Energy and Climate

Slovakia will block EU sanctions on Russia that hurt Bratislava’s interests, Fico says
“I am interested in being a constructive player in the European Union, but not at the expense of the Slovak Republic,” Prime Minister Fico said.

EU’s zero-for-zero tariff bid stalls amid US pushback

German auto lobby proposal sparks renewed debate on EU combustion engine ban

EU conjures up surprise law to govern use of ocean resources

ECB cuts again as it heads into an uncertain future

EU looks to impose sanctions on Putin simultaneously with US, says von der Leyen

Brussels asks EU countries to use less water
Greenpeace returns stolen Macron wax statue — after one more protest
Activists left it at the Paris headquarters of energy giant EDF to protest France’s imports of Russian energy.
Ukrainian delegation to brief US senators amid Russia sanctions push
Zelenskyy allies visit Congress to bolster Russia sanctions bill.
EU’s top Russian LNG buyers wary of Brussels’ gas ban
France and Belgium are seeking more reassurances on Brussels’ proposal to gradually end Russian gas purchases by 2027.
Macron wax statue stolen from museum then used at protest outside Russian Embassy
Greenpeace said it “borrowed” the statue for its demonstration.
EU must heed scientific advice, Ribera says as 2040 row deepens
The EU’s scientific advisers warned Monday that expected plans to outsource some emissions cuts would undermine the bloc’s climate credibility.
EU science advisers slam Brussels’ weakened 2040 climate plans
Using international carbon credits in place of domestic action undermines climate efforts, scientific advisory board says.
EU climate chief lobbied Germany to back weakened 2040 goal
Wopke Hoekstra successfully pushed the incoming coalition to back foreign carbon credits, helping shift the EU-level 2040 talks.
Trump court turmoil strengthens EU hand in tariff talks
Two separate legal cases tackling Trump’s tariffs may push the U.S. administration to strike a quicker deal, analysts say.
EU 2040 climate target with carbon credits expected in July, diplomats say
Germany, France and Poland are in favor.
Britain is wide open to Russian undersea sabotage
Critical gas pipelines, power lines and data cables are the “soft belly of British security,” ministers have been warned.
US court strikes down Trump’s tariffs on countries around the world
The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled unanimously that the president overstepped his powers in imposing the tariffs on dozens of trading partners, most of which he’s since paused.
EU officially retires its ‘no cherry-picking’ Brexit line
A top EU diplomat described the pithy analogy as “no longer helpful.”
Merz’s coalition agrees on policy program aimed at boosting Germany’s economy
The first formal meeting of coalition partners ends in success as the parties agree on a wide range of measures for the government.
Germany’s Merz vows to keep Nord Stream 2 pipeline switched off
Some German politicians have pushed for the restoration of the flow of gas from Russia to Germany via the Nord Stream pipelines.
Brussels ‘urgently’ asks EU companies about US exposure as trade war deadline nears
Testing the strength of its hand, Brussels wants the latest data on the scale of EU investments in America ahead of crunch talks with the Trump administration.
EU roughly on track to hit 2030 emissions goal, Brussels says
The updated analysis reflects progress, but relies on countries following through on promises amid a green backlash.
Death by dung: How Brussels failed to save Europe’s waters from a farm waste deluge
Nitrate pollution is destroying Europe’s aquatic ecosystems. Three decades after the EU started regulating it, there has been almost no improvement.
Brussels to propose ‘pragmatic’ 90 percent climate target for 2040
In an interview with POLITICO, EU climate chief Teresa Ribera warns against watering down the goal too much.
The EU’s water crisis by the numbers
Brussels says it wants to save Europe’s waters. Here’s what it’s up against.
Europe is flushing its water down the drain
As climate change brings heatwaves, droughts and sudden bursts of torrential rain, much of Europe’s leaky water infrastructure is dangerously underprepared for the coming storm.
EU is set to approve shifting Poland’s post-Covid funds to defense
Warsaw wants to use around €6 billion in EU money to build shelters and roads for tanks.
German court sends VW execs to prison over Dieselgate scandal
Consequences continue to be meted out over the massive corporate wrongdoing.
Germany’s power subsidy plans are probably illegal. That’s unlikely to matter.
The EU is increasingly bending its own rules, giving Germany space to negotiate despite fears that Berlin is disadvantaging others.
Trump delays EU tariff hike until July 9
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday he’s granting an extension to the EU on the timeline to strike a deal to avoid his sweeping 50 percent tariffs …