Alternatives to Russian gas + Product liability and AI + Raw material supply

Decision day: Today, the European Commission plans to present its delegated act to supplement the taxonomy and, in it, classify nuclear energy and natural gas as sustainable transitional solutions under certain conditions. It remains to be seen whether the authority will rework its controversial draft. However, Finance Commissioner Mairead McGuinness had ruled out fundamental changes. Nevertheless, four EU countries insisted on further improvements shortly before the final decision: In a joint letter to the Commission, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands demanded on Tuesday that natural gas should not be classified as “green”.

Around five months after its completion, the Nord Stream 2 Baltic gas pipeline is still not in operation. The German Federal Network Agency had suspended certification of the billion-euro project until the operating company implements the EU requirements for unbundling network operations and natural gas trading. Nord Stream 2 AG formally fulfilled the requirement last week by establishing a German subsidiary. Nevertheless, further checks are necessary, the BNetzA said.

At the same time, it is becoming increasingly doubtful whether the pipeline, which is supposed to transport Russian gas across the Baltic Sea to Germany, will ever become operational. After all, the infrastructure project is part of possible sanctions imposed by the West against Russia in the Ukraine conflict. During a visit to Kiev yesterday, EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis assured Ukraine of support. He said the EU’s review of an operating permit for Nord Stream 2 was on hold and that Brussels would do everything it could to prevent the Kremlin from using the supply of natural gas “as a weapon”.

Nevertheless, a possible total loss of Russian gas supplies in Europe is perceived as a serious threat. The worst-case scenario once again highlights the EU’s energy import dependency. While the Commission is trying to find alternatives, discussions are also starting in Germany: Should we become more independent of Russian gas? The problem: The alternatives are scarce – and have major drawbacks. We asked politicians, industry, and academia.

Does the over 30-year-old Product Liability Directive from 1985 still offer sufficient legal certainty and consumer protection in the age of intelligent and AI-based products and services? Opinions differ on this. While consumer representatives favor revising the legislation, industry rejects the EU Commission’s move. In order to close possible regulatory gaps, the European Commission apparently even wants to adopt a two-pronged approach. The existing product liability directive is to be revised. In addition, a new liability framework for artificial intelligence is being discussed. Eugenie Ankowitsch has analyzed which aspects are particularly controversial.

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Timo Landenberger