Photo by Documerica on Unsplash The 603 employees of “Logistics Nivelles SA”, who were left jobless after the parent company decided to close down their site, should receive €2.2 million in EU aid, say MEPs. On Thursday, the Committee on Budgets approved Belgium’s request for support from the EGF fund. MEPs acknowledged that “the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian…
Photo by Icons8 Team on Unsplash MEPs have unanimously adopted a report highlighting the importance of modern vocational education and training (VET). This, it was said, will meet the challenges of the labour market in terms of changing forms and activities of employment and the skills they require. The own-initiative report by ECR rapporteur Anna Zalewska was backed…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Photo by Tobias Rademacher on Unsplash The world’s largest air conditioner manufacturer has launched a four-step initiative which, it claims, can help tackle the climate change crisis. Daikin, a Japanese multinational conglomerate company, believes its new campaign will help ensure a “healthy and sustainable environment and contribute to carbon neutrality.” One of the biggest challenges society is to maximize usage…
Photo by Vivint Solar on Unsplash It is good news that the UK should have plenty of sunshine this summer – potentially more than much of southern Europe. The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts suggests that June, July and August should each be hotter than average. This should be a great opportunity to harness more solar power:…
