About: Germany
EU plan to cap fossil fuel subsidies will stymie renewables, power utilities warn
A European Commission proposal aimed at capping fossil fuel subsidies across the EU could have perverse effects by promoting investment in new gas-fired fossil fuel power instead of renewable energies, according to a new study.
Oettinger suggests stripping Schäuble of finance role
EU Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger said on Monday (25 September) that Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble would make an "ideal" president of parliament, raising the possibility of a role change for a man long associated with unflinching austerity in the eurozone.
The time is right for a stronger monetary union – with everyone on board
French President Emmanuel Macron will give a speech on Tuesday (26 September) outlining his pitch to reform the European Monetary Union. But he has to prioritise his wishlist in order to make the most of member state support, writes Petros Fassoulas.
Protest vote drives Germans into arms of AfD
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party entering the German parliament for the first time eclipsed the historically bad results of the country’s Grand Coalition members. But what is behind the AfD’s rise to becoming Germany’s third-strongest party? EURACTIV Germany reports. After last year’s Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory, the political landscape was supposed …
German voters deal a blow to Macron’s EU reform drive
Angela Merkel may be too busy holding together an unwieldy coalition to act as an effective partner for the French president’s bold plans, which he will outline on Tuesday (26 September).
Merkel’s CDU wins with dramatic downturn, far-right AfD enters Bundestag
Chancellor Angela Merkel secured her fourth term in office in Sunday’s (24 September) parliamentary election but her Christian Democratic Union picked up far fewer votes than expected, complicating the future coalition talks. And the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made a historic breakthrough by winning Bundestag seats.
Trans-Europe Express: Germany’s tolerance deficit
Asked to explain the AfD’s surge in the polls, Merkel offered a strictly economic analysis. The problem was that she was wrong.
France to cut support for booming organic farming
Despite the growth of organic agriculture, France will suspend state support to organic farmers by 2018, in a decision that could weaken the sector, as shown by examples in the UK and the Netherlands. EURACTIV France reports.
Czech analyst: Eastern Europeans have lost faith in the EU
When countries in Central and Eastern Europe joined the EU, their expectations were high. Above all, they thought that they would quickly reach a Western standard living, Irah Kučerová told EURACTIV Czech Republic.
Is German climate leadership being sacrificed on the altar of coal?
The pre-election politicking currently going on in Germany should ring alarm bells among climate policy advocates, warns Julian Schwartzkopff. If Angela Merkel does not take personal ownership of securing a climate-compatible coal phase-out, she could jeopardise her legacy as “climate chancellor”, he writes.
‘It’s not over yet,’ Merkel warns supporters before vote
Returning to her birthplace, Chancellor Angela Merkel urged supporters to mobilise undecided voters before Sunday's election, telling them not to take her conservatives' solid lead in opinion polls for granted.
Turkish asylum applications in Germany jump 55% this year, many rejected
The number of Turks seeking asylum in Germany is up sharply this year and has been rising steadily since last year's failed military coup in Turkey, German government data showed on Monday (18 September).
Trans-Europe Express: Pre-war Europe blues
The cynicism of was undeniable. Just as the Commission announced it was taking the second step in an infringement procedure against Poland over the reform of its justice system, legal experts associated with the PiS government announced that the country could still demand reparations from Germany for its occupation during World War Two.
Leak: ‘Temporary’ internal Schengen border checks could last four years
The European Union's executive offered initial backing yesterday (14 September) to a Franco-German proposal to allow more permanent border checks within the bloc's Schengen free-travel zone.
Paris and Berlin don’t take Juncker’s ‘Union of equality’ seriously
European officials made positive comments on Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker’ s State of the Union speech on Wednesday (13 September), but several said he would face stiff opposition for countering "multi-speed Europe" by encouraging all states to join the euro.
German minister: ‘Platforms have to pay social security in the future’
Thorben Albrecht is responsible for addressing the impact of the digital revolution on the labour sector and preparing Germany workers for the future. The minister presented his Work 4.0 white paper at the Future of Work conference hosted by Estonia’s rotating presidency of the EU.
Trans-Europe Express: Lega Nord Means Berlusconi
The Lega Nord has won the election. Or so one would be inclined to believe, surveying the stories on Italian politics published since August in the (mostly) UK press. A bit of Brexit projection, perhaps? Not exactly, but it can’t be excluded either.
In Athens, Macron outlines ‘roadmap’ for European democratic revival
French President Emmanuel Macron sketched a plan to "rebuild" the European Union through wider democracy and public accountability at the start of a two-day visit to Greece on Thursday (7 September).
Zahradil: Visegrád must be firm vis-à-vis Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron is applying a divide and rule strategy against the Visegrád Group, Czech lawmaker Jan Zahradil told EURACTIV.cz.
Polish PM accuses Macron of pursuing ‘protectionism’ in EU
Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydło accused French President Emmanuel Macron of "trying to introduce protectionism" on Wednesday (6 September) amid a clash over his proposals to overhaul a controversial EU rule on sending workers abroad.
German parties clash over creating digital ministry after election
German political parties disagree over whether there should be a new federal ministry overseeing all digital policies after the 24 September election.
Survey: Serbia’s heart is in the East, pocket in the West
Serbians are realistic where their own lives are concerned. But their opinion of the country's international position is irrational. EURACTIV.rs reports.
EU court says Hungary and Slovakia must accept refugees
The European Union's highest court dismissed complaints on Wednesday (6 September) by Slovakia and Hungary about EU migration policy, upholding Brussels' right to force member states to take in asylum seekers.
German minister: Berlin needs to halve coal capacity by 2030 to meet Paris goals
Germany would have to shut 25 gigawatts (GW), half its current total coal-fired power station capacity, by 2030 to meet carbon-cutting targets it has committed to under the Paris Agreement, deputy economy minister Rainer Baake said on Tuesday (5 September).