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Markus Grabitz

Markus Grabitz Published: February 14th, 2024

Katarina Barley – A soft-spoken woman at the top

Katarina Barley knows the Berlin political scene well, and yet its peculiarities sometimes catch the former Federal Minister of Justice on the wrong foot. On Tuesday, for example, she made headlines with an alleged call for the EU to have its own nuclear weapons – and was met with criticism and ridicule. The SPD politician […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 12th, 2024

The building of the European Parliament, named after Belgian EU visionary and NATO Secretary General Paul-Henri Spaak, which houses the plenary chamber in Brussels, has aged poorly. Despite being occupied only in 1993, it has been in need of demolition for over ten years. The security measures in the building, originally planned as a congress […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 12th, 2024

European Parliament: Christine Schneider (CDU) to become Parliamentary Secretary

The Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Christiane Schneider from Rhineland-Palatinate is set to assume the role of Parliamentary Manager for the CDU/CSU group in the European Parliament. The 51-year-old is scheduled to be elected on Feb. 20, based on a proposal by Daniel Caspary, the group’s chairman. Schneider will take over from Markus Pieper, […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 9th, 2024

CO2 fleet legislation for trucks: e-fuels included in consideration

A legally non-binding consideration in the CO2 fleet legislation for commercial vehicles is intended to prompt the European Commission to explore possibilities for considering e-fuels. Under this condition, Germany approved the political agreement (trilogue outcome) in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER I). As with CO2 fleet regulation for cars, the corresponding passage is not […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 7th, 2024

CO2 limits for trucks could fail in Council due to Germany

The failure of CO2 fleet limits for trucks in the Council is no longer ruled out. Since the FDP ministers in the federal government reject the trilogue outcome, Germany will have to abstain from the vote in the Council as it stands now. The Belgian Council presidency had postponed the originally planned vote for Wednesday […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 7th, 2024

ECR Group in the European Parliament opens to French far-right party

The ECR Group in the European Parliament has welcomed Nicolas Bay, MEP from Reconquête. With this move, the party family, under the leadership of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, is opening up to a far-right group. Reconquête – an allusion to the reconquest of Spain by the Christians – was founded in 2021 by Éric […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 7th, 2024

Today, agriculture will be debated for two hours in the Strasbourg plenary. It’s noteworthy that Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski is not present. Initially, the politician, who was formerly with the Christian Democrats and later joined the national-conservative PiS, was scheduled to speak at the focal debate.Instead of Wojciechowski, Maroš Šefčovič will now represent the Commission. […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 6th, 2024

Barbara Gessler to head Commission representation in Berlin

Barbara Gessler heads the Commission’s representation in Berlin. There is also new leadership in Budapest and Sofia. This decision was made by the Commission.Barbara Gessler will soon be leading the EU Commission’s representation in Berlin. The regional office in Bonn will be headed by Stefan Lock, while Wolfgang Bücherl will take charge in Munich. These […]

Markus Grabitz Published: February 6th, 2024

Scientists doubt compensation for millions of older diesel cars

Leading professors in vehicle and engine engineering vehemently oppose the rulings of several German courts on “thermal windows” in older diesel cars in a joint statement. They dispute that owners of around nine million older diesel cars meeting Euro 5 emissions standards have a claim for compensation from manufacturers. In the statement from the Scientific […]