EU 2050 climate targets: Are they feasible and can they be achieved without stunting economic growth

The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 – an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This objective is at the heart of the European Green Deal and in line with the EU’s commitment to global climate action under the...

The Brief, powered by APPLiA – Climate brain death

‘The Paris Agreement is not dead yet’, climate analysts insisted this week, after crunching the numbers on the latest slew of green policies pledged by countries around the world. But with the hope comes the risk of fatal complacency.

EU and ACP finalise post-Cotonou treaty, after two-year delay

Negotiators from the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific community signed off on a broad 20-year partnership deal to succeed the Cotonou Agreement on Thursday night (3 December) after nearly three years of difficult talks.

How to enable aviation to meet its climate goals? Net zero 2050 is possible!

What prevents us from starting today? What is getting in the way of EU-wide implementation of aviation emission reduction?

EU leaders to back harsher punishment for anti-Semitism

EU leaders will next week adopt a declaration on anti-Semitism urging European governments to impose harsher punishments for online hate crimes and adopt the anti-Semitism definition of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

Farmers angered by pandemic rules to play key role in Romanian election

Romanians vote in a parliamentary election on Sunday (6 December) with rural voters’ anger over coronavirus restrictions set to complicate efforts by its centrist prime minister to restore judicial independence and the country’s reputation among investors.

The future of nanomedicines in Europe

Nanomedicines are emerging as an innovative technology in the scientific field, as they help address unmet medical needs and offer alternatives for many therapeutic areas. Nanomedicine uses state-of-the-art nanotechnology like nanoparticles, nanorobots or nanoelectronic biosensors for diagnosing or treating cancer,...

Can reform and refocus save ‘brain dead’ NATO?

NATO’s new reform report presented this week has drawn up recommendations on how the military alliance should tackle new challenges in its backyard. EURACTIV spoke to experts about the report and the next steps. “We proposed changes to mitigate eventual...

Carbon pricing: The best instrument for climate change mitigation?

To limit global warming to 2°C or less—the level deemed safe by science—large emitting countries need to take ambitious action. Economists have long agreed that the most effective way to meet the climate challenge is to put a price on...

Agreement on EU regional funding: Germany gets less

After a tough struggle, the three-way negotiations on EU structural funding rules have been concluded and white smoke rose from the co-legislators. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Chemistry – Can it serve as a catalyst for a green and circular rebound?

The European Green Deal aims to help businesses grow in a sustainability-conscious manner, so they contribute to a sustainable economic rebound, in which a circular economy plays a key role. In October 2020, the European Commission adopted the EU Chemicals...

Russia’s Trojan Stream under the Black Sea

The EU’s tacit acceptance of the TurkStream is a serious and dangerous misjudgement of the perils this diversionary pipeline presents, writes Olga Bielkova.

Italy’s port tax perks against EU rules, Vestager warns

Italy’s regime of offering corporate tax-exemption to its ports and harbours is a breach of EU competition rules, the European Commission announced on Friday (4 December), giving the government until 1 January 2022 to ditch the tax perks.

French football clubs and food banks partner up to tackle food waste

Although sporting events generate large amounts of food waste, French football clubs have found a solution: cooperating with food banks. EURACTIV France reports.

Europe can hit climate neutrality goal at net-zero cost: report

Although cutting emissions to net-zero by 2050 will destroy jobs and push up the costs of doing business in some sectors, it will bring gains elsewhere that will make up for the difference, according to a new study by McKinsey & company.

Changing the future of Europe’s energy mix: What role for different technologies?

In order to help the EU achieve its ambitious climate change targets and deliver on its clean energy targets in a cost effective manner, significant investment is needed in the energy sector.

The European Food System: The transition towards sustainability and climate mitigation

Our society faces challenges more urgent than ever. The food sector is striving to transform the way that we produce, manage and consume food

Twitter data breach decision due on December 17: Irish data regulator

Despite "very divergent views" between EU data protection authorities over a case of data breaches by Twitter, a final decision on the bloc's first major cross-border online privacy case is due to be published on December 17th, it has been revealed.

Google’s last-ditch plea to Commission: Our EU services are at risk in Digital Markets Act

Google has warned that features used across the firm's Maps services are at risk of being dropped in the EU should the Commission introduce prohibitions against certain types of activity in the platform economy as part of the upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Rule of law kills Serbia-EU talks for this year

In today's news from the Capitals, find out more about the Polish Deputy PM saying compromise on the EU budget is still possible, the populist Finns Part, who increased his popularity by 1.4% since last month, and more.

Commission reveals details on bolstered cybersecurity rules

The European Commission will attempt to bolster the bloc's cybersecurity rules as part of an upcoming review of the network and information security (NIS) directive, it has been revealed.

On carbon pricing, policymakers are now thinking beyond emissions trading

Changes taking place in the UK and US could force a rethink of the EU’s flagship climate policy, the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Margin for compromise limited as Brexit talks go down to wire

European diplomats warned Thursday (3 December) they have made all the concessions they can in trade talks with Britain, as Downing Street vowed to press ahead with a UK law that could undermine Brussels' remaining trust in London.