About: Frans Timmermans
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.
ETS extension: when in doubt, create a fund
Geeky, technical work on how to create a carbon price for buildings and road transport that incentivises change without being too high is key to the extension of the emissions trading scheme, writes Brook Riley.
Greens do not break up with Timmermans, but letdown remains
European Greens have been disappointed with the first steps in the EU's Green Deal implementation but despite recent criticism received from Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, they have expressed readiness to continue working with him on shaping the bloc's green agenda.
Planned EU carbon market reform is ‘politically suicidal’, warns French MEP
Plans to extend the EU's carbon market to transport and buildings would be "politically suicidal" and risk triggering social unrest similar to the 2018 Yellow Vests movement in France, warned French MEP Pascal Canfin last week. EURACTIV France reports.
Workers’ groups seek to influence Green Deal
The workers’ groups of the European Economic and Social Committee have seized upon the term “just transition” in a bid to insert their aims for workers’ co-determination into the Commission’s flagship policy, the European Green Deal.
German agriculture minister slams Timmermans ahead of CAP trilogue
German Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner has launched a sharp attack on EU climate chief Frans Timmermans ahead of continued negotiations on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in Brussels. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU plans ‘climate action social fund’ to shield citizens from rising carbon prices
The European Commission will set up a fund to support vulnerable households if their fuel bills increase as a result of its plan to expand carbon pricing to transport and buildings' heating systems, the EU's climate chief said on Wednesday (9 June).
The decision on who should lead the EU’s Warsaw office is crucial
The next Head of the European Commission in Warsaw needs to be a political heavyweight, argues Piotr Maciej Kaczyński.
Wojciechowski: CAP reform ‘a new chance’ for small, medium sized farms
As negotiators from the European Parliament, Council and Commission kick off this week's jumbo trilogue in an attempt to seal a deal on the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, EURACTIV spoke to Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski about his expectations for the week ahead.
Greta’s army turns again to EU Parliament to scrap the CAP
Young climate activists trying to halt the reform of the EU's farming subsidies programme will turn their focus back to the European Parliament, after their best ally, the Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans, made clear his hands are tied on this dossier.
EU to launch ‘adjacent’ carbon market for transport, buildings
A senior EU official on Tuesday (11 May) defended European Commission plans to extend the bloc's carbon market to road transport, arguing that revenues generated could be used to offset the effects of higher fuel prices on the poorest in society.
EU climate chief warns against curbing carbon price rally
The European Union’s head of climate change policy warned against policymakers intervening in the carbon market on Friday (7 May), after the price of EU carbon permits soared this week to record highs.
Tweets of the Week: Super League, Climate Law, Merkel Succession
Football’s all about money, wow, big shock, EU has a climate law, please don’t mock, and might German Greens stand a chance with Frau Baerbock?
Nutri-Score food labelling plan is not panacea, EU official says
The proposed colour-coded Nutri-Score labelling system should not be seen as a panacea for consumers to assess the healthiness of food, according to a member of the cabinet of EU's agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski.
Greener farm reform ‘still possible’, EU’s Timmermans says after meeting climate activists
A group of climate campaigners led by Greta Thunberg have met with European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, urging him to withdraw current proposals to reform the bloc’s Common Agricultural Policy.
‘Mistakes were made’ when vaccines were ordered, EU’s Timmermans admits
The European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans has admitted that mistakes were made in Brussels when COVID-19 vaccines were being ordered and suggested taking stock "at the end of the pandemic" of what went wrong and what was done right. EURACTIV's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
US envoy promotes climate alignment with Europe
The EU and Washington need to align to tackle climate change, US envoy John Kerry said in Brussels on Tuesday (9 March), confirming the new US administration's policy shift away from Donald Trump's roll back of environmental protections.
EU Commission clashes with Parliament over ‘net’ 2030 climate target
Lawmakers have denounced a “loophole” in the European Commission's proposed climate target for 2030 and pointed the finger at the EU executive for its hard negotiation style over the EU climate law.
EU sees carbon border levy as ‘matter of survival’ for industry
The European Union's proposed carbon border charge is essential to the survival of its own industries and the bloc will impose the levy on non-EU competitors unless they commit to lowering their emissions, the bloc's climate policy chief said on Monday (18 January).