Opinions
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — Fortress Europe
The mood on migration in Europe has changed, perhaps decisively. Whether at Greece’s sea border in the Aegean, the Polish frontier with Belarus, or the Channel, barriers are going up, physical or otherwise, and the prevailing mood among politicians, with strong public support, is to keep people out.
Tackling high energy prices and fighting energy poverty – a view from Poland
Citizens across Europe are currently struggling with the challenge of skyrocketing energy prices. Over the last year, the prices of coal have risen nearly three times, the prices of natural gas in European markets have risen even ten times in this period.
Narrowing Data Protection’s Enforcement Gap
Democratic governments around the world have decided that these data protection regulatory regimes are here to stay. Societies must now ensure that these laws lead to meaningful improvements on the ground.
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — Balkan low-cost
Can you imagine such a tempting offer: A shopping excursion to Istanbul, leaving from North Macedonia by bus, spending three nights in a four-star hotel at the Bosporus and back, total cost €79? With an option for a 5-star hotel, bringing it to €85??
Businesses in Central and Eastern Europe are getting serious about climate action
Businesses from Central and Eastern Europe are ready to embark on the journey to climate neutrality. If Central and Eastern European governments don’t want their economies to fall behind, they need to start helping their corporate leaders to go green. The EU’s ’Fit for 55’ package is an opportunity to do so, argues Rebekka Popp.Promoted content
Campus on Digital Freedom in Rome
The European Conservatives and Reformists Party has put together the opportunity for young people to learn about the digital world for a reasonable participation fee.
A piecemeal approach on energy standards for buildings won’t work
Decarbonising Europe’s building stock requires robust Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), not a piecemeal approach that fails to regulate buildings that are ripe for renovation projects, writes Adrian Joyce.Promoted content
Brave New World of Work?
Justin Nogarede is Digital Policy Adviser at FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies). Introduction With the Covid-19 pandemic, the shift to digital tools and algorithmic systems at the workplace has accelerated. While some of this is obviously helpful – such...
The flawed black box deciding Europe’s energy infrastructure
The fifth list of electricity and gas ‘Projects of Common Interest’ shows that policy inconsistency and the influence of vested commercial interests pervade their selection, writes Elisabeth Cremona.
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — Who fears the European Commission?
This week saw significant progress in Brussels’ attempt to regulate the internet economy, as the landmark proposals for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) advanced in their legislative processes. Surprisingly, with very little noise from the 'Big Tech'.Promoted content
Let’s make the Conference too big to ignore
Europeans must mobilise in demanding a better EU as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE). However, a more united and democratic Union is not in everyone’s interest, and some political actors are consistently striving to make the consultation process meaningless.
Living wages hang in the balance as MEPs try to derail Directive
The European Parliament is set to adopt a text that would be a huge step towards delivering a living wage to millions across the EU – but the directive’s future is now in question as a group of Nordic MEPs try to stop it in its tracks, writes Alva Finn.
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — The Cavaliere’s Gambit
Leading Italian politicians and their parties are getting ready for the election of the next head of state, a process that resembles a complex chess game where the piece delivering checkmate could, sometimes, be the one you least expect.
Sanctions are now necessary to avert crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The European Union's failure to take a stronger stance against Bosnian Serb nationalist Milorad Dodik risks deepening the political crisis engulfing Bosnia and Herzegovina, write Tineke Strik and Dietmar Köster.Promoted content
Water: Industry’s forgotten sustainability challenge
Water for drinking and hygiene is a basic human right, yet one in three people on the planet is without access to safe drinking water and 785 million people live without clean water close to home.
Stop the mining rush in protected nature
Last year, the World Bank indicated that production of graphite, lithium and cobalt must increase by more than 450% by 2050 to meet the demand for energy storage technologies. Is the energy transition in danger? Do we have to exploit resources massively in Europe to avoid becoming dependent on imports? Green MEPs have an alternative plan.
Another list of priority gas projects won’t help the EU achieve fossil free energy
Europe's continued support for fossil fuels, like in the 5th projects of common interest (PCI) list, risks damaging the environment, but decision-makers could be about to make the same mistake in negotiations on the rules for supporting cross-border energy infrastructure, argue Frida Kieninger and Esther Bollendorff.
Brexit still an Issue for Europe whilst Britain’s border remains in Ireland
One important issue that the Conference on the Future of Europe needs to deal with is the relationship of the EU with the rest of the world. For me, that ‘rest of the world’ begins a few kilometres from my...
The Brief, powered by ENTSO-E — Bulgarian elections, Macedonia veto
In Skopje, there is hope that the elections in neighbouring Bulgaria will unlock the country’s veto on the start of North Macedonia's EU accession negotiations before the end of the year. This Brief is an educated guess at whether such a scenario - which would be greatly beneficial to the volatile Western Balkans - could materialise.Promoted content
Deep Renovation: The New Normal
Some 50 million Europeans live in energy poverty. Even before recent record highs for energy prices shook Europe, politicians and citizens spent a lot of time thinking about renovating buildings
A Helsinki spirit? The EU should pay attention to Finland’s initiative
The European Union has multiple reasons for embracing the Helsinki Spirit initiative as it would complement the ongoing internal EU-level reflection processes on the bloc's future and strengthen its ability to implement its multilateralism strategy, write Niklas Nováky and Henri Vanhanen.Promoted content
The review of the general pharmaceutical legislation: an opportunity that should not be missed?
This year, the end of December will not only mark the Holiday rush - at least for the healthcare policy specialists. Instead of rushing to the Christmas markets, most of them will be busy finalising their contributions to the revision of the general pharmaceutical legislation.
The Brief, powered by Facebook — One continent, two pandemics
Perhaps it was just too good to be true. After a few months of relative normality, trips to the cinema, beers with friends and eating out, we are back to restrictions. In Austria’s case, a full lockdown.