Lobby watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) says it has obtained recent meeting documents from the European Commission (EC) that reveal that major fossil fuel companies are influencing the EU’s response to the energy crisis. Minutes allegedly reveal that CEOs of six big energy companies – Shell, BP, Total, ENI, E.ON and Vattenfall – met President…
While the Russian army is bombing Ukraine and massacring civilians, the EU keeps transferring half a billion to a billion euros to Russia on a daily basis, paying for oil and gas supplies. But the US Congress has voted to embargo imports of Russian oil gas and coal. The European Parliament has similarly voted in…
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has issued a robust statement in response to latest developments in the Ukraine crisis. She said, “EU Member States have given their political agreement for a new package of sanctions against Russia. I welcome this. Russia’s decision to recognise the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk is illegal and…
The current energy crisis is impacting on the competitiveness of the European textile and clothing industry. Because there are limited alternatives to the use of gas in different parts of the production process, production costs increase sharply. EURATEX asks the European Commission and Member States to urgently support the industry to avoid company closures. At…
Energy taxation can support efforts to combat climate change, but current tax levels do not reflect the extent to which different energy sources pollute. A review published today by the European Court of Auditors outlines how energy taxes, carbon pricing and energy subsidies contribute to achieving the EU’s climate objectives. Even though renewable-energy subsidies almost…
In the letter, S&D vice-president and shadow rapporteur in the environment committee, Simona Bonafè, and S&D shadow rapporteur in the economic affairs committee, Paul Tang, expressed their opposition to the labelling of gas and nuclear-based energy production as taxonomy compliant. While recognising the role played by gas and nuclear to meet the energy needs nowadays towards the transition to a…
The EPP group says gas “can bridge the gap” and reduce CO2 emissions faster. In a statement, it said, “To reduce Europe’s CO2 emissions, we also need gas. Not for ever and everywhere, but for a transitional period and in certain situations.” It goes on, “Gas is the cleanest fossil energy source and gas infrastructure…
The European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) has signalled support for the European Commission’s proposal to include nuclear energy and fossil gas in the so-called “Taxonomy Regulation”, which sets out the criteria for green investments. “Without the promotion of nuclear energy, the scenario of high energy prices could worsen in the future. When it comes…
EU Member States and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on the so-called Trans-European Network in Energy (TEN-E) Regulation. “With today’s agreement, energy in Europe will become more sustainable, more securely supplied and more affordable”, said Tom Berendsen MEP, who negotiated the new EU rules for the financing and construction of energy infrastructure on…
Critics argue that nuclear can solve the gas crisis and play a key role in Europe’s future energy mix As fuel was loaded into the second reactor of Europe’s newest nuclear power plant (NPP), the debate raged on about nuclear’s role in the green energy mix. Just last week the European Commission put forward the…
