Opinions
Do smallholders need rights of their own, and if so, which ones?
Do farmers have and/or need different rights to other people? Michael Brüntrup argues that gaining the support of rural dwellers and ensuring they benefit from development should be the top priority.
Will EU ministers heed Macron’s call to #Makeourplanetgreatagain?
Europe’s proposed 30% energy savings objective means less savings in the period 2020-2030 than in 2010-2020 and are in direct contradiction with the spirit of the Paris Agreement, writes Yamina Saheb as EU energy ministers prepare to meet on Monday (26 June).
EU socialists puzzled at Labour’s hostility to Europeans in UK
Jeremy Corbyn meets fellow centre-left leaders in the Party of European Socialists today to discuss Brexit, writes Denis MacShane.
The Estonian Presidency, at a time when ‘ice starts to melt’
Estonia's goal is to have a presidency during which the European winter of discontent gives way to a new spring, the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, writes in an exclusive op-ed for EURACTIV.com.
Short-term views on forest climate benefits is a mistake
The Commission’s land-use proposal risks being a step backwards in transitioning to a fossil fuel-free economy. Mårten Larsson explains the alternatives.
Vienna shows local solutions can improve public transport accessibility
Improving the accessibilty of public transport is also about taking due account of efficient local solutions, write Wiener Linien and the Austrian Association in Support of the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Hungary’s law calls for more transparency for NGOs receiving foreign money
In a recent EURACTIV.com interview, the director of the George Soros-funded European Policy Institute makes the incorrect claim that Hungary’s new legislation on NGO transparency is “discriminatory” and is closing the space for dissenting opinions, writes Zoltán Kovács.
Malta’s EU presidency ending in exceptional health
As Malta’s time at the helm of the EU’s rotating presidency comes to an end, Health Minister Chris Fearne reflects on the successes of the last six months.
Macron shows the ‘Juncker dilemma’ does not exist
Europe needs serious reform if it is to avoid being turned into a mere museum for rich Chinese tourists. But it is clearly possible to be both European and succeed in the global economy, writes MEP Gunnar Hökmark.
Will EU Council block trillions of investment in energy efficiency?
Politicians have a tendency to play things safe, only committing to policy objectives that are well within reach, even when it goes against long-term EU goals or plain common sense. This seems to be the case for the draft Energy Efficiency Directive, warns Benedek Jávor.
Why the Commission needs reform
There is an often overlooked area which is in dire need of reform: the structure and set-up of the EU Commission itself, write Kai Gehring and Stephan A. Schneider.
We need to nurture the biodiversity of the labour market
Europe faces a work revolution. To survive, we need to heed the words of Charles Darwin and adapt and adjust to fit our changing environment, writes Denis Pennel.
From drones to cyberattacks – shoring up corporate security
With its high-performance networks and data centers, Deutsche Telekom is arguably Europe's leading ICT-services provider, writes the German telecoms group, whose services range from drone protection to cybersecurity.
Say yes to human mobility and no to Fortress Europe
EU leaders will this week meet to agree, once more, on ways to keep migrants out of the EU. Out of sight may be out of mind but such a policy is only encouraging the deaths and suffering of tens of thousands of people, warns Leila Bodeux.
Green opportunity in ship breaking
Green MEPs and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) see opportunities arising from the rapid contraction and consolidation of the European oil and gas industry where others might see only obstacles, write Margrete Auken and Martin Siecker.
Paris Agreement under threat as member states water down building performance measures
While President Trump is grabbing world headlines by publicly trashing the Paris climate agreement, EU member states are also trying to sabotage this deal by watering down measures in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), writes Adrian Joyce.
Why Europe needs an industrial strategy
Global investment in energy efficiency now outstrips investment in conventional power generation. Europe is at the forefront and recognises that energy efficiency represents a vast energy resource that is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, writes Heinz Haller.
The ‘Eurovision of inventors’ and new solutions for protecting the planet
Whether or not Donald Trump is taking part in efforts to protect the planet, inventions and technological progress are filling an important gap and the EU is playing a role bigger than generally assumed, writes Eli Hadzhieva.
Time to consider refugee protection in partnerships with third countries
On World Refugee Day and just before the European Council, we call on the EU and its member states to assess the impact of the Partnership Framework approach on the right to seek and enjoy asylum, writes Denis Haveaux.
Energy security: Lowering ambition and leaving Ukraine out in the cold
Short-sightedness and lack of solidarity have hollowed out the energy package. While there are certain positive developments in the Security of Gas Supply Regulation, the EU is simply not up to the game in the new reality of energy geopolitics.
Cities are key players in the clean energy transition
Cities are often leaders in climate action and ambition. National governments need to recognise this and empower them with the financial and technical means to complete their transition away from fossil fuels, writes Abdeluheb Choho.
Weighing the tradeoffs of joy versus long term health
Consumers make hundreds of choices every day, some of which imply weighing the tradeoffs of joy versus long term health. These are highly subjective decisions, and in a free society adult consumers should have the right to make these choices and not have them dictated to them by public health tsars, writes Fred Roeder.
Public health hangs in the balance with salmonella risk
Salmonella, one of Europe’s most prevalent food-borne diseases, has been on the retreat the past decade, but EU experts have so far failed to protect a two-year deadlock that could see one of the most important tools in the fight against salmonella banned, writes Randall Ennis.
How do you put a price on trucks’ impact on society?
Hauliers claim that trucks are overpaying in taxes and charges compared to their impact on the environment and society. But the reality is that road transport is now Europe’s biggest climate problem, writes Samuel Kenny.