It is the contradiction of German European policy: Germany’s word carries great weight in the circle of EU states. But the German government often fails to find its voice – the coordination processes between ministries are too complicated and time-consuming. The “German Vote” causes annoyance and ridicule in other member states.The parties have come to […]
Since the beginning of the year, EU importers had to disclose from which suppliers they receive minerals and metals from crisis regions used for smartphones or microchips. Independent audits are to check whether the due diligence requirements have been met. But the regulations still have a number of gaps, as Charlotte Wirth has researched. Shortcomings […]
The EU wants to persuade China to open its public contracts to European bidders. Reciprocity and a level playing field must be brought about, several MEPs stressed in the Trade Committee during the presentation of the report on the “International Procurement Instrument” (IPI). While companies from third countries would have doors wide open within the […]
There are just over three weeks until the federal elections. Even if the German debate hardly reflects that: this election will also shape Europe. Because Angela Merkel, the longest-serving and most influential head of government in the EU, is leaving. And, because Germany will be a different country afterward. Hopefully, more open to the necessary […]
In Berlin (and thus just minutes later: on Twitter) circulates a breakdown of what a possible traffic light cabinet might look like after the Bundestag elections. Executive Summary: There is now gleeful speculation about the origin of this table. The alleged originator is the Seeheimer Kreis in the SPD. But it denies this (of course) […]
As of today, Wednesday, changed EU energy efficiency labels will apply to light bulbs. As is already the case with other electronic products, such as refrigerators, the scale is being adjusted to become more meaningful again. Lighting products have become much more efficient in recent years so that more than half of LEDs now fall […]
CDU chancellor candidate Armin Laschet has presented a 15-point plan for the expansion of renewable energies one day after the Triell. “To achieve the Paris climate targets and become a climate-neutral industrialized country by 2045, Germany needs 100 percent renewable energy as soon as possible,” reads the paper, which Laschet presented with fellow party members […]
The fact that Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft are offensively representing their interests in Brussels is not news in itself. For the big digital companies, the stakes are high, as the European Parliament and the Council are currently negotiating the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act – two pieces of legislation that […]
The chip shortage is slowing down important sectors of the economy, with no improvement in sight – the crisis is likely to drag on into next year, reports Falk Steiner. But there are increasing signs of progress elsewhere: in talks between politicians and chip manufacturers about investments in Germany and Europe. We will stay tuned […]
Softbank recently tapped a, say, well-informed source for its “Vision Fund”: Former Mossad Director Yossi Cohen is to help the world’s largest venture capital fund identify the most hopeful among Israeli tech companies. That makes sense: After all, many of the up-and-coming startups there are founded by ex-military personnel.Cohen, until June the head of Israel’s […]