About: Frans Timmermans
Commission unveils plan to halve pesticide use and risk
The European Commission has proposed to slash in half the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 2030, confirming the level of ambition enshrined in the European Green Deal despite food insecurity threats in light of the Ukraine war.
Timmermans: Scaremongering on food security ‘dishonest, irresponsible’
Spreading fears of food shortages is “irresponsible and dishonest”, according to European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, who accused critics of using the war as a "pretext" to derail the EU’s green farming ambitions.
Cleaning Poland’s air: EU hopes for green heating from Warsaw
As fossil fuels continue to be burned to produce heat, Europe’s air quality suffers. With many of these fossil fuels coming from Russia, EU policymakers are seeing an opportunity to speed up their phase-out.
Industrial emissions proposal criticised by farming sector
Lawmakers and stakeholders close to the agriculture community accused the EU executive of being disconnected from reality and creating additional bureaucracy after presenting new rules to curb pollution in the industrial sector.
EU executive split on ‘suspending’ Green deal goals in farming due to food security fears
Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski wants to hold off implementing the EU's flagship sustainable food policy, the Farm to Fork strategy, despite Commission Vice-President Fran Timmermans' call to preserve the EU's green ambition even in challenging times.
Timmermans cautions against relaxing Green deal goals for sake of food security
Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans stood up for the Green Deal objectives in the EU's farming policy despite the calls of prioritising food security aspects in the wake of supply disruptions caused by the Ukraine war.
Ukraine war on the brink of sparking world energy conflict
Fears of an energy war between Russia and the West grew on Tuesday after the United States pushed its allies to ban Russian oil imports as punishment for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, where talks on humanitarian corridors made little progress.
EU aims to make Africa a world champion in hydrogen exports
Europe wants to get out of fossil fuels and build a hydrogen economy. Without enough internal supplies, it is looking to import large quantities of hydrogen from countries in the Global South. EURACTIV Germany reports.
2022: France’s strategic role in advancing Europe’s climate ambitions
France, set to take over the rotating EU Council presidency for the first half of 2022, will have a strategic role to play in advancing the bloc's climate ambitions in 2022. But with the presidential elections coming up in April, the cards could be reshuffled along the way. EURACTIV France reports.
EU split on proposals to extend carbon pricing to road transport, ban polluting cars
EU countries remain divided on proposals to tighten carbon emission standards for cars and extend the EU’s carbon market to the road transport sector, with the fault line running largely between richer and less-wealthy member states.
EU countries told to set up ‘one-stop-shops’ to help homeowners renovate
In order to double the renovation rate of buildings, the European Commission has requested EU member states to provide technical assistance to homeowners by setting up one-stop-shops that will guide consumers throughout the renovation process.
EU’s Timmermans: Brussels ‘will support’ member states that choose nuclear
During an exchange with French parliamentarians this week, the EU Commission vice-president in charge of the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said Brussels "will support, sustain and assist those member states that make this choice" of using nuclear power. EURACTIV France reports.
Timmermans: Gene editing ‘clear part’ of sustainability action in agrifood
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans added his voice to the growing list of those in the EU executive advocating for gene editing, a move condemned by campaigners who accuse the Commission of already making their mind up on the technology.
Europe proposes mandatory due diligence to stop deforestation in supply chains
The European Commission tabled its plan on Wednesday (17 November) to introduce mandatory due diligence for products sold on the EU market to make sure they are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation.
Pressure mounts as UN climate negotiations enter final day
Negotiators at the UN climate summit in Glasgow are expected to lock horns on Friday (12 November) for what is scheduled to be the final day of bargaining over how to stop global warming from becoming catastrophic.
Commission’s advertisement team-up with UEFA raises hackles
The launch of the European Commission’s new #EveryTrickCounts campaign seeks to leverage the widespread love of Europe’s favourite sport but has resulted in ridicule and scathing accusations of "greenwashing".
Timmermans encourages Bulgaria to restart nuclear plant project
Commission's First Vice President Frans Timmermans advised Bulgaria to phase out coal production and said the EU would help if it reactivates a previous nuclear power plant project. EURACTIV Bulgaria reports.
Tweets of the Week: Pope, SOTEU, Timmermans influential
Pope sticks to the essential, SOTEU has snack potential, and Timmermans is ranked influential.
Critics warn carbon price proposal would exacerbate energy poverty
Energy poverty could be exacerbated ad prices rise under the European Commission's proposed revamped emissions trading scheme, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has warned, with other stakeholders raising similar misgivings.
EU industry shuns carbon border levy, calls for export rebates
European industries covered by the EU's future carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) have expressed doubts about the proposal, tabled last week. In addition to border measures, they are calling for an export rebate scheme to help green EU products compete on global markets.
Overly complex EU climate package will curb investment in green fuels, warns industry
The advanced biofuels industry has criticised the complexity of the EU’s climate legislation package, arguing that the uncertainty caused by the slew of new rules will hinder investor confidence.
EU signals end of internal combustion engine by 2035
Sales of new cars and vans that produce carbon emissions will be banned as of 2035, proposals tabled by the European Commission revealed on Wednesday (14 July), a move which all but guarantees that the era of the internal combustion engine (ICE) is drawing to a close in the EU.
Slovenian interior minister asked to apologise for ‘swine’ comment
Slovenian President Borut Pahor has criticised Interior Minister Aleš Hojs for using the term "swine" in a comment interpreted as targeting a senior member of the EU Commission, urging the minister to apologise.