About: Frans Timmermans
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.
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.