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How did the French EU presidency fare on agriculture?
As the French EU Council presidency ended on Thursday (30 June), EURACTIV France takes a look back at how the French dealt with the agriculture file during their six-month stint at the helm of the rotating EU Presidency.
Agrifood Brief: SURprise, surprise
After weeks of teasing, the EU executive finally unveiled its long-awaited plan to revise the bloc’s plant protection product framework last week - but its presentation left more questions than answers.
Digital education key to develop responsible citizenship, experts say
Teaching students how to use digital tools and behave online is crucial to making them active, responsible citizens, according to experts who warned of the risks of the digital divide.
Russia seizes control of Sakhalin gas project, raises stakes with West
President Vladimir Putin has raised the stakes in an economic war with the West with a decree that seizes full control of the Sakhalin-2 gas and oil project, a move that could force out Shell and Japanese investors.
Moldova eyes closer agri-trade relationship with EU
After being granted EU candidate status, Moldova hopes to increase agriculture exports to the EU and to receive more support in modernising and increasing the resilience of its agriculture sector.
Tech Brief: e-Evidence quasi agreement, Google account complaint, marketplace scenarios
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Tech Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. “The provisional agreement reached today represents a major paradigm shift in police and judicial cooperation with service providers in...
EU’s Takuba anti-terror force quits junta-controlled Mali
The French-led Takuba task force of EU special forces has officially ceased operating in Mali, France announced Friday (1 July), ending a year-long anti-jihadist effort that soured after two military coups overthrew the civilian government.
Bulgaria’s outgoing PM rejects Russian ultimatum, unveils potential successor
Bulgaria's outgoing Prime Minister Kiril Petkov rejected a Russian ultimatum to reverse a decision to expel 70 Russian diplomatic staff by noon on Friday (1 July) and named the country's finance minister as his possible successor.
EU Commission set to cut already strained personnel as inflation bites
The EU public administration, torn between growing ambitions and a stagnant budget, faces yet another obstacle – inflation – with temporary staff set to pay the highest price. The European Commission has recently raised the salaries by 2.4% retroactively from...
Europe ready for Baltics emergency switch-off from Russian grid
European grid operators are ready to implement immediately a long-term plan to bring the Baltic states, which rely on the Russian grid, into the EU system in the event Moscow cuts them off, three sources familiar with the matter said.
Germany’s nutrition strategy in-the-making needs more fleshing out
A virtual meeting between German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir and the country's associations on Wednesday (29 June) kick-started the development of a sustainable and healthy nutrition strategy, though expectations differ widely on the details.
Ukraine reconstruction: what to expect from Lugano meet
Leaders from dozens of countries and international organisations will gather in Switzerland next week to discuss rebuilding Ukraine, with the aim of providing a "Marshall Plan" for the war-ravaged country.
Russia hauls in ambassador over ‘offensive’ UK comments on nuclear weapons
Russia said on Thursday (30 June) it had summoned the British ambassador to voice a strong protest against "offensive" British statements, including about alleged Russian threats to use nuclear weapons.
Indonesia leader targets food crisis during Russia-Ukraine peace mission
Indonesia's president ended a trip to Ukraine and Russia saying he hoped for progress reintegrating global food and fertiliser supply lines disrupted by the conflict, and offered to be a diplomatic bridge between the two nations.
Hungary’s vast geothermal potential – untapped
Hungary sits on a huge geothermal basin and already has district heating infrastructure in place to deliver clean energy to citizens. And despite this, the government is making no effort to take advantage of it, experts say.
Macron says deep-sea mining must not go ahead
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday (30 June) a legal framework was needed to stop deep-sea mining from going ahead and urged countries to put their money on science to better understand and protect the world's oceans.
EU says it may not be possible to cross finish line on Iran nuclear deal
Senior Western officials voiced doubts about reviving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on Thursday (30 June), with the European Union saying it “might not make it over the finishing line” and a US official saying the odds had lengthened after...
Macron says compromise has been found over North Macedonia’s EU bid
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday (30 June) he thinks a compromise solution has been found for the EU membership negotiation framework for North Macedonia, without giving any details.
Ukraine war, EU presidency boosts French defence plans
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's first live broadcast speech in Austria, Finland lifting all COVID entry measures, and so much more.
Missile kills 10 in Odesa after Ukraine retakes Snake Island
A Russian missile strike in Ukraine's southern port of Odesa early on Friday (1 July) killed at least 10 people, a regional official said, a day after Ukraine drove Russian forces from the strategic Black Sea outpost of Snake Island.
EU deal on car CO2 standards leaves door ajar for e-fuels
The decision by EU countries in the early hours of Wednesday (29 June) to ban the sale of polluting vehicles by 2035 was widely seen as a death sentence for the internal combustion engine in the EU.
EU carmaker regions clamour for ‘just transition’ aid scheme
With the 2035 ban on the production of new combustion engine cars almost set in stone, carmaker regions of the EU have banded together to demand a support mechanism to ease the transition, similar to that implemented for coal regions.
Albania’s medicinal herb industry flourishes but concerns over future remain
Albania’s medicinal herb industry, boosted by the pandemic, saw production increase by 65% in 2021 compared to 2020, providing much-needed optimism for an industry plagued by other issues. The pandemic resulted in a global trend of people looking for bio...