EURACTIV News
The Brief – Fortress Europe
Fortress Europe (German: Festung Europa) was a military propaganda term used by both sides during World War II, which referred to the areas of continental Europe occupied by Nazi Germany, as opposed to the United Kingdom across the Channel.
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EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding state of play
The EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding is in its early stage of implementation, for instance, when it comes to the €105 million for migration announced in July 2023, a European Commission spokesperson told Euractiv.
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Armenia stuck between ‘strategic ally’ and ‘another Ukraine’
Armenia’s recent attempts to diversify its security partnerships have left it with increased narratives of the country's “Ukrainisation”.
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EU electricity prices: Will 2024 mark the end of national tariff shields?
Electricity prices on the EU wholesale market have been on a downward trend in recent months, a development some governments see as an opportunity to remove subsidies introduced in response to the energy crisis, while others see as a bad signal for the energy transition.
Categories: EurActiv
Ethanol stakeholder: EU needs more pragmatic approach to biofuels
The EU will be able to reach its energy goals and reduce CO2 emissions as long as policy makers take a “more pragmatic” and science-based approach when it comes to biofuels, Valérie Corre, President of the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE), told Euractiv in an interview.
“I believe that we need to have much more pragmatism in our decision making process, looking at facts and science and not let dogmatism in the way. Because when you take a dogmatic approach, you are missing the pointn […] you are killing opportunities that are really at our disposal to act today as we speak”, she said.
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French ‘farmfluencer’ slams attempts to politicise farmers’ protests
French 'farmerfluencer' Étienne Fourmont, who is using his YouTube and social media to make farmers' voices heard at a time when they are protesting heavily in France and the rest of Europe, told Euractiv about the urgent need to change the way farming is viewed.
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NGOs take legal action against Commission over reauthorisation of glyphosate
Six European NGOs and five in France announced on Thursday they had filed two requests to the European Commission for an “internal review”, the first step of a legal challenge, over the recent reapproval of the contentious but widely used weedkiller glyphosate.
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EU bolsters Tunisian navy’s border control, migrant interception capabilities
The EU is already implementing projects together with Italian, French and German state apparatus development partners to strengthen the Tunisian navy and coast guard's capacities to intercept migrants at sea, several documents and a European Commission spokesperson confirmed to Euractiv.
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EU liberals’ new chief Hayer rallies farmers, opposes reopening Green Deal files next term
Freshly-elected Renew Europe president Valérie Hayer is looking to address farmers’ concerns ahead of the EU election campaign while ensuring a “balanced view” on agricultural policy and refusing to reopen Green Deal files as right-wing political forces urge, she told Euractiv in an exclusive interview.
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BP pushes to extend definition of ‘advanced’ biofuels as green aviation targets loom
Oil giant BP Europe is pushing for a revision of the EU’s rules for biofuels, fossil fuel alternatives made from crops, animal fats, and waste, to allow more crops into the EU’s definition of ‘advanced’ biofuels that can be used for aviation.
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Most Ukrainians want to join EU despite ongoing Russian disinformation
Russia's attempts to push narratives that Ukraine's EU membership prospects are doubtful or will simply make the country the EU's "agricultural appendage" have largely fallen on deaf ears as Ukrainians remain firmly in favour of EU accession.
Categories: EurActiv
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico reassures EU allies over Ukraine stance
Following his hostile rhetoric towards Ukraine this week, Prime Minister Robert Fico showed his tamer side abroad as he reassured German Chancellor Olaf Scholz of his support for the country ahead of a meeting on Wednesday (24 January).
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Azerbaijan displeased with EU-mediated peace talks
Emboldened by its military victory over separatists in 2023, Azerbaijan has expressed distaste for the EU’s involvement in peace talks with neighbouring Armenia and is instead proposing its own path to normalisation.
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Biden urges US Congress to approve F-16 sale to Turkey ‘without delay’
US President Joe Biden sent a letter to leaders of key Capitol Hill committees on Wednesday (24 January) informing them of his intention to begin the formal notification process for the sale of Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft to Turkey once Ankara completes Sweden’s NATO accession process.
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Tusk, Mitsotakis possible ‘EPP drivers’ of von der Leyen’s EU campaign
In today's edition of the Capitals, find out about centre-right Kokoomus' Alexander Stubb and the Greens' Pekka Haavisto face off in Finland's presidential election on Sunday, Polish farmers rally against the EU Green Deal, and so much more.
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Israel denies attack on UN refuge in Gaza that drew rebuke from Washington
The United Nations said on Wednesday (24 January) that Israeli tanks struck a huge UN compound in Gaza sheltering displaced Palestinians, causing "mass casualties", but Israel denied its forces were responsible and suggested Hamas may have launched the shelling.
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Germany heading for record employment in renewables industry
Germany is heading towards the highest number of people employed in renewables-linked jobs since 2010, a trend bolstered by demand for heat pumps and installations of solar panels.
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Tusk, Mitsotakis possible ‘EPP drivers’ of von der Leyen’s EU campaign
The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) – Europe’s largest political party – is gearing up to support Ursula von der Leyen’s bid for a second mandate as European Commission President.
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Czechia and Sweden want new Commission to focus on the single market
The new European Commission – to be formed after the upcoming EU elections – should finally start focusing on competitiveness and the single market, representatives of the Czech and Swedish administrations and local business agreed at a debate organised by the Europe Unlocked initiative in Prague on Wednesday.
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EU reveals new economic security plan to resist ‘fierce’ Chinese tech competition
The European Commission officially unveiled plans to strengthen the EU’s economic security on Wednesday (24 January), marking the latest attempt by Brussels to counter Chinese influence over strategically sensitive areas of the bloc’s economy.
Categories: EurActiv