Energy & Environment
‘Heat under your feet’ tops Hungarian EU Council presidency’s energy agenda
Although geothermal energy plays a small part of the EU’s renewable energy mix, it has significant potential as a stable and local source in the Unions quest for energy independence.
Are EU countries at risk of missing EU climate targets?
Sunday (30 June) marked the deadline for EU countries to submit their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), outlining how each member state will deliver domestically on the EU’s carbon neutrality goals by 2030. However, only a handful of countries have met the deadline so far. Is the EU at risk of missing its climate neutrality target?
Disputed Nature Restoration Law finally gets approved in Council
Countries in the Union will now have to respect legally binding targets regarding national efforts to restore degraded land and sea ecosystems in compliance with the newly endorsed Nature Restoration Law. Due to its politicized nature, the text risked falling through multiple times during the past few months.
Greens position themselves as alternative to far-right, focus on security and defence
As the European Parliament elections approach, the Greens are broadening their focus beyond environmental policies to address issues like security, defence and housing, which resonate more with the general electorate.
The struggle to put a price on climate change
Fossil fuel intensive industries will soon have to pay for their carbon emissions, according to the new Europe-wide carbon emissions trading scheme (ETS2).
Net Zero Industry Act and the future of green industrial strategy
EU countries generally agree that green technologies are crucial to meet climate targets and stay competitive in the renewable energy market. They agree less on how to boost their competitiveness vis-à-vis the United States and China.
Nature restoration law: Is it really the end for flagship Green Deal policy?
On the latest episode of Euractiv’s Today in the EU we’re focusing on the the ill-starred nature restoration law.
COP28 in Dubai: Climate action and fossil fuel phase-out urgent
This week, the Beyond the Byline podcast takes stock of what's been happening at the UN's Climate Summit COP28, currently taking place in Dubai. What can we expect from the negotiations? What's the world's reaction been to the summit, and what …
Von der Leyen’s SOTEU: Key takeaways and reactions
This week, EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast brings you a breakdown of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) speech on Wednesday (13 September). In her final SOTEU address under the current mandate, von …
What can we learn from this summer of wildfires?
EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast is back and this week, we're looking at the wildfires that have devastated regions across southern Europe. The continent was once again battling scorching temperatures this summer, with wildfires blazing across Europe from Portugal to Greece. …
Politicising the nature restoration law
This week on EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast looks into the hotly contested nature restoration law, recently passed by a narrow margin within the EU. Aligned with President Ursula von der Leyen's ambitious European Green Deal, this legislation aims to protect …
Can a global treaty stop plastic pollution?
This week on the 100th episode of the Beyond the Byline podcast, we dive into the negotiations on a potentially groundbreaking global treaty to end plastic pollution. Eirik Lindebjerg, Global Plastics Policy Lead at World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Willemijn Peeters, …
EU’s sustainable packaging law under scrutiny
In this special episode of the Beyond the Byline podcast, we take a look at the EU’s packaging regulation – the issues it seeks to address, and whether it has any chances of succeeding where its predecessors failed.
Climate Social fund: crucial for the Fit for 55 jigsaw puzzle
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are discussing the EU's social climate fund.
COP27: Time to implement, time to pay for climate change
This week on the Beyond the Byline podcast, we are discussing the COP27 summit, which brings together world leaders to discuss climate change. In particular, together with MEP Pieter Liese (EPP) and Hanne Knaepen (head of ECDPM's climate action and …
Agrifood Podcast: CAP network launch, most pessimistic town in Finland, REACH
This week, EURACTIV’s agrifood team talks about the Commission’s reluctance to commit to a timeline for the EU chemicals regulation, REACH, and how changes in the temporary state aid framework will impact farmers. We also explore the launch of the new …
Is a price cap on gas the answer to skyrocketing energy prices?
This week the Beyond the Byline podcast is all about energy, the hot topic of today! Winter is looming and EU leaders and ministers are pushing for solutions to protect consumers and lift Europe out of the crisis. Last Friday (30 …
Agrifood Podcast: Gas supply, pesticide cuts ruckus, biostimulants
This week, EURACTIV’s original agrifood duo reunite to bring you the latest on gas supply prioritisation and how member states’ decisions may impact the agrifood sector. We also give you the rundown on the backlash from EU countries over the …
Reactions to VDL’s State of the Union speech
In a special episode of EURACTIV’s Beyond the Byline podcast, we bring you a breakdown of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's annual State of the Union speech. The president addressed the key issues on the EU agenda and …
Agrifood Podcast: Energy crisis, solar panels, Cachaça
This week, EURACTIV's agrifood team takes a look at the ways in which the agrifood sector is starting to feel the brunt of the energy crisis, we speak with Andreas Schweiger, professor for plant ecology at the University of Hohenheim, …
Norwegian scientist: Speeding up the implementation of renewables is key to EU’s energy efficiency
This week we discussed negotiations between the bloc's 27 environment ministers. In particular, their joint positions on five laws which are part of a broader package of measures to slash planet-warming emissions by the end of the decade. We also …
Hungarian license plates on the black market / ‘Putinism’ on the rise in the Balkans
This week we are talking about a new entry into the black market: Hungarian license plates. EURACTIV's Network Editor Vlad Makszimov is here to help us understand why they are in high demand, the current gas prices in Hungary, and …
EU’s compromise with Orbán over the Russian oil ban/why monkeypox isn’t the end of the world
This week on our Beyond the Byline podcast, we're focusing on the extraordinary meeting of EU leaders in Brussels to discuss energy, Ukraine and food security. We'll ask: What sanctions were discussed as part of the meeting? What's happening with …
Agrifood Podcast: EU-Turkey agri-trade, Crop rotation debate, Deforestation Law
This week, EURACTIV’s agrifood team brings you the latest on the first high-level meeting to strengthen the EU-Turkey agri-trade and we discuss our thoughts about what to expect from these talks. We also talk about the debate in Germany over …