The Green Deal is a comprehensive plan that sets ambitious targets to transform economies towards sustainability, yet there is a long way to go to achieve these goals. Time is running out as the impact of climate change continues to worsen, and urgent action is needed. The S&Ds have already achieved significant progress in promoting sustainable policies, such as improving energy efficiency, supporting renewable energy, and reducing carbon emissions – and all of this with a red heart!
At this year's MWC in Barcelona, Huawei showcased its latest 5G and upcoming 5.5G technologies, emphasizing their transformative potential for both users and businesses.
In February, the European Commission proposed its recommendations for an EU 2040 climate target and the global pursuit of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Nuclear power is seen as part of the solution to tackle climate change and meet growing energy needs to decarbonise our economy.
In this first discussion, supported by ACE, we delved into the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWR). We're thrilled to host three experts on this file, Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea from the European Commission, Larissa Copello from Zero Waste Europe, and Annick Carpentier from ACE.
The S&D Group has been unwavering in its efforts throughout the 2019-2024 mandate, a five-year span marked by pivotal decisions and significant milestones that reverberated across the European political landscape.
Panama is increasingly becoming the hub of illicit tobacco trade, costing the country massive loss of public revenues and at the same time, raising questions over the policy response to this phenomenon.
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.
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?
The Companion Animals Stakeholder Summit was held in Brussels on 19th of March 2024 and aimed to bring stakeholders together to work on a common purpose: underscoring the need in the EU for greater cooperation and policy action for companion animals’ health and welfare.
As we approach the beginning of a new EU institutional cycle, marked by the election of a new European Parliament and the start of a new Commission mandate and European Council Strategic agenda for 2024-2029, the future of healthcare in Europe is at a crossroads.
The EU Council on Tuesday (26 March) formally adopted a revised version of the EU's Geographical Indications (GIs) regulation, which protects the names of products that come from specific regions and have specific qualities and a certain reputation through special labels.
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.
The European Union is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, signaling a crucial turning point in the fight against climate change.
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.
Sustainable biodiesel is a primarily EU-produced fuel, which can replace imported fossil fuels in various sectors, such as transport, as a renewable alternative.
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 a strategic raw material, aluminium plays a crucial role in the EU's journey towards climate neutrality by 2050 and achieving a green transition ‘made in Europe’. Its applications range from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicles and batteries, illustrating its essential role in clean technologies.
On the International Women's Day, the PES Group in the European Committee of the Regions calls upon cities and regions to adopt an ambitious plan to combat violence against women with concrete measures. Join the campaign
Artificial intelligence, deepfakes, social media, and misinformation have become integral parts of our daily lives, and their influence on political elections, possibly including the upcoming EU elections in June, is significant.
From influencing tech giants to securing privacy rights and fostering global partnerships, Europe has shown its capacity for meaningful change. Let's dare to dream of a Europe leading the charge in climate neutrality, embracing diversity, and safeguarding digital freedoms.
In recent decades, political institutions have witnessed a gradual erosion of trust among their constituents, a trend exacerbated by the economic and financial crisis.
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) providing open access to the condition and management of the EU's forests.
The framework will use remote sensing technologies and geospatial data together with monitoring on the ground. The monitoring will focus on parameters connected to EU policy priorities, such as climate change, biodiversity, health, invasive alien species and forest management. In addition to monitoring the EU's progress towards its goals, the collected data would enable better forest management and take timely action in case of forest disturbances and disasters.
The legislative proposal could also introduce strategic plans for forests, developed by competent national authorities, and lay out Member States’ strategic vision for their forests and the forest-based sector for the upcoming decades. The proposal is expected before the end of 2023.
Join this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss the proposed new EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans. Some questions to be discussed include:
- Does the proposal do enough to protect the EU's forests, and to fight climate change? - What are the key strengths and weaknesses of this proposal? - Will the proposal help to identify primary forests? - What is the impact on foresters and Member States with large forestry industries?
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 solutions.
The Act aims at promoting investments in the production capacity of products that are key in meeting the EU’s climate neutrality goals. To facilitate and enable carbon capture and storage projects and increase the availability of CO2 storage sites, the Act sets a target of 50 million tonnes of annual CO2 storage capacity by 2030.
In addition to this, the adoption of the Industrial carbon management strategy by the European Commission should help identify the gaps to deploy these systems at scale.
Industry stakeholders argue that while the EU has set ambitious objectives, the deficiency in transport and storage infrastructure remains an issue in the absence of substantial policy support. Hard-to-abate industries such as cement, steel, chemicals, are in particular need of additional technology options as they chart their transition and make investment decisions.
Join this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss where we stand on the road to reaching the target of 50 million tonnes of CO2 stored by 2030. Questions to be addressed include: - Is the Communication on industrial carbon management enough to raise awareness about the role of CCS? - How challenging is the business case for building a better transport and storage infrastructure? - What kind of policy support would be needed for appropriate transport and storage infrastructure to be put in place?
