Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash The UK Government loves catchy slogans. From “Getting Brexit Done”, through the Covid campaign of “Hands, Face, Space” and now the latest asylum plan of “Stop the Boats”, slogans are a great substitute for action. As the Conservatives struggle in the polls the slogans are getting longer, such as the objective of…
Photo by Tech Daily on Unsplash EU negotiators have struck a deal creating the first “best in class” standard for the issuing of green bonds. The “European Green Bonds Standard” (EUGBS), which companies issuing a bond can choose to comply with, will primarily enable investors to orient their investments more confidently towards more sustainable technologies and businesses. It…
Photo by Dan Meyers on Unsplash The European Commission has presented its Green Deal Industrial Plan in response to the US Inflation Reduction Act. The aim is to boost European industries and innovation and make them fit for the green transformation of the economy and ensure global competitiveness. MEPs are expected to vote on a resolution on an EU strategy…
Photo by jesse orrico on Unsplash The Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform to support Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction process has been launched by the EU. It will allow for close coordination among international donors and international financial organisations and will ensure that support is provided in a coherent, transparent, and accountable manner. The first meeting this week of…
Photo by L N on Unsplash MEPs are pushing for the European Union to develop its own capacity for the production of semiconductor chips to keep industry running and jobs in Europe. A majority in the European Parliament’s committee on industry, research and energy improved the legislative proposal made earlier by the European Commission on the measures for…
A leading think tank has called for an “unprecedented” EU investment strategy in Africa which has an “image problem.” Friends of Europe founder Giles Merritt says, “Nobody would deny the widespread prejudice against corruption and inefficiency there, whatever the facts of individual cases.” Many African countries are, it is claimed by Friends of Europe, a…
I spoke at the Brussels Press Club with Mr Serhii Shulha, the Chairman of the Kirovohrad Regional Council, the central agrarian region of Ukraine that lies just 150 km from the front line where Ukrainian military defence against the Russian invasion are taking place. He was in Brussels on a two-day trip to lobby for…
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has been accused of failing to curtail investments in climate-damaging highways despite acknowledging how cars and lorries pump huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Frank Vanaerschot, Director of the group “Counter Balance”, said: “If this plan is adopted, the EIB will be encouraging more cars onto roads while decrying that…
Spain has been urged to “follow the example” set by Croatia in honouring its commitment to international treaties. The demand comes amid a long-running legal battle between Spain and renewable developers who are fighting Madrid over retroactive cuts to feed-in tariffs for renewable projects. Spain is accused of resisting payment of the compensation or attempting…
A major conference heard how the economies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) are booming despite the crippling pandemic. The event brought together thousands of investors, consultants, businesses and government officials with a common aim to discuss and connect to explore the investment potential of the region, in particular Uzbekistan. With the CIS now slowly emerging…
