Russia’s brutal shelling of Ukrainian cities continues. Thousands die; millions suffer. But as for further action, the West remains paralyzed on the most important issue: sanctions on Russian energy exports. Until there is an immediate and complete boycott of Russian gas and oil by Western countries, the best course is to announce phased sanctions that […]
On June 8 and 9, the interior ministers of the EU member states will meet in the Council of the European Union in Luxembourg to agree on a negotiating position regarding the reform of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). The traffic light coalition of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP wants to go […]
The US election is being followed with great interest around the world – particularly from a geopolitical perspective. For some time now, the world has been increasingly characterized by power-based relationships in which zones of influence are fought over and international rules and negotiated solutions are less likely to apply. How the USA positions itself […]
Today marks the start of a marathon week that is akin to the Super Bowl for those inside the Brussels Bubble. The European Union’s Commissioner-designates for cabinet positions will take turns being “grilled”, four nominees per day, in a marathon seven days of testimony to the European Parliament. For some of us, one position, which many […]
The EU and its member states are setting ambitious targets for the path to climate neutrality with the European Green Deal and various national projects. The development of a circular economy plays an important role in this. The circular economy can protect the environment and at the same time secure Europe’s competitiveness: For the German […]
Inflation has come back faster, spiked more markedly, and proved to be more stubborn and persistent than major central banks initially thought possible. After initially dominating headlines in the United States, the problem has become a centerpiece of policy discussions in many other advanced economies. In 15 of the 34 countries classified as AEs by […]
Spain is one of Europe’s renewable energy champions and certainly no friend of nuclear energy. The fight against global warming is also central to the current government. The Spanish Minister of Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Teresa Ribera, is considered one of the “best experts in international climate negotiations” in the EU. Her negotiating style: […]
It is the most controversial proposal of the European Commission’s “Fit for 55” climate package: the introduction of a separate EU emissions trading system for carbon emissions from buildings and road vehicles (ETS 2). No wonder: To be able to also achieve the stricter EU climate targets in these sectors, ETS 2 would make fossil […]
The American century has come to an end and with it, the formative power of the West in politics, security, economics and the fundamental rights of the UN Charter. If credible consequences cannot be drawn from the disaster in Kabul, but also from Baghdad, Damascus and Beirut, Osama Bin Laden would have triumphed more comprehensively […]
One of the most important developments accompanying the “Fit for 55” climate package is the revision of the European Emissions Trading System (ETS). The ETS mechanism has proven to be an effective tool for reducing emissions in the sectors it covers. For this reason, the EU Commission’s proposal now includes an analogous mechanism for trading […]