Europe.Table

Feature

France: uncertainty grows

Two weeks ago, President Emmanuel Macron was still considered the clear frontrunner in the presidential election, but now it looks like it will be a close call. Left-winger Jean-Luc Mélenchon could provide a surprise.

By

Carbon sinks: Agriculture Council criticizes Commission plans

Strengthening natural carbon sinks is an important part of efforts to achieve EU climate targets. On Thursday, the Council of Agriculture Ministers scrutinized the Commission's proposed revamp of the so-called LULUCF Regulation and a number of concerns came to light.

By Timo Landenberger

Spain and Portugal: Iberian exception for gas prices

Madrid and Lisbon are proposing to Brussels to cap the price of gas at €30 in order to halve the price of electricity. This is a temporary special measure for the two countries, which are poorly connected to the European energy network and do not rely on Russian gas.

By Isabel Cuesta Camacho

Data retention: another no from the ECJ – with a big but

The data retention of connection data for all mobile connections and location data, which has been controversial for years, once again had to be decided by the European Court of Justice. The ECJ judges further specified why general data retention is impermissible – but at the same time they opened up some major loopholes.

By Falk Steiner

Import ban on Russian coal – for oil too?

In the wake of the Bucha atrocities, the EU Commission is proposing to ban imports of Russian hard coal. An oil embargo is also being considered – but here Germany still has reservations.

By Till Hoppe

Viktor Orbán: thorn in Europe's side

The EU Commission will probably trigger the new rule of law mechanism after the Hungarian prime minister's election victory. However, financial sanctions alone will hardly suffice in the fight against Orbán's "illiberal democracy". The European Union must face the question of how it wants to deal with Hungary.

By Redaktion Table

IPCC: $1-4 trillion fossil assets at risk

As the world frantically pushes for new investments in oil and gas supplies, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns in its new report that investments are stranded. The 1.5-degree target would require greenhouse gas emissions to be nearly halved by 2030.

By Manuel Berkel