Ajvar is a side dish consisting mainly of red peppers, chili and garlic, sometimes eggplant or tomatoes, and is popular in all Balkan countries. The recipe varies by region, as does its level of spiciness. And intensity, be it culinary or political, has been shown more than once by the Balkan region. This time, it […]
The “whim of the gods” – or “caprice des dieux” as it is originally called – is a cheese that is known for its oval shape in a universe of traditionally round (like the Camembert) or angular products. It is also the name given to the building of the European Parliament, in an allusion to […]
Will the energy crisis be served as an appetizer, main course or dessert? After all, today’s informal summit precedes the equally informal meeting of EU energy ministers, which will be held next week in Prague. And all these informal summits are a prelude to the next European Council on October 20 and 21, when energy […]
The transition to battery-powered electromobility is the most important political measure for the climate problem of transport – especially because it can be implemented much faster than a broader mobility transition, which is also necessary. However, contrary to the global trend, Germany’s demand for electric cars is not growing as quickly as expected.This creates problems […]
So now they are here, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). The EU Commission has adopted them and, based on the current situation, it is not expected that the EU Parliament and Council will exercise their right to reject them. Therefore, the way is clear for the already adopted underlying framework, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting […]
When Russia launched its war on Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, many expected European unity to be one of the early casualties. It seemed almost inevitable that though Europe might be united in condemning the war, in practical policy it would be split between risk-aware West and high-principled East.This has not happened. One year on, Europe […]
Handing over your own data to your competitor? What sounds like a socialist utopia or a digital dystopia will soon become a regulatory reality in the EU. All data generated through the use of networked products, such as cars, smart consumer electronics or household appliances, will soon have to be made accessible.The Commission wants to […]
The EU is optimistic about the implementation, as the new agreement between Serbia and Kosovo will provide the official framework for further EU accession negotiations between the two countries. The Balkans are a bit more skeptical, as nothing has been signed and EU accession efforts in the region have been stagnant for years, which is […]
On July 17, Table.Briefings reported on a position paper calling for the EU combustion compromise for 2035 to be overturned. Unfortunately, the findings of the authors, led by combustion engine expert Thomas Koch, do not stand up to critical scrutiny. Koch and his colleagues argue that the emissions of battery electric vehicles are actually much […]
In the first half of the 1990s, my main task as Secretary General of the European People’s Party was to make the EPP the strongest political force in European elections for the first time. By integrating new partner parties on the basis of the Athens Program, this goal was achieved in the 1999 European elections […]