EurActiv
For Brittney Griner, months as Russian prisoner end on UAE tarmac
After months of painstaking negotiations with Moscow, it became clear to President Joe Biden's administration that it faced a grave choice - to exchange notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for US basketball star Brittney Griner.
Categories: EurActiv
Commission dismisses stall on Dutch CAP plan amid environmental doubts
The chief spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed on Thursday (8 December) that the Dutch plan for EU's farming subsidies will easily win the final seal of approval although the EU Agriculture Commissioner had cast some doubts about the "very high level of environmental risk factors" of Dutch farming.
Categories: EurActiv
Croatia to join Schengen but EU ministers block Bulgaria and Romania
Croatia will join the EU's passport-free Schengen area in January after EU home affairs ministers approved their application but again blocked applications by Bulgaria and Romania.
Categories: EurActiv
The Brief — Dan Brown style: The Reichsbuerger Conspiracy
The foiled attempt of a far-right group to overthrow the German government shows that secret societies such as those described by the master of esoteric conspiracies, Dan Brown, exist and can be dangerous.
Categories: EurActiv
Why are small European cars disappearing?
Ditching small vehicles is bad for consumers, the environment and, ultimately, western carmakers, argues Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and e-mobility at the green NGO Transport & Environment.
Categories: EurActiv
Plugging a leak on a sinking ship
Dear readers, Welcome to EU Politics Decoded, where Benjamin Fox and Eleonora Vasques bring you a round-up of the latest political news in Europe and beyond every Thursday. In this edition, we look at how focusing on border control rather than the root causes...
Categories: EurActiv
Risking death by a thousand subsidies
In reaction to recent crises, and now to the US Inflation Reduction Act, the EU is set to further open the floodgates of state aid, putting the "level playing field" that underpins the EU's Single Market under heavy strain.
Categories: EurActiv
Macron and Scholz should read Thatcher’s memoirs
It's amazing how, despite the war, Western leaders still don't understand who they're dealing with when they try to talk to the Kremlin, writes Evgenii Dainov.
Categories: EurActiv
Agriculture Commissioner backs new impact study on pesticides reduction plan
EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has backed the idea of a fresh study on the impact of plans to reduce pesticides, a move championed by EU countries but slammed as a covert way to stall the legislation by green lawmakers and campaigners.
Categories: EurActiv
Unsustainable soy-fed meat imports get free pass under new EU law
Meat that has been fed with deforestation-linked soy products will still be found on European supermarket shelves under the new EU deforestation law, prompting outrage among EU agrifood stakeholders who warn this harms the environment while detrimenting EU producers.
Categories: EurActiv
Alleged Russian agent charged in US with sanctions violations, money laundering
A Ukrainian lawmaker accused of helping Russia interfere in the US presidential election in 2020 was charged on Wednesday (7 December) with money laundering and sanctions violations by buying two Beverly Hills, California, properties and concealing his involvement.
Categories: EurActiv
Analysis: East Europeans count their pennies for Christmas as food costs soar
Consumers in Eastern Europe are saving up to put their favourite carp and pork dishes on the table for Christmas as food price inflation, especially in Hungary and the Baltics, outpaces that in the wider European Union.
Categories: EurActiv
RSF: ‘If rule of law fails in Greece, we will all fail’
In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about the Slovenian interior minister stepping down following a row with the prime minister, the Swiss parliament electing two new members of government, and so much more.
Categories: EurActiv
Orban vetoes Ukraine aid after EU blocks Hungary’s fund
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are discussing Hungary’s veto on the EU’s financial aid to Ukraine. Relations between the EU and Hungary seem to be tenser than ever after the latter blocked an €18 billion financial...
Categories: EurActiv
GRDF chief: France is on track to exceed its biomethane goals
Renewable gases are gaining ground in Europe, with France on track to exceed its 2023 intermediate objectives for biomethane injection into the grid. To catch up with the industry, EURACTIV France spoke to Laurence Poirier-Dietz, director general of GRDF, Europe's largest gas distributor.
Categories: EurActiv
Britain approves first new coal mine in decades despite climate targets
Britain approved its first new deep coal mine in decades on Wednesday (7 December) to produce the high-polluting fuel for use in steelmaking, a decision which drew criticism from opponents who say it will hinder climate targets.
Categories: EurActiv
RSF: ‘If rule of law fails in Greece, we will all fail’
The surveillance scandal against politicians, journalists and businessmen is a stain on the Greek democracy that is growing bigger every week, Pavol Szalai, head of Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) European Union and Balkans office, told EURACTIV, urging Greek authorities to...
Categories: EurActiv
Rama: Russian influence very real danger for Western Balkans
In a speech at the Brussels Summit on Wednesday, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said that Russian influence in the region is real, noting that Serbia is yet to align with bloc-wide sanctions against Russia. Serbia has resisted calls to...
Categories: EurActiv
Slovenian interior minister steps down following row with prime minister
Interior Minister Tatjana Bobnar tendered her resignation on Wednesday following a row with Prime Minister Robert Golob in which she implied political interference in the police force. According to multiple media reports, tensions between the prime minister and the interior...
Categories: EurActiv
Croatia only steps away from final Schengen green light
Envoys of the EU27 countries in Brussels raised no objections to Croatia’s accession to the bloc’s passport-free Schengen area next year, indicating that the final decision should be endorsed on Thursday, Jutarnji List reported quoting diplomatic sources. At a Coreper...
Categories: EurActiv