On 18 July in Baku, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson met with President Ilham Aliyev and Azeri Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov to strengthen the existing cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan. The two Presidents signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy. Currently, the EU […]
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New EU industrial strategy: the challenges to tackle
MEPs want the EU’s updated industrial strategy to enable European companies to be competitive, clean and resilient, and to also help the shift to a more digital and environmental economy. European enterprises have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, as many have had to shut or reduce their workforce while finding new ways to work […]
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Commission proposes more flexible exceptions regime and targeted relief to airlines
The Commission adopted a proposal to allow the airline slot regime to respond more flexibly to unexpected developments in the near future. While the current rapid ascent in demand, as well as projections for future demand, point to an ongoing recovery of air traffic, recent experience has shown that the current slot rules are not sufficiently […]
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MEPs back boost for renewables use and energy savings
Share of renewable energy to be raised to 45% by 2030 Energy savings targets raised to 40% in final energy consumption, and 42.5% in primary energy consumption Revision of two laws to tackle climate change and boost energy security The Industry, Research and Energy Committee wants to accelerate substantially the deployment of renewable energy, and […]
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EU invests €1.8 billion in clean tech projects
The EU is investing over €1.8 billion in 17 large-scale innovative clean-tech projects with a third round of awards under the Innovation Fund. Grants will be disbursed from the Innovation Fund to help bring breakthrough technologies to the market in energy-intensive industries, hydrogen, renewable energy, carbon capture and storage infrastructure, and manufacturing of key components […]
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Climate change: new rules for companies to stop EU-driven deforestation globally
EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation MEPs want the rules to also cover pigmeat, sheep and goats, poultry, maize, rubber, charcoal and printed paper products Human rights and the rights of indigenous people also to be respected An area larger than the EU was lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020 To fight […]
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Circularity can enhance greenhouse gas emission savings when renovating Europe’s buildings
Building renovation is a key contributor to improving energy efficiency and to achieving a climate neutral European Union (EU) by 2050. A European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing investigates how circular economy principles can enhance the benefits of building renovation. It finds that, through 2050, circularity can significantly reduce the use of materials and contribute significant […]
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Forest fires: EU mobilises its firefighting fleet to help Portugal
Portugal has activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to request emergency assistance for the current wildfires in the central part of the country. In an immediate response, the European Commission has mobilised this morning 2 Canadair firefighting airplanes from its rescEU fleet positioned in Spain. The planes are supporting Portuguese first responders in the affected […]
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Fit for 55: Parliament pushes for greener aviation fuels
Used cooking oil, synthetic fuel or even hydrogen should gradually become the norm as aviation fuel to help EU become climate neutral by 2050, said MEPs on Thursday. Parliament adopted its position on new draft EU rules to increase the uptake of sustainable fuels by EU planes and airports, in order to cut emissions from […]
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