Several current EU Commissioners are also entitled to an annuity from the pension fund, which is threatened with bankruptcy. A list of 660 current or former MEPs includes more prominent names. The Bureau is looking for a way out.
By Markus Grabitz
The conflict over the impact of the planned EU Nature Conservation Directive on agriculture is coming to a head. EPP and Greens accuse each other of endangering food production with their policies. The Commission defends its course.
By Timo Landenberger
The showcase project for an energy transition in the Global South is stalling: South Africa is debating whether to keep its coal-fired power plants running longer than planned. The country is plagued by power shortages, blackouts, and a state-owned power company in shambles.
By Bernhard Pötter
India has officially decided to decarbonize its energy sector. Experts are simultaneously debating the timing and scope of the coal phase-out. Soon, no more new power plants are supposed to be built. But the problems are in the details.
By Goswami Urmi
Next year's European Football Championship in Germany is supposed to be climate-neutral. But as always with this label, the implementation is complicated and expensive. And offsetting CO2 emissions is proving vulnerable to greenwashing.
By Lukas Knigge
The defense company Rheinmetall is aiming to enter the heat pump market and is investing in the production of important components. So far, there is a great dependence on Asia and China in this sector. However, experts do not expect China to dominate the world market as it does the solar industry.
By Nico Beckert
China is pushing for the development of solar and wind energy. After a dip in expansion statistics in the last two years, wind power is now set to take off again. The expansion targets are ambitious; provinces provide subsidies and companies focus on scale. However, power grids and power markets need to improve to make renewable energy efficient.
By Christiane Kuehl
Protests against Volkswagen's involvement in Xinjiang are intensifying. During the annual general meeting, a pie is thrown towards the podium and an activist tears off her clothing from her upper body. The company responds with stubborn PR clichés. Whether this is enough to appease the critics is questionable.
By Marcel Grzanna
It was hard enough to find a common position on the AI Act in the lead parliamentary committees. Still, there could be surprises in Thursday's vote – not everyone is behind the rapporteurs' compromise. The trilogue negotiations will not be easy either.
By Corinna Visser
On Wednesday, Volkswagen's executive board will have to defend its China operations to shareholders: Loss of market leadership, the shortfall in the electric segment, and, above all, many unanswered questions about Chinese human rights violations in Xinjiang.
By Marcel Grzanna
