Solar panels should pay off their costs more quickly for homeowners in the future. This is the aim of the Commission's draft solar strategy. The member states are also to significantly accelerate the construction of solar power with new programs starting next year.
By Manuel Berkel
EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson wants to improve the protection of children with a proposed regulation. But the proposal is full of controversial points. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already become acquainted with one of them.
By Falk Steiner
China could find a new friend in the central European EU state of Slovenia. The right-wing populist Janez Janša, who recently went toe-to-toe with Beijing, has been voted out of office. Foreign policy played virtually no role in the election campaign, and the designated government under Robert Golob is primarily focused on economic growth.
By Amelie Richter
Beijing faces a Covid lockdown. Omicron thus reaches the political heart of China. And the costs of this policy rise considerably - economically, socially, and increasingly politically. Yet China indulges in vaccine nationalism. Why does Xi Jinping continue to cling to zero-Covid?
By Michael Radunski
The war in Ukraine has significantly exacerbated the crisis on the global food market. The EU Commission wants to remedy the situation and, among other things, temporarily allow the agricultural use of ecological fallow land. Almost all EU countries are making use of this. Germany is not one of them. This is met with criticism.
By Timo Landenberger
Many EU states want to spend more money on defense. But for what exactly, is mostly unclear. The Commission is expected to make proposals next week, including on financing. The main goal is to persuade governments to cooperate.
By Redaktion Table
Supplying the population with food is not only a challenge in the lockdown of Shanghai, a metropolis with a population of 25 million. It has been a headache for China's leadership for quite some time. The problem of contaminated farmland is bigger than anywhere else in the world.
By Ning Wang
While Xi Jinping resolutely sticks to his zero-covid strategy on the mainland, Hong Kong is gradually lifting Covid measures. The newly-elected Chief Executive John Lee intends to reopen the international border as quickly as possible. This could soon make it easier to enter the country from Europe than from the People's Republic.
By Redaktion Table
The new president of Eurochambres, the umbrella organization of chambers of commerce, warns against imposing new burdens on companies in the current crisis. He is critical of the rapid introduction of the CO2 border adjustment and wants to improve the Supply Chain Act. In an interview with Till Hoppe, the Luxembourger also warns against the consequences of an oil and gas embargo.
By Till Hoppe
After tough wrangling, negotiations in the Environment Committee on the reform of the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are to be concluded on Tuesday. It is not yet possible to predict what the agreement will look like. All sides claim to be willing to compromise, but there is little movement on the most contentious points.
By Lukas Knigge
