Our lesson this time relates to the European elections in which President Macron’s party was subjected to a drubbing while support for parties of the right surged. A snap election, called by President Macron after the election results became known, is a high-risk strategy. Let’s discuss.By Plus Publications

In recent years, the relationship between the EU and Kazakhstan has evolved significantly, marked by a growing emphasis on economic cooperation, political dialogue, and partnerships in various fields, including trade and agriculture. Economic cooperation, focused on trade and investment, has been a longstanding cornerstone of EU-Kazakhstan relation…

The European Parliament elections are fast approaching, and agrifood policies have taken the spotlight following a wave of protests and demonstrations across the EU in recent months. One common concern expressed by farmers across the bloc is the level of bureaucracy within the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The current CAP, covering 2023 to…

The European Union stands as a leader in global efforts to combat climate change, driven by a commitment to secure a sustainable future for all. At the heart of EU climate action lies the European Green Deal, a framework for transforming the EU into a carbon-neutral and circular economy by 2050. The European Commission set different milestones that…

Regional revitalization – driven by green policies and technological advancements – is a key priority across Europe, and it is clear that this transformation is most urgent in rural, post- industrial, and suburban areas adjacent to major cities. The role of large companies that operate in these areas cannot be overstated. Their contributions, spann…

The European Commission identifies buildings in the EU as the primary energy consumer, accounting for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2021, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, as part of the so-called ‘Fit for 55’ package. In M…

2024 marks the year of another significant change in the EU’s political composition. Every five years, EU leaders collectively determine the EU's political priorities, a process occurring in conjunction with the European Parliament elections and preceding the appointment of each European Commission. Kicked off by the European elections in early Jun…

Decarbonising the heating and cooling sector is central to achieving the energy transition. This is recognised in the European Green Deal and the ‘Fit for 55’ package, as without increasing the share of renewables in this sector, our energy and climate targets cannot be achieved cost-effectively. Within the heating sector, district heating is provi…

Forests play a vital role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. They act as carbon sinks and preserve biodiversity and ecosystems. Yet, climate change is increasingly causing extreme weather conditions, and damages such as wildfires, windstorms and floods are harming forests all over Europe. To address these challenges, the European Commissi…

"Les rencontres européennes de la Fepem" se présentent comme un rendez-vous au cœur des préoccupations européennes. Organisé par la Fepem, cette rencontre d'une demi-journée, prévue pour le 22 avril dans les locaux du Think Tank EuropaNova et sous le patronage de la Commission Européenne, réunira une soixantaine de participants, dont des candidats …

The European Single Market - one of the EU's greatest achievements - is stuttering, according to several industry stakeholders. Their concerns include too much fragmentation, excessive bureaucracy, and lack of harmonised rules. Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta was tasked with preparing a report on the future of the Single Market, set to b…

Expanding organic farming and agricultural lands in the EU is at the heart of the European Green Deal’s initiatives. Organic farming uses natural substances and processes to produce food and brings environmental, economic and social benefits. To support European green ambitions, the European Commission launched the Farm to Fork Strategy in 2020. On…

Nuclear power is seen as part of the solution to tackle climate change and meet growing energy needs to decarbonise our economy. Following the Nuclear Energy Summit, jointly organised by the IAEA and Belgium on March 21, 2024, EDF, Fortum, and Vattenfall, in partnership with Euractiv, are preparing an insightful event. We will delve into the centra…

For the last three decades, the availability of cost-effective generic medicines has driven increased access to life-saving treatments for millions of patients in Europe. Today, generic medicines are an integral part of the healthcare system and demand for these products continues to increase worldwide. While increased usage of generic medicines ha…

In a new era marked by climate disruptions, geopolitical conflicts and economic tensions, fundamental questions arise: do we still need industry in Europe? Or can the EU rely solely on fragmented value chains for its strategic autonomy? As the EU strives for peace, prosperity and security for its citizens in the next five years and beyond, can it a…

The political term spanning from 2019 to 2024 saw an unprecedented focus on healthcare, not only in terms of the EU’s response to the immediate health crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, but also making significant strides in addressing longer term healthcare challenges across Europe. Anchored by the goal of building a ‘European Health Union…

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies are crucial for Europe to achieve its climate targets for 2040 and 2050. CCUS solutions can also enhance industrial competitiveness and bolster energy resilience. It is no coincidence that the European Commission unveiled its Industrial Carbon Management Strategy on the same day as the pub…

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies are crucial for Europe to achieve its climate targets for 2040 and 2050. CCUS solutions can also enhance industrial competitiveness and bolster energy resilience. It is no coincidence that the European Commission unveiled its Industrial Carbon Management Strategy on the same day as the pub…

Water is essential to human life, to the health of our ecosystems and to European economies, yet it is under increasing stress due to overexploitation, rising demand and the effects of climate change. The impacts are increasingly felt in our societies and economies. Since 2000, the European Commission’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been the …

The 2019-2024 EU legislative term marked a significant milestone for climate and environmental policies. The EU committed to being carbon-neutral by 2050, resulting in sector-specific legislation, from decarbonising transport to enhancing energy efficiency in buildings. Socio-economic challenges, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitica…

Is the race for the future already run & lost? Find out at the launch of the latest edition of ERT’s bi-annual Competitiveness and Industry Benchmarking Report. As the European elections approach, this report will bring together 38 KPIs and shine a light on the current state of play of Europe’s competitiveness vis-à-vis its global peers and competi…

In recent decades, political institutions have witnessed a gradual erosion of trust among their constituents, a trend exacerbated by the economic and financial crisis. According to the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), over the past 20 years, vote turnout in both Western and Eastern democracies has dropped by an average of 10 percenta…

European forests are vital for preserving native wildlife and for fighting against climate change. Currently, the EU lacks some knowledge about its forests that would help to restore and protect them. The EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans proposal aims to develop “an EU-wide forest observation framework” (European Commission) p…

Am 22. Juni 2022 schlug die Europäische Kommission im Rahmen des Europäischen Green Deals eine Verordnung über die nachhaltige Verwendung von Pflanzenschutzmitteln vor, die als Teil eines Maßnahmenpakets den ökologischen Fußabdruck des Lebensmittelsystems der EU verringern soll. Dazu gehört auch die neue Verordnung zur nachhaltigen Verwendung von P…

To reach the EU's climate targets, increase industrial competitiveness, and improve its energy resilience, carbon capture and storage technologies play an important role. As part of its decarbonisation efforts, in 2023 the European Commission released a Net-Zero Industry Act for a simplified regulatory environment and a rapid deployment of carbon s…

In April 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Directive and a new Regulation, aimed at revising and replacing the existing General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL). The proposal focuses on modernising the pharmaceutical sector with a patient-centred approach, while also fully supporting an innovative and competitive industry. …

The future of European competitiveness and innovation and its global investment attractiveness is at a critical juncture. In the coming years, it’s imperative that EU policymakers remain laser-focused on addressing pressing challenges—including tech, environmental, sustainability, and security policy—and transforming them into opportunities for EU …

While maritime transport plays an essential role in the EU economy and is one of the most energy-efficient modes of transport, it is also a large and growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Projections show that these emissions could increase by up to 30% of 2008 emissions by 2050. If the climate change impact of shipping activities isn’t addre…

The tax landscape has evolved over the last decade. There has been a perceived lack of trust in large businesses and a concern that globalisation has benefited larger companies rather than the population at large. The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated inequalities and public deficits, with governments facing the dual challenge of responding to emergenc…

En septembre 2017, le président français Emmanuel Macron évoquait l’idée d’une Europe « souveraine, unie et démocratique ». La pandémie mondiale de la COVID, l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine, ainsi que les tensions géopolitiques, ravivent plus que jamais le principe d’un protectionnisme européen. Tantôt décrite par ses détracteurs comme inenvisageable…

Achieving the EU’s ambitions for a more sustainable, resilient and competitive economy requires actions across many sectors. Europe’s bioeconomy, which converts renewable resources from agriculture, forests, and seas - including residues and waste - into food, feed, materials, and energy, contributes to this effort. According to the European Commis…

Innovation is key to the digitalisation of our society. Open global technology standards, based on standard-essential patents (SEPs), are the foundation upon which companies continue to innovate and create new products and services. Without SEPs, for example, it would not be possible to make mobile phone calls, stream videos, provide up-to-date tra…

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are organic compounds containing fluorine that do not degrade. Consequently, they are sometimes referred to as ‘forever chemicals’. There are thousands of specific PFAS, with a range of consumer and industrial uses. As part of the EU’s zero pollution ambition, which is a key commitment of the European Gre…

The EU AI Act, proposed by the European Commission in 2021, will have a major impact on the development and use of artificial intelligence within the European Union. The Act stipulates that providers of AI systems established in the EU must comply with the regulation, as well as entities in third countries that introduce AI systems to the EU market…

Spain is part of D9+, the group of European countries leading a new economic model with impact in multiple sectors. We are the seventh country in the European Union in the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), ahead of the major European economies. And the time is now. The digital economy has a real impact on the Spanish GDP: it accounted for 2…

The European Union has placed hydrogen at the forefront of its ambitious climate neutrality goals. The EU aims to harness the potential of hydrogen in various sectors, such as industry, transport, and energy production, to help achieve its target of becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. However, hydrogen can create several climate challenges depending o…

During her State of the Union address, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the crucial role of the wind industry in delivering the EU Green Deal but also remarked that the industry is facing a unique set of challenges. To address them, on 24 October the European Commission announced its new Wind Power Action Plan, aimed at maintainin…

The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), which entered into force on 1 March 2020, governs trade and economic relations between the European Union and Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is the first Central Asian partner to have concluded an EPCA with the EU, and the EU is Kazakhstan’s biggest overall trading partner, accounting for 40% of it…

As part of the European Green Deal and the new circular economy action plan, the European Commission put forward a revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) in November 2022. The initiative's main objective is to ensure that all packaging is reusable or recyclable in an economically feasible manner by 2030. The PPWD requires Me…

The production and use of energy account for more than 75% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. This highlights the urgency of reducing carbon emissions in the energy sector, a crucial step in achieving the 2030 climate goals and the overarching objective of carbon neutrality by 2050 (European Commission). To guide the EU's shift towards a more ef…

This time, our lesson relates to a DIY job that frightens off a lot people, that is, laying tiles. Let’s start with a dialogue.By Plus Publications

The demand for sustainable mobility is growing rapidly while at the same time, the fight against climate change and atmospheric pollution has emerged as one of the paramount challenges for the European transportation sector. According to the EU Sustainable & Smart Mobility Strategy, the gradual change and modernization of European transportatio…

In the ever-evolving landscape of AI governance, organizations are now presented with a powerful motivator—the upcoming EU AI Act proposal. The looming threat of fines, including penalties of up to 7% of annual turnover, forces organizations to take action, as the AI Act mandates better AI governance and seeks a balance between innovation and prote…

The EU Renewable Energy Directive is an important part of the Fit for 55 package and represents a significant step forward in the climate action agenda. By introducing ambitious legislative proposals and promoting a comprehensive approach to decarbonisation, the EU aims to lead the global fight against climate change and drive the transition to a s…

New genomic techniques (NGTs) and their products have been rapidly developing in the last 20 years in many parts of the world, with some applications already on the market of some EU trade partners. On 5 July 2023, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new Regulation on plants produced by certain new genomic techniques, as part of a pack…