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Lukas Knigge

Lukas Knigge Published: May 22nd, 2023

G7 Summit: Further military aid for Ukraine, constructive dialogue with China

The group of seven leading democratic industrialized nations is demonstrating resolve in its dealings with Russia and China. Under the leadership of the USA, Ukraine is receiving further military aid worth around €346 million in the fight against the Russian invading army – including the delivery of modern Western fighter jets.The G7 countries also tightened […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 17th, 2023

No climate focus at G7 summit: Scholz once again challenged

Japan could try to push the climate policy aspects of the negotiations to the back burner at the upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima. This might not be too difficult, given the pressing issues on the agenda: Ukraine, the economic crisis, relations with China and nuclear disarmament. Japan also continues to invest in fossil fuel infrastructure […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 17th, 2023

Emmanuel Macron caused some excitement last week by calling for a “regulatory pause” from the EU. After all, shortly before, the EPP had called for a moratorium on new environmental legislation for “one to two years,” according to Manfred Weber. Unlike Weber, however, Macron was probably not referring to current or pending legislative projects – […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 16th, 2023

Commission removes environmental legislation from agenda

The latest draft of the Commission’s plans for new legislative proposals – the so-called “list des points prévus” – lacks outstanding environmental legislation. A package of measures to reduce the release of microplastics into the environment was originally scheduled to be presented tomorrow, Wednesday. However, the package is missing from the current agenda for the […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 16th, 2023

Nature Restoration Law: new approach to prohibition of deterioration

The Council’s Environment Working Group will deal with the Commission’s proposal for a Nature Restoration Law (NRL) for the second time today, Tuesday. A draft of the Swedish Council Presidency for the general orientation from the beginning of May provides for more flexibility in the obligation proposed by the EU Commission that the condition of […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 16th, 2023

Mariya Gabriel resigns, Vestager and Schinas take over

Mariya Gabriel has tendered her resignation as EU research commissioner. The Bulgarian was officially tasked Monday with forming a governing coalition in her home country. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accepted the resignation and thanked Gabriel for her work.The center-right politician was initially Commissioner for Digital Affairs from 2017 and took over the Research, […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 11th, 2023

Climate-neutral European Football Championship: dispute over CO2 compensation

The German Soccer Association (DFB) is no stranger to sustainability. It already set a certain standard at the 2006 World Cup with its Green Goal environmental concept. Now, next year’s European Championship is even set to become a climate-neutral football event. There is now a dispute about how this goal will be achieved.Specifically, the debate […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 9th, 2023

EU nature conservation package: potential for conflict in the Council

Opposition is growing in the EU Parliament to the two legislative proposals on pesticide reduction (Sustainable Use Regulation, SUR) and the renaturation of damaged ecosystems. More and more voices are rejecting the proposals outright and calling on the Commission to withdraw them. Skepticism is also high among member states. Some countries argue that bans on […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 5th, 2023

EPP calls for moratorium on all new agricultural laws

Today, Friday, the EPP is expected to adopt a party resolution calling for the complete withdrawal of the EU Pesticides Regulation and the Renaturation Act. In too many regions, the implementation of existing nature protection legislation has led to a “bureaucratic nightmare and planning gridlock”, jeopardizing food security, renewable energy production and vital infrastructure, the […]

Lukas Knigge Published: May 4th, 2023

Principle of lead candidates: Söder disagrees with Dobrindt

Following criticism of the principle of lead candidates for the 2024 European elections by Alexander Dobrindt, head of the CSU’s parliamentary group in the Bundestag, his party leader Markus Söder has publicly reprimanded him. The top candidate principle is in the EPP statutes, “so that’s what will happen,” Söder said at the EPP’s political meeting […]