The 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) concluded last Saturday in Katowice, Poland where all parties agreed on the rulebook to implement the Paris Agreement which will help governments measure and report their emissions cutting efforts. With this decision, the climate change battle is still ongoing […]COP24: Paris agreement remained alive but fragile while the EU attempts to slow down CO2 emissions for new cars
December 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24) concluded last Saturday in Katowice, Poland where all parties agreed on the rulebook to implement the Paris Agreement which will help governments measure and report their emissions cutting efforts. With this decision, the climate change battle is still ongoing […]Trump denies climate change existence while Paris Agreement is not fully supported by G20 ahead of COP24
November 28, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The 24th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24) is going to kick off next week in Katowice, Poland but the US stance together with the latest draft communique from G20 is not promising and may weaken the fate of the Paris Agreement. Donald Trump seems to be questioning his own scientists who published a report […]Theresa May expresses her optimism about Britain’s economic success while UK business outlook seems ominous
November 21, 2018 by 1 Comment
UK Prime Minister Theresa May attended the annual Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference on Monday where she expressed her confidence about the country’s economic outlook in an attempt to seek business support ahead of the harsh period till the conclusion of the Brexit deal. However, a quarterly report published from data firm IHS Markit […]Italy’s revised budget remains roughly unchanged waiting for Europe’s fury
November 14, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The Italian government concluded its revised budget a few hours ago and as expected the Italian budget plan remained the same with small amendments, such as plans to sell off some government real estate, but still is not respecting the EU fiscal rules. The latter is most likely not going to be left unanswered by the […]EU invests in green projects and bans single-use plastics while climate change requires more to be done
October 31, 2018 by Leave a Comment
It was last Thursday when the European Commission approved a 243 million euros package for LIFE programme projects which will improve the environment and reduce carbon emissions. This action enhances the EU climate position ahead of the COP24 in December and may have substantial influence to the rest of the parties. Apart from that, the […]IPCC reports devastating climate consequences; US in denial while EU does not fully support the 2050 net zero emissions target
October 17, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a report last week mentioning that limiting global warming temperature to 1.5°C is the only choice to ensure a more sustainable and equitable society compared to the 2.0°C. This assessment came out less than two months ahead of COP24 Katowice summit where all parties have to finalize […]Italy’s populist government appears determined to drive EU economy and markets into recession
October 10, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The Italian budget plan has recently created turbulences and serious concerns in the EU economy as the third largest economy of the bloc cuts growth forecasts and increases spending. The European Commission together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have urged the Italian government to restate its budget and comply with the EU fiscal rules […]EU confronts environmental threats as global leaders attempt to revive the global sentiment at NYC climate week
September 26, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The climate week has kicked off with UN officials, businesspeople and global leaders to participate in a series of events from September 24-30 in New York. Patricia Espinosa together with UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim discussed yesterday about the financing of climate change measures and how infrastructure investments can be raised. The European Commission suggested […]Migration crisis update: mutual actions and solidarity needed as anti-migrant policies thrive
September 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment
An EU summit is taking place today in Salzburg, Austria where the EU leaders will discuss about the immigration crisis in the region and Brexit deal negotiations. The Parliament’s request to the member states regarding Hungary’s breach of the EU founding values is creating turbulences to the unity and solidarity of the Old Continent. The […]Climate change update: consistent global actions urgently needed as we are running out of time
September 12, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Record high temperatures and extreme weather events across the world urge leaders to focus more on climate actions that will stop temperatures increase by more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels through greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The progress at the Bangkok conference last week was not consequential leaving gaps at the completion of the […]Greece bailout ends but with no substantial effect on citizens’ life
August 22, 2018 by 1 Comment
It was yesterday when the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras stated from the Greek island of Ithaca that the austerity measures are over cheering for the Greek bailout programme exit. Mario Centeno, the chairman of the ESM’s board of governors, had said last Monday that Greece is once more a nation which doesn’t need any additional […]Commission hardens its stance against carmakers ensuring emissions reductions targets
August 8, 2018 by 1 Comment
The car industry will be under tighter surveillance by the European Commission after 2020 when the next phase of the EU’s emission regulation will take place. All car manufacturers who do not meet the 2021 fleet CO2 emissions compliance for new passenger vehicles sold in the Old Continent will face fines of more than €14 […]Theresa May attempts to ease the EU stance as Britons request another EU referendum
August 1, 2018 by Leave a Comment
With less than eight months away from the exit of the UK from the EU, continuous negotiations are being held between the two parties in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit. UK Prime Minister Theresa May will visit French President Emmanuel Macron at his Fort de Brégançon on Friday in an attempt to persuade him […]EU and China seize momentum to enhance trade agreements in response to Trump’s administration
July 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The EU-China summit will take place on July 16-17 in Beijing where both parties are going to discuss how to improve their trade and investment relations the moment when Donald Trump’s administration is imposing tariffs all around the world shaking the world and trade order. Chinese and EU leaders have already met in Bulgaria and […]Trump’s MAGA policy remains unchanged as EU warns to impose additional retaliation tariffs on US products
July 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment
EU threatened the US last Friday with tariff measures on 294 billion dollars of US exports in case Donald Trump’s administration imposes import tariffs on cars and car parts. The US president seems to be doing whatever possible to cause trade wars all over the world. The Old Continent will continue attempting to persuade Mr […]EU migration crisis again accentuates lack of unity and solidarity among member states
June 27, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Almost nothing was achieved between the EU member states at the mini migration summit which was convened in Brussels last Sunday. Despite the German efforts, there was no common ground among EU leaders. The latter was mainly due to the fact that Italy’s new anti-migrant government is against the “first country responsibility” rule which obliges […]Trump-China trade war lingers upsetting global economy and stock markets
June 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The trade war between US and China has escalated in the last few days when Trump decided to announce tariffs on Chinese goods worthy of 50 billion dollars. The latter was not left unanswered by Beijing that fought back with similar announcements. However, the trade threats continued with the US warning to impose additional tariffs […]G7 summit: Trump Vs. G6 leaders on trade and climate change
June 13, 2018 by 1 Comment
US President Donald Trump continued yesterday his fierceful critic to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the aftermath of last weekend’s G7 summit which took place in La Malbaie, Quebec, Canada with the seven largest advanced economies in the world to discuss about gender equality, women’s empowerment, clean energy, and economic growth that works for […]Businesses, governments and consumers to implement a more climate-friendly approach to #BeatPlasticPollution on World Environment Day 2018
June 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Everyone addressed plastic pollution yesterday celebrating the UN World Environment Day which this year is hosted in New Delhi, India. The global campaign of the U.N. to create awareness and urge companies, NGO’s, communities and governments to tackle this heavy burden was highlighted on June 5 with the launch of a report from UN Environment. […]Investment and Financing under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): EU and Chinese stakeholders share their views at European Business Summit 2018
May 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The Investment and Financing under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) panel concluded the much promising and enlightening views of the EU and Chinese stakeholders on the visions and actions required for the cooperation between Europe and China under the BRI. The panel discussion commenced with Shada Islam of Friends of Europe asking the German […]Sustainable Infrastructure and Connectivity in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): a stimulating China-EU dialogue at European Business Summit 2018
May 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment
On the first day of the European Business Summit in Brussels and after the enlightening speech by HE Mr Zhang Ming, Ambassador of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, a panel of distinguished EU and Chinese stakeholders discussed about the Sustainable Infrastructure and Connectivity of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The panel discussion […]Two days left until General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), lots of newsletter opt-outs but does the EU citizen really know?
May 23, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Just two days left now before the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is fully implemented changing the way companies manage the data of EU citizens globally. A regulation which is much stricter that the current ones is meant to give greater protection rights to individuals from the Old Continent showing that the EU is a […]Climate negotiations on the road to a strong Paris agreement rulebook
May 9, 2018 by 3 Comments
The UN climate change negotiations are concluding tomorrow in Bonn after ten days in the German city aiming at developing the final text for the Paris agreement rulebook. However, this is not going to happen before COP24 scheduled in December 2018, according to the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Patricia […]Business uncertainty rises as US grants only temporary exception to EU for steel and aluminium tariffs
May 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Trump’s America first decided last Monday to prolong negotiations on steel and aluminium tariffs with Canada, the EU and Mexico till June 1. This announcement was made just a few hours before the temporary exception expires preventing retaliation and massive impact on the relationship between the U.S., EU, Canada and Mexico. However, the EU officials expressed […]EU-China trade: closer ties as US-China trade battle brews
April 18, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The U.S. Commerce Department announced last Monday that it prohibited American companies from selling components to ZTE, one of the biggest tech companies in China, for seven years. The Chinese side responded to this action by introducing a huge import charge on US shipments of sorghum mentioning that it will defend multilateralism and free trade […]Fake news and Freedom of Press: can the EU ever find the fine line?
April 4, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The European Commission attempts to tackle disinformation which is spread online by building up strategic measures in the EU. Last January, the EC assigned to a High Level Expert Group (HLEG) to define the problem and propose concrete recommendations on how it can be dealt. The report which was completed last month sets this issue […]EU and U.S. castigate Facebook on Cambridge Analytica scandal as citizens’ data privacy goes down the drain again
March 28, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Last Monday, the European Commission sent a letter to Facebook asking whether EU citizens were involved in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The EU is taking the turn from U.S. which has already opened an investigation to find out how Facebook permitted data breach of 50 million users. Facebook has been experiencing fierceful attacks both by […]Brexit negotiations: Can May’s Britain bounce back?
March 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment
It was last Monday when the EU and UK announced a transition agreement till the end of 2020 providing thus the opportunity for a smoother Brexit. However, there are still unsolved issues that need intensive discussions such as the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The business world saw this accord positively as they will […]Commission’s action plan: financial world mandatory links to environmental targets
March 14, 2018 by Leave a Comment
It was last Thursday when the European Commission revealed its action plan on sustainable finance to deal with climate change. This action plan aims at mobilizing the financial world in order to achieve sustainable growth; something that the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative has been doing for 26 years already. The huge financial gap towards […]Italian elections: a long political limbo is ahead
March 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The outcome of the Italian general elections of last Sunday was disappointing leaving the country and the European Union in shock. The win of the two anti-establishment parties together with the fact that no single party managed to get the mandate of an overall majority leaves the country in a political uncertainty where a coalition […]EU budget: Will Germany alone manage Britain’s gap?
February 21, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The EU budget will be the main topic of the EU summit which will be held in Brussels on Friday. The leaders of the 27 member states have to deal with the annual gap that UK will leave after Brexit occurs ensuring that the priorities set for the Union will be adequately funded. According to […]Permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) on the table of NATO Defense Ministers amid US concerns
February 14, 2018 by Leave a Comment
NATO Defense Ministers are gathered today in Brussels to discuss the modernization of the NATO Command Structure, NATO-EU cooperation, NATO’s defense posture and its role in providing stability and fighting terrorism. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held a press conference yesterday as a forerunner of the meeting mentioning the issues to be adressed. However, NATO-EU […]Will Western Balkans respond positively to EU initiatives?
February 7, 2018 by Leave a Comment
The European Commission announced yesterday its strategy regarding the perspective of EU enlargement with the Western Balkans within the next decade. Six initiatives will be the guidelines of the EU which must be fulfilled in order to be able for these countries to complete the necessary steps for their accession process. The EU seems to […]
