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…

EU Tightens Russian Sanctions

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Photo by Nikolay Vorobyev on Unsplash EU member states have adopted an eleventh package of economic and individual restrictive measures against Russia. A statement on Friday said they are “intended to strengthen existing EU sanctions and crack down on their circumvention.thereby further eroding Putin’s war machine and his revenues.” Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy “Our sanctions are already…

Massive Expansion of Renewable Energies

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Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash Member states have given the green light for a “massive expansion” of renewable energies.After months of blocking, the Council decided to tighten the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Campaigners have greeted the news saying “an investment boom across the EU will be the result.” German Greens MEP Sven Giegold says the revised EU…

Parliament Calls on NATO Allies to Honour Commitment to Ukraine

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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash MEPs have call on NATO allies to “honour their commitment” to Ukraine and pave the way for Kyiv to be invited to join the defence alliance. In the resolution, adopted with 425 votes in favour, 38 against with 42 abstentions, MEPs stress that they expect that the “accession process will start after…

Equal Pay for Young People

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Photo by Malu Laker on Unsplash Young people should receive the same pay and social security benefits as other workers, including the same minimum wages, which is still not the case in all Member States The EU and Member States need to put an end to discriminatory practices against young people, such as low youth minimum wages and…