Thu. Sep 21st, 2023

TOP NEWS

Sweden: Tobias Billström signs High Seas Treaty Norway: Many climate solutions to be found in the oceans UN Security Council: Statement by EU Council President Michel on Ukraine Mergers: EU Commission clears acquisition of BAM by Reliance, Brookfield and Digital Realty Insight EU Environment Monitoring 19 September 2023

NEWS & BACKGROUND

ai generated, sea, plastic

Insight EU Environment Monitoring 19 September 2023

EU Council and EU Parliament reached provisional agreement to empower consumers for the green transition +++ UNGA78: bringing the Sustainable Development Goals back on track ++++ Vice-President Suica delivers a keynote speech for the event: “Children as Agents of Change – A Call to Action to Enable Inclusive Child Participation to Accelerate Implementation of the SDGs”, organized by Joining Forces – For all children +++ UNCTAD counts the costs of achieving sustainable development goals +++ WWF Statement on New Report from the Nordic Council of Ministers: Towards Ending Plastic Pollution by 2040.

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21/09/2023
co2 neutral, climate change, pxclimateaction

Insight EU Climate Monitoring 19 September 2023

‘A world in crisis: climate breakdown, conflict and us’. A lecture delivered by Commissioner Janez Lenarčič at the Center for European Studies, Harvard University +++ UN: Biden says ‘when we stand together’, we can tackle any challenge +++ UN: ‘No nonsense’ Climate Ambition Summit: What you need to know +++ Climate Ambition Summit in New York: Germanwatch erwartet Schwung für die Weltklimakonferenz bei Emissionsminderung und Schutz für die Hauptbetroffenen der Klimakrise

Read More »
21/09/2023
Hydrogen production facility

Insight EU Energy Monitoring 19 September 2023

EU Commission to set up a forum to improve the selection and implementation of Important Projects of Common European Interest +++ CTP secures €200 million EIB loan to finance ambitious solar energy roll-out +++ EU energy market reform: protecting against high prices +++ Workshop: Developing countries’ energy needs and priorities +++ UNECE and partners to develop AI-powered platform to help build resilient energy systems +++
Aerospace and H2 heavyweights form UK Hydrogen in Aviation alliance.

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21/09/2023

Net Zero: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sets out his new approach

“Government can set the framework, step in when needed, and step back when necessary. It can make big decisions. But what I have concluded during my time so far as Prime Minister, is that those decisions – the decisions that could bring real change, change that could alter the trajectory of our country –  can be so caveated, so influenced by special interests, so lacking in debate and fundamental scrutiny that we’ve stumbled into a consensus about the future of our country, that no one seems to be happy with. And this is because too often, motivated by short term thinking, politicians have taken the easy way out” – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

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20/09/2023

BUSINESS

Sweden: Tobias Billström signs High Seas Treaty

Following more than 15 years of negotiations, in March 2023 the UN successfully adopted a new global treaty to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Sweden has now signed the treaty, which establishes rules to limit environmental impacts and create marine protected areas in the high seas, which make up approximately 95 per cent of the volume of the world’s oceans.

Read More »
21/09/2023

EU Court of Justice: Judgment of the General Court in Case T-131/16 RENV | Belgium v Commission

Since 2005, Belgium has applied a tax scheme that exempts certain ‘excess’ profits of Belgian entities which form part of multinational corporate groups. Those entities can obtain an advance ruling (tax ruling) from the Belgian tax administration, in particular if they centralise activities, create employment or make investments in Belgium. In that context, ‘excess’ profits, that is, profits exceeding the profit that would have been made by comparable standalone entities operating in similar circumstances, are exempted from corporate income tax.

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21/09/2023

EU to ban greenwashing and improve consumer information on product durability

EU Parliament and Council have reached a provisional agreement on new rules to ban misleading advertisements and provide consumers with better product information. The agreement updates the existing EU list of banned commercial practices and adds to it several problematic marketing habits related to greenwashing and early obsolescence of goods. The aim of the new rules is to protect consumers from misleading practices and help them make better purchasing choices.

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21/09/2023

MEPs look into ways to enhance EU citizenship and improve European Elections

MEPs raised questions on the broader institutional and political issues linked to a potential reform of electoral rules from an array of ideological and intellectual points of view. Key issues included the lead candidate process and better or alternative ways to elect the Commission President, as well as ways to enrich the EU-wide electoral debate and strengthen the supranational democracy element of the Union.

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20/09/2023

MEPs examine the current work and future plans of Europol

This week, the latest meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group (JPSG) on Europol brings together MEPs, Europol officials and national lawmakers to discuss the police agency’s work. During the meeting on 20 and 21 September, Europol officials including Executive Director Catherine de Bolle present the latest activities and future plans of the EU’s police agency, and answer questions from MEPs and national lawmakers.

Read More »
20/09/2023
sewage pipe polluted water, environmental, erosion

MEPs want more efficient treatment and reuse of urban wastewater

MEPs want member states to strengthen the monitoring of various elements at the inlets and outlets of urban wastewater treatment plants, including numerous pollutants, microplastics and so-called “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS). The report also insists on monitoring the presence of various public health parameters in wastewater (such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants, influenza viruses, E-Coli, legionella, antimicrobial resistance, as well as any future pathogens during public health emergencies).

Read More »
20/09/2023

Global Gateway: EU Commission announces Business Advisory Group

Today, the European Commission announced 60 members and 10 observers of the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group. The new group gathers CEOs or senior executives of European companies and business associations. It will assist the European Commission in promoting cooperation with the European private sector as part of the implementation of the Global Gateway strategy and scaling up of Global Gateway flagships.

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20/09/2023

NextGenerationEU: Implementation of the RRF firmly underway

The Commission has today adopted its second annual report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the €800 billion reform and investment tool at the heart of NextGenerationEU. The report shows the progress made with the RRF to increase Member States’ economic and social resilience and deliver on REPowerEU, the EU’s response to the hardships and global energy market disruption caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

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20/09/2023

Education: EU ministers pledge to reduce university dropout rates and promote EU values

European education ministers pledged to reduce university dropout rates and promote community values in education on the second day of the informal ministerial meeting on education and youth in Zaragoza. European ministers pledged to reduce university dropout rates and promote community values in education on the second day of the informal ministerial meeting on education and youth in Zaragoza.

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19/09/2023

DIGITIZATION

EU-China: EU Commission and China hold second High-level Digital Dialogue

Today, the Commission held its second High-level Digital Dialogue with China. Co-chaired by Vera Jourova, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, and Vice-Premier of China, Zhang Guoqing, this dialogue hosted in Beijing covered key issues such as platforms and data regulation, Artificial Intelligence, research and innovation, cross-border flow of industrial data, or the safety of products sold online. The Commissioner for Justice and consumer rights, Didier Reynders, also participated in the discussions by video message.

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18/09/2023

Ukraine digitalising public services with Swiss support

At its meeting on 15 September 2023, the Federal Council approved additional support for digitalisation in Ukraine. This will enable citizens, refugees and businesses to access public services and have a political say despite the ongoing war. The ‘E-governance for Accountability and Participation’ (EGAP) project will receive a contribution of CHF 15 million this year.

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15/09/2023

Answering the Call of History: The 2023 State of the Union Address by President von der Leyen

“In just under 300 days, Europeans will take to the polls in our unique and remarkable democracy. As with any election, it will be a time for people to reflect on the State of our Union and the work done by those that represent them. But it will also be a time to decide on what kind of future and what kind of Europe they want. Among them will be millions of first-time voters, the youngest of whom were born in 2008. As they stand in that polling booth, they will think about what matters to them. They will think about the war that rages at our borders. Or the impact of destructive climate change. About how artificial intelligence will influence their lives. Or of their chances of getting a house or a job in the years ahead” – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

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14/09/2023
face, human, polygons

United States: Voluntary risk management commitments from eight additional A.I. companies

Since taking office, U.S. President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have acted decisively to manage the risks and harness the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI). As the Administration moves urgently on regulatory action, it is working with leading AI companies to take steps now to advance responsible AI. In July, the Biden-Harris Administration secured voluntary commitments from seven leading AI companies to help advance the development of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI.

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13/09/2023

NextGenerationEU: EU Commission receives first payment request from Ireland for €323.8m under the RRF

This first payment request relates to 36 milestones and five targets. These cover numerous investments, for instance in the area of jobs and skills through a work placement experience programme, a programme for green skills, and strengthening the capacity of Technological Universities. Investments also concern the digital transition, through the digitalisation of public administration and the connection of schools to the broadband network. In terms of the green transition, they cover the preparation and the start of work on the rehabilitation of peatlands, the electrification of public transport in Cork, investments in the energy-efficiency of public buildings, and the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants.

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08/09/2023

SECURITY

UN Security Council: Statement by EU Council President Michel on Ukraine

The Kremlin dreams of restoring the old Russian empire. After Ukraine, who will be next? Who will be next to satisfy Putin’s fantasy of the past? And if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, what other countries would be tempted to copy its actions? At this crime scene, we also have the victim, the attacked. Ukraine and all Ukrainians, fighting a battle they did not start, defending their country against a war they did not want and protecting their children against suffering nobody deserves.

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21/09/2023

EU releases €140m to support the Afghan people, in particular women and girls

The European Union has agreed to release €140 million of basic needs and livelihoods assistance in the fields of education, health, agriculture and women’s economic empowerment in Afghanistan. The decision to release funds, previously frozen since December 2022 in response to the Taliban’s decision to ban women from working in NGOs, comes after six months of monitoring and assessment of the “for women by women” principle. This principle ensures that Afghan girls and women are involved in all aspects of the aid delivery chain.

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21/09/2023

Global Counterterrorism Forum: Opening speech by EU HRVP Borrell 

The speed at which the threat level is spreading across Africa is particularly worrying. Increasing the representation of African voices in Counter-Terrorism multilateral fora is of essence. I also count on working more closely with the African Union (AU) for a fitting and much-needed civilian response to the threat on the African continent.  

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21/09/2023

Rede von Bundeskanzler Scholz zur 78. Generaldebatte der UN-Generalversammlung

“Das Gebot der Stunde lautet nicht weniger Kooperation als heute ‑ heute vielleicht als „decoupling“ oder als „Zusammenarbeit nur unter Gleichgesinnten“ verpackt ‑, sondern mehr Kooperation, die Stärkung bestehender Allianzen genauso wie die Suche nach neuen Partnern. Denn nur so lassen sich auch die Risiken allzu einseitiger Abhängigkeiten abbauen” – Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz in seiner UN-Rede.

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20/09/2023

French National Police arrest 13 intercontinental car traffickers

Europol participated in two operational meetings, contributing analytical findings related to the main suspects in the investigation and information on overlaps with other cases. Europol’s analysts carried out multiple crosschecks and a staff member with a mobile office was deployed to France to support the action day. 

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20/09/2023

MEPs examine the current work and future plans of Europol

This week, the latest meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group (JPSG) on Europol brings together MEPs, Europol officials and national lawmakers to discuss the police agency’s work. During the meeting on 20 and 21 September, Europol officials including Executive Director Catherine de Bolle present the latest activities and future plans of the EU’s police agency, and answer questions from MEPs and national lawmakers.

Read More »
20/09/2023

Crisis Regulation: EU Parliament insists on starting negotiations with the Council

In the absence of an agreement in Council on the Crisis Regulation proposal, interinstitutional talks on Eurodac and Screening regulations are put on hold today by the European Parliament. On Wednesday 20 September, the Members of the European Parliament’s Asylum Contact Group met with representatives of the Spanish Presidency and of the four Presidencies who signed up the 2022 Joint Roadmap to assess the progress made on the EU migration and asylum reform.

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20/09/2023

Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers: Press remarks by EU HRVP Borrell

I can assure you that we have not talked about it in the meeting. We have not gone into these US internal affairs. And about the absence of [President] Xi and [President] Putin, well, we have to continue working. We cannot sit and wait for them to come. We have an urgency. The war costs everyday lives. The sooner it finishes, the much better for the ones that could save their lives. For Ukrainians first, for the Russian soldiers also, and for the rest of the world, which is badly affected by this war.

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19/09/2023

Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: EU HR on expectations from Serbia and Kosovo*

Following the High-Level meeting of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue on 14 September in Brussels, the EU expresses its concern over the lack of implementation by the Parties of their commitments under the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex, which both Parties agreed to earlier this year, and which are binding on them and play a role in the European path of the Parties.

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19/09/2023

SUSTAINABILITY

Sweden: Tobias Billström signs High Seas Treaty

Following more than 15 years of negotiations, in March 2023 the UN successfully adopted a new global treaty to protect marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Sweden has now signed the treaty, which establishes rules to limit environmental impacts and create marine protected areas in the high seas, which make up approximately 95 per cent of the volume of the world’s oceans.

Read More »
21/09/2023

Norway: Many climate solutions to be found in the oceans

According to an updated report from the High-level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, ocean-based climate solutions can provide 35 % of the cuts in emissions needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C by 2050. The report was presented at the meeting of the Ocean Panel during the UN General Assembly High-level Week.

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21/09/2023
ai generated, sea, plastic

Insight EU Environment Monitoring 19 September 2023

EU Council and EU Parliament reached provisional agreement to empower consumers for the green transition +++ UNGA78: bringing the Sustainable Development Goals back on track ++++ Vice-President Suica delivers a keynote speech for the event: “Children as Agents of Change – A Call to Action to Enable Inclusive Child Participation to Accelerate Implementation of the SDGs”, organized by Joining Forces – For all children +++ UNCTAD counts the costs of achieving sustainable development goals +++ WWF Statement on New Report from the Nordic Council of Ministers: Towards Ending Plastic Pollution by 2040.

Read More »
21/09/2023

Climate Ambition Summit: Speech by EU Commission President von der Leyen

We need to agree on effective solutions, still this year. The European Union will be a strong ally in those discussions. But at the same time, we should also show ambition in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. So we should go faster in removing the root causes of climate change. The European Union has set ambitious emission reduction goals for 2030. We want to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55%.

Read More »
21/09/2023
co2 neutral, climate change, pxclimateaction

Insight EU Climate Monitoring 19 September 2023

‘A world in crisis: climate breakdown, conflict and us’. A lecture delivered by Commissioner Janez Lenarčič at the Center for European Studies, Harvard University +++ UN: Biden says ‘when we stand together’, we can tackle any challenge +++ UN: ‘No nonsense’ Climate Ambition Summit: What you need to know +++ Climate Ambition Summit in New York: Germanwatch erwartet Schwung für die Weltklimakonferenz bei Emissionsminderung und Schutz für die Hauptbetroffenen der Klimakrise

Read More »
21/09/2023
Hydrogen production facility

Insight EU Energy Monitoring 19 September 2023

EU Commission to set up a forum to improve the selection and implementation of Important Projects of Common European Interest +++ CTP secures €200 million EIB loan to finance ambitious solar energy roll-out +++ EU energy market reform: protecting against high prices +++ Workshop: Developing countries’ energy needs and priorities +++ UNECE and partners to develop AI-powered platform to help build resilient energy systems +++
Aerospace and H2 heavyweights form UK Hydrogen in Aviation alliance.

Read More »
21/09/2023

Net Zero: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sets out his new approach

“Government can set the framework, step in when needed, and step back when necessary. It can make big decisions. But what I have concluded during my time so far as Prime Minister, is that those decisions – the decisions that could bring real change, change that could alter the trajectory of our country –  can be so caveated, so influenced by special interests, so lacking in debate and fundamental scrutiny that we’ve stumbled into a consensus about the future of our country, that no one seems to be happy with. And this is because too often, motivated by short term thinking, politicians have taken the easy way out” – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

Read More »
20/09/2023
sewage pipe polluted water, environmental, erosion

MEPs want more efficient treatment and reuse of urban wastewater

MEPs want member states to strengthen the monitoring of various elements at the inlets and outlets of urban wastewater treatment plants, including numerous pollutants, microplastics and so-called “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS). The report also insists on monitoring the presence of various public health parameters in wastewater (such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants, influenza viruses, E-Coli, legionella, antimicrobial resistance, as well as any future pathogens during public health emergencies).

Read More »
20/09/2023

NextGenerationEU: Implementation of the RRF firmly underway

The Commission has today adopted its second annual report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the €800 billion reform and investment tool at the heart of NextGenerationEU. The report shows the progress made with the RRF to increase Member States’ economic and social resilience and deliver on REPowerEU, the EU’s response to the hardships and global energy market disruption caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Read More »
20/09/2023

EU AGENDA

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