Opinions
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E – What if Trump refuses to concede?
It's less than a week until the 'most important ballot in the world' and Europe is bracing itself for the possibility of a contested US presidential election. What if Biden wins and Trump refuses to concede? But don't hold your breath - the final result may take days, or weeks.Stakeholder Opinion
Alternative fuels are essential to delivering the Green Deal
Decarbonising road transport requires making the most of low-carbon solutions that work in the vehicles Europeans continue to rely on. In a new joint position paper, a coalition of EU alternative fuels producers and suppliers offers a way to turn failure into success when it comes to reducing transport emissions.Special ReportPromoted content
How to spend €150 billion to build a stronger digital Europe
If there is any – tragic – merit in the hard lessons of the COVID-19 crisis, it is that the pandemic has forced us to face the most pressing issues of our society, and to finally take action. Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl...
Member states take action before EU court against first Mobility Package
Seven EU countries have lodged individual complaints to the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) against the Mobility Package I. In the near future, Latvia and Estonia also intend to join the complaint of one of the above mentioned like-minded member states.
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E – Wanted: One strong voice for Africa
A strategic partnership with Europe’s ‘sister continent’ was supposed to be this year’s prize. But the EU-African Union summit, originally due this week, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.Promoted content
Surfing the renovation wave with a CO2 compass and electrification focus
The European Commission’s plan to increase energy renovations across the EU confirms the huge importance of tackling emissions from the building sector, which account for 40% of the EU energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions.Stakeholder Opinion
Advanced biofuels, avoiding a second missed opportunity
The recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII) marks the first time that a European Directive needs to be significantly amended just a year and a half after its adoption and before even it was transposed into national law, write...Promoted content
Knowledge and creativity – Building essential skills for thriving in uncertain times
“NEETs in Entrepreneurship” is nowadays one of the most relevant projects in Romania, as economic and workplace environments are under tremendous pressure of digital transformation, and a good number of SMEs face closure or an urgent need for reorganization. Ștefania...Stakeholder Opinion
Illegal resettlement in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan: Cause and effect
Illegal resettlement is a gross violation of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime, writes Gulshan Pashayeva.
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E – There is a deeper wave than this
By Thursday, when EU leaders will hold their online summit to discuss the coronavirus situation, we could take a guess at how many of them will already be COVID-positive. The second wave, which was predicted but not averted, is sweeping through European societies and taking its toll.Special ReportStakeholder Opinion
Progress but the fight against COVID-19 is just beginning
Over the last few weeks, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced they have begun a “rolling review” process on COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University, Moderna and from Pfizer in partnership with BioNTech. The announcements are indicative...
A warning to the guardians
The European Commission, as the guardian of the Treaties, is responsible for ensuring that member states duly implement EU law. If a country fails to comply, the Commission may launch a lengthy infringement procedure. András Kristóf Kádár takes a look at how this has been applied to Hungary.Promoted content
Illicit trade is an existential threat to consumers
Counterfeiting products endanger consumers in Europe and globally. Red tape, burdensome taxation, and lack of brand freedom have magnified the scope of illicit trade. What can the member states do to tackle it?
Delivering a net-zero economy
Mid-century climate targets are feasible but decisive action needs to be taken in the 2020s to put the world onto the right trajectory, writes Sandrine Dixson-Declève.Stakeholder Opinion
A call for quality! Why we must improve the Youth Guarantee
The 2008 financial and economic crisis is still a vivid memory for many of us. With fewer jobs and opportunities available, a whole generation of young people found themselves facing an uncertain future. Years later, the profound and lasting impact...
The answer to deforestation lies in space
The use of satellite technology to track and halt real-time cases of deforestation in a country like Malaysia could become a “blueprint” for ending deforestation in the Amazon, writes Daniel Mackisack.
The Brief, powered by ECPC – Disruptor in chief
In the past year, NATO member has been spending more money on defence again, after several rebukes from Washington. But not enough to please the current occupant of the White House. Just ahead of the autumn NATO defence ministers meeting,...
Solar’s unique opportunity to lead the re-industrialisation of Europe
Planning for large scale, high volume solar PV manufacturing here in Europe may seem like a tall task, but it is becoming more and more apparent that the scale of the climate crisis dwarfs even the most ambitious of plans, writes Stefan Degener.
A new view on Rule of Law and Democracy can bridge EU’s East-West divide
Taking a comprehensive approach to democracy that encompasses all aspects of democracy, rule of law and human rights would bridge the growing east-west divide, argues Sam van der Staak.
As mass protests return in Middle East and North Africa, Europe must rethink its approach
A decade on from the Arab Spring, it is clear that the EU’s strategy of working with existing regimes in its Southern Neighbourhood has delivered neither stability and security nor any progress towards democratization and government accountability. It is time to start listening to the word on the street, writes Dylan O’Driscoll.
The Brief, powered by ECPC – A huge waste of time
Daylight savings time finishes on Sunday, reminding us that not so long ago the EU planned to do away with the biannual clock change. But if the management of the pandemic is anything to go by, you can forget about that happening anytime soon.
The Farm to Fork is too much of a political utopia
The EU's new blueprint for sustainable food systems risks hurting both consumers and farmers, writes Bill Wirtz.
Rule of law warriors are not promoting European values, they’re pushing a political agenda
The idea of a rule of law mechanism in the EU is hopelessly half-baked. Rule of law warriors are unable to define or measure what they mean, they are simply waging an ideological battle, argues Zoltán Kovács.