Alicia Prager
Will Germany block EIB plans to ditch natural gas?
The European Investment Bank wants to purge its loan books of fossil fuels, including natural gas, by 2020. Although the Bank's final decision is expected to be delivered on 15 October, resistance, especially from Germany, is brewing. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Kurz, Greens emerge as big winners of Austria’s snap election
After months of political turmoil, Austrian voters on Sunday (29 September) gave former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz a clear mandate to reclaim power with 37.1% of the votes while Kurz’s former coalition partner, the far-right FPÖ, lost by a wide margin. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Sustainable financing may have its limits
With an increasing number of investors being concerned about climate risks, they have started to push for sustainable business practices. Although they are showing more interest in protecting the environment, critics warn that such a "greening" of capitalism will not be enough. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Budapest-Belgrade railway: Orbán flirts with China
Hungary has signed a deal with China to modernise the railway link between Budapest and Belgrade. The project - the first major Chinese infrastructure deal inside the EU - aims to facilitate the distribution of goods arriving at the Chinese-owned port of Piräus, but critics say it might be a waste of taxpayer money.
New German climate package a ‘slap in the face’, young activists say
The climate march in Berlin last Friday came just at the moment when the German climate cabinet unveiled its new policy package – a proposal youth climate activists denounced as a "slap in the face". EURACTIV Germany reports.
Investors demand binding EU measures to shield from climate risks
A growing number of investors are making their decision based on climate risks and sustainability criteria. Although EU lawmakers are working on making the valuation of companies more uniform in the EU taxonomy, financiers want binding measures. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Is von der Leyen on course to ease tensions with Hungary?
European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen's Commissioner pick for the enlargement and neighbourhood policy, the former Hungarian Justice Minister László Trócsányi, is appearing to be a particularly controversial one, though it may be motivated by her wish to cool tensions between Brussels and Budapest,
CEU provost: Academic freedom is in crisis everywhere in Europe, not only in Hungary
It is the start of a new semester at the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest. But this year, many of its students are preparing to move to Vienna, where lectures will start in October. It's because CEU, a private US university founded by the Hungarian billionaire George Soros, has been kicked out of Hungary.
Nigerian tree planter: Europe, US must help Africa fight climate change
In an interview with EURACTIV Germany, Mohammed Baba Baituna, the founder of Green Sahel, spoke about conflicts in his home country Nigeria, where his organisation and other local activists have been trying to cushion the effects of climate change, which are strengthening the jihadist terror group, Boko Haram.
All signs point towards recession in Germany
The ifo Institute for Economic Research has lowered its forecast for Germany's economic growth for 2019 and 2020. Instead of the previously predicted 0.6%, the institute now expects a 0.5% growth rate for 2019. A potential hard Brexit and escalation of trade wars with the US were not taken into account. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Shifting politics raise the stakes in Germany’s state elections
State elections in Brandenburg and Saxony – two coal mining regions in former East Germany – are likely to reverberate across the country, and even Europe, EURACTIV Germany reports.
Trade wars: Germany’s slide into recession
Germany is facing a recession, with business confidence plunging to levels not seen since the global economic crisis of 2009. As a result, calls for increased investment are growing louder – but possibly for the wrong reasons, EURACTIV Germany reports.
Unconventional measures are seeing a comeback at the ECB
The ECB's key interest rate remains at zero and is expected to be at that rate at least until summer 2020. However, ECB chief Mario Draghi is suggesting that a decisive fiscal policy is far more important for the eurozone, especially for Germany and Italy. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The balance of powers in the new European Parliament
With majorities in the European Parliament becoming more unstable, votes are becoming more unpredictable. The power structure has shifted considerably as a result of the European elections. While the liberal group Renew Europe will likely be decisive, German MEPs are set to be the most influential. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU and Canada are the world’s new best friends
The EU-Canada summit focused on the free trade agreement (CETA), saving the WTO and doubling investments in research and development for the energy transition. However, the meeting was more symbolic, confirming that Canada, rather than the US, is now the EU's closest ally. EURACTIV Germany reports.
OECD calls on members to speed up reforms, focus on innovation
In its annual growth report, the OECD painted a gloomy picture: rising inequalities, slowing growth and strong headwinds for the global market economy, notably because of trade wars. EURACTIV Germany summarised the OECD's recommendations for Europe.
Job cuts at Deutsche Bank are just the tip of the iceberg
Deutsche Bank will withdraw from its global equity business and cut 18,000 jobs over the next three years. This is part of a bigger trend: investment banks are looking more towards the US, which can sometimes be problematic for Europe. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Finland kicks off EU presidency with bid to tackle ‘unfin[n]ished business’
"A sustainable Europe - a sustainable future". This is Finland's motto to kickstart its presidency in the European Council for the next six months. The Finnish programme seeks to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest, expand the digital internal market and strengthen military cooperation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The world’s biggest climate fund eyes more efficiency, private funding
The GCF, the world’s biggest climate fund, tries to channel more money into climate projects – EU leaders had reaffirmed their commitment to the replenishment of the fund in their June summit’s conclusions. But its decision-making takes too long, critics say.
UN Climate Fund to make funding green projects easier
The board of the UN Green Climate Fund is meeting from 6 to 8 July in Songdo, South Korea. The board is set on heralding a "paradigm shift" in climate financing and intends to accelerate the decision-making process to boost the fund's replenishment. EURACTIV Germany reports.
London’s bankers – pioneers of green finance?
Last week, the UK became the first major industrialised country to pass a law to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050. Now London is publishing a strategy for redirecting global financial investments into climate-friendly projects. The idea of bankers investing in the environment should sound less paradoxical in the future. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany wants to fine Facebook over hate speech reporting
Social media platforms in Germany are obliged to report hate speech and other illegal content. Germany's Federal Office of Justice is expected to slap a €2 million fine on Facebook for reporting only a fraction of such activity on its platform. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU trade pact with Vietnam close to finish line
As Brussels relies on bilateral talks to increase trade relations with the ASEAN group, it is getting closer to concluding two free trade agreements with Vietnam. But the European Parliament could yet prove to be a significant obstacle. EURACTIV Germany reports.