Birnbaum to Head Eurelectric

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Photo by Rohan Makhecha on Unsplash The body representing the electricity sector in Europe has a new head to steer it for the coming years.Leonhard Birnbaum – CEO of E.ON – takes the reins of Eurelectric, the trade body representing the European electricity industry in Brussels. Joined by Vice Presidents Markus Rauramo – CEO of Fortum – and…

New GMO Products Approved by Commission

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Photo by Marek Studzinski on Unsplash The European Commission has authorised three genetically modified maize and renewed the authorisation for four genetically modified crops, three soybeans and one cotton for food and animal feed.  The Commission’s authorisation decision does not allow for their cultivation in the EU, only for their use as food and animal feed. These genetically modified crops have gone through…

Adjusting EU’s Economy to Withstand Shocks

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Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash The EU’s economic system needs structural change and must be adjusted to become more resistant to future external shocks, says the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The Brussels based organisation is now recommending establishing a “Green triple-T” criterion to assess future interventions in the EU’s economic system, so that adopted measures are…

Making Withholding Tax Procedures More Secure

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Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash The European Commission has  proposed new rules which, it says, will make withholding tax procedures in the EU “more efficient and secure” for investors, banks and EU Member State tax administrations.  The initiative and the Commission’s 2020 Action Plan on the Capital Markets Union will, says the EC, “promote fairer taxation,…

EU Bid to Be Global Battery Powerhouse Faltering

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Photo by Precious Madubuike on Unsplash The EU risks falling behind in its bid to become a global battery powerhouse, according to a new report published by the European Court of Auditors.  It says it is true that the EU’s industrial policy on batteries has been promoted effectively in recent years. But access to raw materials remains a major…

EU Recovery Fund

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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash EU Member States are said to be “exacerbating economic inequality, eroding democracy and obstructing efforts to create a green, transformative European economy by marginalising citizens in decision-making,” a new report by the Citizens’ Observatory for Green Deal Financing alleges. The report claims to show how “excluding the public has opened the door…

Moving to Net Zero

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Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash The European electricity industry trade body unveils a “landmark study” highlighting three scenarios for Europe to achieve net zero. Looking towards 2030, 2040 and 2050, “Decarbonisation Speedways” spells out “the key role” of clean electrification in accelerating Europe’s path to climate neutrality and underlines its potential in lowering households’ energy bills.  Europe’s success hinges, however, on critical enablers…

EU Budget to 2027

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Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash The European Union has faced a series of unprecedented and unexpected challenges since the adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in 2020. The European Commission says that “barely out of one of the deepest global economic crises in more than a century, Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine had huge humanitarian, economic and budgetary consequences.” Within…

Land of Fire – Discovering Azerbaijan Beyond F1

When thinking of Azerbaijan, many people may just imagine F1 drivers speeding around the streets of its capital. The annual F1 Grand Prix has been hosted by Baku since 2017, with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen having become familiar features on the city’s streets each year. The country however has so much…

Environmental Disaster

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Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash Russia has triggered an environmental disaster that has become a threat to millions of Europeans Russia is using terrorist attacks as tool of warfare. At this stage of the unprovoked war against Ukraine, Russian forces have weakened to the point where they cannot hold previously occupied territories. A lack of weapons and…