healthcare
The COVID pandemic has been a wakeup call on the need to share healthcare data in a commonly usable format. The European Health Data Space would boost health research and underpin the development of personalized medical treatments, says Padraic Ward.
EU-US aircraft deal heralds new trade cooperation in Biden era
The first summit between the EU and US President Joe Biden concluded on Tuesday (15 June) with a deal on a five-year suspension of tariffs in the longstanding Airbus-Boeing dispute, paving the way for stronger cooperation against the challenges posed by China’s economic model.
The Brief powered by ITI – Do the maths
For a moment, it looked like multilateralism had returned. An agreement on minimum corporate tax rates was secured days before, and the stage was set for the G7 to agree on a burden-sharing programme to generate the additional and equitable vaccine supplies needed for mass global vaccination against COVID-19.
EU Court: GDPR cross-border cases not limited to leading authority
Under exceptional conditions, data protection authorities have the power to open legal proceedings for GDPR infringement even when the organisation concerned is legally based in another EU country.
Germany to ‘plug holes’ in budget with EU green transition money, critics say
Germany is set to dispense €40 billion to its regions affected by the country’s planned 2038 coal phase-out. But that number is a lot less grand than it looks, as the programme will swallow EU funds. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Africans do not yearn for Europe
The recent events in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta may have suggested otherwise, but (most of) Africa does not yearn to come to Europe, writes Oriol Puig.
MEP: Member states trying to preserve ‘absurd’ agricultural status quo
EU member states are trying to preserve “absurd” agricultural situations when it comes to redistribution of farming payments, according to one MEP, who stressed that the European Parliament is not willing to budge on the matter.OpinionPromoted content
Geothermal is the solution for the transition of coal mining regions
The preliminary ruling of the European Court of Justice that has ordered Poland to halt the lignite production at the Turów mine, and the subsequent announcement of Poland’s government that it will defy the ruling, have sent an important message...