Europe.Table

Feature

What's wrong with the EU's blockchain strategy?

Blockchains were once designed to prevent government intervention. However, the EU wants to do just that and faces the major challenge of regulating something that can hardly be regulated. Especially when it comes to processing personal data, a solution will be difficult.

By Redaktion Table

Member states drag out gas agreement

Although a Russian gas embargo has been looming for months, so far only a handful of EU states have signed solidarity agreements with their neighbors. Meanwhile, the German government is urging France and other countries to adopt technical standards that would facilitate cross-border gas flows.

By Manuel Berkel

Anna Lührmann bei der Pressekonferenz Folgen des Klimawandels, Verwundbarkeiten und Anpassung - Nationale Vorstellung des 6. IPCC-Sachstandsberichts im Haus der Bundespressekonferenz. Berlin, 28.02.2022 *** Anna L¸hrmann at the press conference Consequences of Climate Change, Vulnerabilities and Adaptation National Presentation of the 6 IPCC Assessment Report at the Haus der Bundespressekonferenz Berlin, 28 02 2022 Foto:xF.xKernx/xFuturexImage

Anna Lührmann: "No discounts on the rule of law"

With an eye on Poland and Hungary, the Minister of State for Europe and Climate at the German Foreign Office warns against compromising on EU principles because of the conflict with Russia. After weeks of blocking the oil embargo, Lührmann is now calling for a serious debate on the unanimity principle. Many member states are open to this, she says in an interview with Till Hoppe.

By Till Hoppe

Agreement on partial oil embargo: embarrassment averted

The oil embargo agreed at the EU summit is to block 90 percent of Russian oil imports to the EU by the end of the year. The remaining 10 percent will continue beyond that via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Some call it a "signal of unity", while others express clear criticism.

By Lukas Knigge

Commission wants to ban SynFuels from industrial CO2

Criticism of the delegated acts on green hydrogen continues. Still, the plans forged within the Berlaymont go much further: The Commission already wants to pave the path to SynFuels 2.0 and put a clear expiration date on a long-held vision for emissions recycling.

By Manuel Berkel

Hotly debated topic: the EU Health Data Space

For Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, the European Health Data Space is "a milestone for our digital transformation and a real revolution in European medical history". Here in Germany, the announced revolution must first show whether it can stand up to the German reality of digitization.

By Eugenie Ankowitsch

Agreement on oil embargo outline

At the extraordinary summit in Brussels, the EU heads of state and government agreed on the EU Commission's compromise proposal for an oil embargo. The landlocked countries of Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia remain exempt for the time being and also pushed through guarantees should the Dushba pipeline be interrupted.

By Stephan Israel

Dispute over oil embargo overshadows EU summit

A compromise proposal by the EU Commission on the oil embargo has not brought the hoped-for breakthrough for now. The proposal envisages initially only imposing an embargo on imports of Russian oil by ship. The EU ambassadors want to make another attempt at reaching an agreement on the sixth sanctions package today before the heads of state and government arrive for the extraordinary summit.

By Stephan Israel