Panel I: Meet the candidates

Discussion of the upcoming elections with representatives of Uzbekistan’s political groups and civil society.

Panel II: EU and Central Asia – What avenues for future cooperation?

In 2022 and 2023, the Central Asian Heads of State and the President of the European Council held their first-ever high-level meetings, resulting in the preparation of a further joint roadmap for deepening ties between the EU and Central Asia. An EU–Central Asia leaders' summit is due to take place in 2024 and will be an opportunity to match the EU's political relevance in the region with its status of major donor and investor.

This intensification of high-level relations reflects Central Asia's growing geostrategic importance in the light of recent global developments. These developments also provide further avenues for partnership and cooperation in areas such as energy, agrifood, raw materials and connectivity.

Energy remains a cornerstone of cooperation, as the region holds significant reserves of oil and natural gas. This could present potential for more energy partnerships, as well as investments in pipeline infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and the development of green hydrogen initiatives. Raw materials are another critical area of cooperation, with the EU's high-tech industries and green transition relying on these materials. Enhanced cooperation in mining and sustainable extraction technologies could be pivotal in meeting the EU’s industrial needs while promoting sustainable practices in Central Asia.

The launch of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Coordination Platform in Astana on 12 June marked a milestone in strategic integration. This transport corridor is aimed at connecting Europe and Central Asia within 15 days or less to improve trade and connectivity and follows the Global Gateway Investors Forum in January this year.

Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to learn more about the untapped opportunities in the Central Asian region and what the new avenues for cooperation with the EU are. Questions to be discussed include:

- What role can the EU's Global Gateway play in modernising Central Asian infrastructure and further integrating the region with European markets?
- What new market opportunities are there for agrifood trade and Central Asian produce within the EU?
- What are the opportunities for EU investment in the region?
- What will EU-Central Asia cooperation look like under the new EU mandate?

The last European Parliament mandate introduced the first-ever legal framework on artificial intelligence through the AI Act. This act addresses the risks associated with AI and positions Europe to play a leading role globally.

In line with this, the development of the new European AI Office ahead of the new mandate will centralise AI expertise across the EU and play a key role in implementing the AI Act.

Looking ahead, a shift to the right following the European Parliament elections may result in fewer regulatory initiatives in tech, a weaker push for market integration, but increased support for defence innovation, according to Euractiv.

Large-scale disinformation campaigns, particularly Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), as defined by the European External Action Service (EEAS), pose a major challenge for Europe and could be a significant focus in the upcoming mandate.

Listen to this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss the new legislative agenda for 2024 to 2029 and explore the anticipated challenges and opportunities for the tech sector.

Questions to be discussed include:

- What will be the legislative priorities for the tech sector in the new Commission mandate, particularly regarding AI and disinformation?
- How will the new European Parliament formation impact tech policies in the next mandate?
- What will be the major challenges and opportunities for tech policy from 2024 – 2029?
- What are the key priorities for the tech industry in the coming years?

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Programme under Grant Agreement no 101070190.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The European Union stands as a leader in global efforts to combat climate change, driven by a commitment to secure a sustainable future for all. At the heart of EU climate action lies the European Green Deal, a framework for transforming the EU into a carbon-neutral and circular economy by 2050.

The European Commission set different milestones that are essential to achieve in order to reach the climate-neutral economy objective by 2050. In that context, the 2030 climate and energy framework sets different key targets for the year 2030, notably in terms of emission reductions, the share for renewable energy, and improvement in energy efficiency. Achieving the EU's long-term climate objectives depends on the successful implementation of the 2030 framework.

Among the challenges, a successful transition needs to go hand in hand with economic growth, competitiveness and security of supply, and will also depend on public acceptance. In that context, the next European Commission will have a crucial role to play in setting a regulatory framework while ensuring sustainable growth for all.

Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss the way forward for a successful transition and the next steps to achieve the EU’s climate goals. Questions to be addressed include:

- What are the main challenges the EU faces in meeting its objectives, and how does it plan to address them?
- What will be the key priorities for the next European Commission to achieve the EU’s climate goals?
- What role does innovation play in achieving the EU's climate goals?
- What are the strategies to ensure a just transition for all communities and sectors affected by the shift towards a sustainable economy?

Hardly a day goes by in Brussels without a reference being made to Europe’s digital sovereignty, although interpretations of this concept tend to vary. At the same time, Europe finds itself in the midst of a geopolitical world where security, economic stability, and the protection of democratic values are increasingly dependent upon cooperation among democratic states.

Against this background, the EU started the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) in June 2021, which aims to deepen transatlantic cooperation, particularly in trade, investment and digital matters.

Some observers see deviations between on the one hand the TTC ambitions and some of the EU’s sovereignty-inspired regulatory proposals in the EU, such as the EUCS draft on cybersecurity, or the EU’s Standardisation Strategy. Aligning Europe’s digital sovereignty with its transatlantic agenda will be key to achieve Europe’s digital ambitions.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to learn how Europe can foster its digital growth while embracing international co-operation.

As part of the European Green Deal, the EU has set itself a binding target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. In light of this, the EU is working to achieve the ambitious goal of transforming its energy sector into a system based on renewables and low-emission energy sources.

This transformation means a complete reform, not only in how energy is produced in the EU but also in how it is used by consumers. 'Nobody should be left behind' is a phrase often quoted when discussing the energy transition.

Achieving climate neutrality is a great challenge for both the European Union as a whole and individual Member States. Some industry stakeholders express views that the cost is not just economic, but also social, as energy poverty is on the rise. They also say that when designing ambitious goals, EU institutions should take into account the economic and social circumstances of different Member States as well as the current geopolitical situation.

The European energy sector is at a crossroads. Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to discuss its future. Discussed questions included:

- How do we ensure that the 2030 and 2050 targets can be achieved in light of the recent geopolitical developments?
- With most Europeans facing a winter of sharp price increases, how can energy poverty be addressed?
- What are the necessary technologies needed to ensure an efficient energy transformation? And at what cost?
- What has already been done to help climate change mitigation?
- What approaches are taken by different Member States to reach climate neutrality?
- What are the challenges and costs related to the energy transformation?

District heating supplies millions of homes in cities across Europe, representing about 10% of heat supply in the EU. However, most of that runs on fossil fuels, mainly natural gas and coal.

According to a study carried out by the European Commission, district heating and cooling (DHC) is one of the main infrastructures allowing decarbonisation by integrating renewable and carbon neutral energy sources and technologies, and participating in energy system integration.

Acknowledging the potential system benefits of a higher deployment of efficient DHC, the Renewable Energy Directive and its recast, the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive all include explicit and implicit provisions and implications on the future use and extension of district heating and cooling.

However, the war in Ukraine and its geopolitical implications have shifted the economic fundamentals behind the choice of fuel supplying district heating networks. Before the invasion, some eastern EU countries had made plans to switch their district heating systems to fossil gas, as this was seen as a cost-effective way of meeting the climate goals of EU’s “Fit for 55”. But with the sharp increases in gas prices, these plans are being re-evaluated.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about the future of district heating in the European Union, in light of the war in Ukraine. How can the EU ensure that the ongoing recast of relevant regulatory frameworks introduces realistic targets for the decarbonisation of district heating? And how much time and investment do industry stakeholders need to adapt to the new geopolitical realities?

The Data Act, presented in 2022, is a legislative proposal that intends to complement the Commission’s data strategy. The proposed law aims to regulate access conditions for data produced by the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, requiring manufacturers to provide access and introducing the right for device users to access and port their data. Furthermore, it lays down the right to share data with third parties. Overall, the proposal defines who can use what data and under what conditions.

Unlocking industrial data is a great challenge for the EU as 80% of it remains unused. With this new legislative proposal, the Commission wants to unlock the potential data-sharing offers to businesses, consumers or public services and boost innovation by using the potential of data as a non-rival good.

However, there are not only opportunities, but also risks associated with the Data Act as proposed by the European Commission. In particular for manufacturing SMEs, the mandatory data sharing might have also negative impacts, for example by exposing trade secrets, creating too many obligations for product design and undermining data-based business models.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how to ensure fair and balanced rules for data-sharing in the framework of the EU Data Act.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the global energy market disruption has caused a sharp increase in EU energy prices. This is seen in European countries that were particularly reliant on Russian gas supply for residential heating and industrial production.

In the run-up to winter, the European Commission is working on its newly released REPowerEU strategy. While Member States plan for a shortfall in gas during the colder months, the industrial sector is already reviewing which supplies will be available throughout the coming winter.

Industrial processes requiring fossil gas, especially for heating and cooling, could experience increasing supply issues as provision of gas to the power sector or private households is prioritised. According to new data gathered by the energy and climate consultancy “Climact”, there is potential for reducing fossil gas consumption in many industrial processes, such as low and medium heat provision.

The study shows that European industry has the possibility to cut its natural gas demand by 25% with short-term opportunities of electrifying certain gas processes and long-term measures. Climact estimates that the overall gas demand can be reduced by electrifying many of the current processes. The research sees potential for sectors such as food and drink, glass manufacturing and chemicals to evolve by electrifying the majority of their processes and a move beyond fossil gas.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how some industry sectors can move from fossil gas to electrification. How long would it take, and at what cost? How can such a change be incentivised? What would the cost benefits be? And how would the demand for the power needed to supply this large scale electrification be met?

A EURACTIV event organised with the support of the European Climate Foundation, who cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained or expressed therein.

In a healthy and thriving democracy, citizens should be able to freely express their views, choose their political leaders, and have a say about their future. Democracy in the EU faces challenges from rising extremism, election interference, the spread of manipulative information, and threats against journalists. The European Democracy Action Plan is designed to empower citizens and build more resilient democracies across the EU by promoting free and fair elections, strengthening media freedom, and countering disinformation.

When presenting the plan in December 2020, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “With the digital revolution under way, citizens must be able to make choices where views can be expressed freely. Facts have to be distinguished from fiction, and free media and civil society must be able to participate in an open debate, free from malign interference. Therefore the EU is taking action to make our democracies in the EU more resilient.”

These measures will be implemented throughout this Commission’s mandate. In 2023, a year ahead of the next European elections, the Commission will review the implementation of the action plan.

Technology is widely perceived as having both positive and negative impacts on democracy. Technology has the power to protect and promote democratic institutions and values rather than undermine them. For technology companies to have a positive impact, industry must reflect on its roles and obligations to democratic societies above and beyond the letter of the law.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out about the direction of European democracy and the role for tech and the private sector in preserving and advancing democratic norms.

-How can the tech industry and the private sector best align with the European agenda to counter disinformation and empower citizens to make informed decisions?
-What more does the private sector need to do proactively to achieve the aims of the EDAP?
-What new obligations should and will exist as a result of the EDAP?

Two years into the European Commission’s Digital Decade, the EU’s vision of pursuing a human-centric, sustainable vision for a digital society, the connectivity target of “Gigabit for everyone, 5G everywhere” has never felt more urgent. Mobile networks are vital to economic recovery and future crisis resilience and can support a green and digital transformation across Europe. As economies and societies around the world digitalise, the acceleration of 5G in Europe is essential to maintain and amplify Europe’s industrial and manufacturing strengths.

Industry stakeholders claim that the current regulatory environment is creating an investment gap, stifling innovation, and that market conditions in Europe mean investment capital for telecom operators is hard to come by. As a result, they say that over the past decade, Europe has invested 40% less per capita in its telecom networks than the US. The industry also argues that regulatory interventions and resistance to consolidation artificially distort competition, leading to poorer service and outcomes for consumers and businesses.

The right conditions for private infrastructure investment, network modernisation, and digital innovation are needed for accelerating Europe’s digital future. A financially sustainable mobile sector is key to the delivery of innovative services and the deployment of new networks. 5G has the potential to deliver a significant amount of value to the region if the mobile sector and policymakers find the right regulatory balance.

Relisten to this EURACTIV event to find out where the EU is on 5G development and how Europe’s digital competitiveness compares to other regions. Addressed questions included:

- How can policymakers ensure that national and EU level regulations are in line with the Digital Decade targets?
- What policies could drive economic growth and social welfare when it comes to 5G connectivity in Europe?
- How can the upcoming Connectivity Infrastructure Act facilitate full 5G coverage in the EU?

First announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the Union Address in September 2021, the European Commission is expected to unveil, in September 2022, a Cyber Resilience Act that aims to establish common cybersecurity rules for digital products and associated services such as software that are placed on the European single market.

Although Internet of Things (IoT) products create a wide range of opportunities by connecting people, information, and places, they also increase the risk of cybersecurity incidents affecting entire systems. Indeed, the infinite number of heterogeneous digital connected products, each with their own vulnerabilities, expand the potential attack surface and leave users open to theft of sensitive data and malfunctioning networks, if not worse, as large scale cyberattacks on European critical infrastructure has shown in the past months.

Under a common legal framework requiring digital products to be designed and operated more securely, with duty of care at the heart of their development, the aim is to enhance the security of the entire cyber ecosystem, from consumer to critical industrial infrastructures, while strengthening the functioning of the internal market.

However, « a common approach » remains difficult to define as stakeholders are opposed to the definition of a one-size-fits-all solution that will not achieve the objectives of the text. How can the risk associated with a device be categorised, especially when it is used in contexts as various as home or public entities, and sometimes, used in unforeseen ways? To what extent should the cybersecurity of these devices be assessed? Who should carry out the assessment in order to achieve the highest security level? And how can all stakeholders participate in the reinforcement of the secure cyber framework worldwide?

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to explore the different options to reinforce the cybersecurity of connected devices and discuss how we can ensure that all digital products are safe and secure in a way that protects end-users, industry, and public entities.

In July, the European Commission tabled a proposal for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII), with the overall objective of achieving an increase in the use of energy from renewable sources by 2030, to foster better energy system integration and to contribute to climate and environmental objectives. The proposal sets a framework for the deployment of renewable energy sources across all sectors of the economy with a particular focus on sectors where progress has been slow. Among those sectors is transport.

In the context of transport, advanced biofuels have been identified in the REDII as one of the key solutions for the deployment of renewable energy sources as their role can be increased to support the reduction of emissions in all transport modes, from road to maritime and aviation.

According to the biofuels industry, to achieve these goals ambitious mandates are needed to trigger investments in production installations. Regulation is also considered important, as it can play a critical role in creating the appropriate framework conditions for investments. For them, the recent discussion on raising Europe’s energy security underlines the importance of having non-fossil energy production in our own hands.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to learn about the role of low-carbon liquid fuels and especially advanced biofuels in the energy transition. Discussed questions included:

- How can the EU’s energy independence be increased at affordable prices while reducing fossil consumption and at the same time accelerating climate change mitigation efforts? How can this be done especially in the transport sector?
- How can the sustainable potential of domestic feedstock for advanced biofuels be increased?
- How can sustainability be ensured at every step of the value chain?
- What kind of regulatory framework is needed to boost green growth investments?

Citizens’ participation remains a great challenge to democracies across Europe, especially given the rise of populism and voter disillusionment in recent years. Hence, many cities have developed new tools to boost citizen engagement, such as 'participatory budgeting'.

Participatory budgeting aims to involve citizens in decision-making around the uses of municipal budgets. It is a process whereby local authorities give residents the opportunity to voice their opinions and propose ideas about the allocation of funds within their cities. The tool aims to bring democracy closer to citizens, helping them become actors of change.

However, critics argue that although participatory budgeting across Europe has boosted civic engagement, it has not yet brought much diversity nor a wider range of views to the pool of participants. A major challenge lies in ensuring maximum inclusivity and encouraging all citizens to engage in local political processes.

In the context of the H2020 project DEMOTEC, relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to learn about the opportunities and challenges participatory budgeting offers to strengthen democracy in European cities. Discussed questions included:

- Can projects like DEMOTEC make a material difference in encouraging citizen participation?
- How to help local authorities develop participatory budgeting?
- How can the pool of participants be expanded so that a wide range of views is represented?
- What can be done on a European level to support these local initiatives?

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no 962553.

This website reflects only the author’s view and the Research Executive Agency or European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

Regional revitalization – driven by green policies and technological advancements – is a key priority across Europe, and it is clear that this transformation is most urgent in rural, post- industrial, and suburban areas adjacent to major cities.

The role of large companies that operate in these areas cannot be overstated. Their contributions, spanning job creation, upskilling of local workforces, and community investments, play an important role in transforming these areas. Moreover, private sector initiatives can serve as a model for a pan-EU strategy that would breathe new life into these areas.

“Regional Revitalization: The Transformative Power of Investment in Rural and Post-Industrial
Areas Across Europe” will highlight the experiences of these companies and serve as a platform to discuss effective models that EU leaders can look to when navigating regional revitalization. The event will feature insights from experts through roundtable discussions on a variety of topics, such as the current status of post-industrial regions in Europe, the EU's perspective on job creation and economic impact that results from re-industrialization, and shared experiences of revitalizing rural and post-industrial regions.

Panels will include representatives and experts from various sectors, including distinguished figures from various European institutions. Professionals from key industries such as automotive, food, and logistics will also share their perspectives and experiences on how private sector companies can play a crucial role in boosting local economies across European regions.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to new geopolitical and energy market realities. It required the EU to dramatically accelerate its clean energy transition while also looking for solutions to increase its energy independence.

In response to these hardships, the European Commission presented the REPowerEU Plan. The plan aims to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels, fast forward the green transition, and increase the resilience of the EU-wide energy system. The watchwords are diversifying, saving, and accelerating clean energy

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference where stakeholders discussed the policy tools that can strengthen EU security of supply. Addressed questions included:

- How can gas supplies be secured in the most efficient and sustainable way, while at the same time ensuring the protection of EU citizens and industries? Is a holistic approach achievable?
- What is the role of gas infrastructure? Can gas infrastructure operators connect Europe to the global market?
- What solutions exist to transport and store renewables and low-carbon molecules over long distances with the existing and future LNG, underground storage and transmission facilities?

Advancing Europe's strategic autonomy is a key objective of the European Commission - particularly with regards to the digital domain.

The COVID pandemic has demonstrated the need to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more digital and more resilient economic and industrial model in order to maintain and strengthen Europe's aspirations for sustainable competitiveness.

Under the French Presidency the EU passed a groundbreaking piece of legislation - the Digital Markets Act. It will limit the power of gatekeeping platforms and aims to keep digital markets fair and open to competition - a prerequisite for sovereignty. Paris also supported the Commission’s plans to create trusted alternatives to non-EU offerings, by developing a European cloud ecosystem and proposing a European Digital Identity. With the new chip act, Commissioner Breton wants to reduce dependencies in the semiconductor sector, as the race for the most advanced chips is a race for technological and industrial leadership.

These are important steps, but many stakeholders are looking for more under the Czech presidency. Europe is still largely dependent on non-European companies for most of its digital life. Although the New Data Act is supposed to help the European data economy flourish, much of the industrial data generated in Europe is so far stored and processed by cloud providers abroad, and user-driven innovation comes mainly from outside the EU. To thrive economically, Europe must regain more autonomy over data and digital technology.

What other policy instruments are appropriate to strengthen European competitiveness at a time when the number of global challenges is steadily increasing? How can the Czech Presidency help realise the full potential of Digital to advance the Green transition? And how can we make sure that all actors who benefit from reliable highspeed connectivity fairly contribute to the investment in digital infrastructure, as required by ambitious connectivity targets set out by the Digital Decade 2030?

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out about the results of the French Presidency's digital priorities and the challenges the Czech Presidency faces in advancing Europe’s green and digital transformation.

Recently, the agrifood sector has faced unprecedented challenges due to global warming, the Covid-19 crisis, and the war in Ukraine. Since the start of the war, calls to strengthen food security have dramatically increased across Europe.

The conflict has exacerbated surges in agricultural prices, jeopardising the ability of more vulnerable countries to import the required quantity of food. At a European level, EU officials declared that despite the consequences of the war on the agrifood sector, food security is not at risk in the bloc.

However, as we cannot predict how the situation will evolve in the near future, EU Member States are encouraged to increase their food production in order to address food security concerns. To cope with this crisis, the European Commission has asked Member States to adjust their CAP national strategic plans in consideration of the evolving geopolitical context.

In parallel, many argue that it's necessary to keep in mind the EU Green Deal and F2F objectives, and to build a stable and sustainable food system. It will therefore be a big challenge for the new CAP to ensure food security whilst also achieving the ambitions outlined in the EU Green Deal.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about the challenges faced by the new CAP in achieving food security and Green Deal ambitions. Discussed questions included:
- How can the EU help its Member States to ensure food security in a sustainable manner?
- Which concrete measures should be taken in their CAP national strategic plans?
- How to encourage Member States to achieve EU Green Deal objectives in the current geopolitical context?

The content of this publication represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility. The European Commission does not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.

Building bridges between citizens, organisations, EU institutions and European governments remains a fundamental challenge towards making European policymaking accessible and transparent for all citizens across Europe.

As stated in Article 10 of the Treaty on European Union, ‘open decision-making is carried out as closely as possible to the citizens’. Access to public information, also known as the ‘right to know’, is vital for a functioning democracy.

With the rise of disinformation these past years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen as a prominent tool that could help strengthen democracies, if properly implemented and regulated. By using data-based scrutiny, AI could help achieve more transparency in the EU, preventing disinformation as well as ensuring better access to quality information for citizens.

AI is increasingly being used in the media sector as an essential tool to improve the quality of its content and provide more accurate information to its audiences. Many believe that AI has big potential to shape the future of European media.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how AI can contribute to achieving more transparency in the EU policymaking process. Addressed questions included:

- Which tools can be used to help citizens access quality, trust-worthy information?
- How can EU policy stakeholders encourage national and international media to inform citizens about EU policies?
- What are the opportunities offered by AI to achieve these goals?

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is the second largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions is one of the main priority initiatives of the European Green Deal and essential for reaching 2030 climate targets and 2050 climate-neutrality goals. The EU is also one of the instigators of the Global Methane Pledge adopted at COP26 in Glasgow, which commits its signatories to 30% methane reductions by 2030 (compared to 2020 baseline).

Most of anthropogenic methane emissions come from the agriculture, energy and waste sectors. In the EU, the livestock sector is responsible for 53% of methane emissions. However, there are currently no legislative measures in place to drive reductions from that sector. The EU Methane Regulation, published in December 2021, focuses exclusively on energy.

Civil society voices have called for a renewed focus on tackling methane emissions from the livestock sector. Efforts to reduce methane emissions in the energy and waste sectors alone will not suffice to meet ambitious targets set by the European Green Deal and Global Methane Pledge. Measures available range from better regulation of large meat and dairy companies and technical measures to policies driving reductions in meat and dairy production and consumption.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how the EU can tackle methane emissions in its livestock sector to help reach 2030 climate targets and commitments made under the Global Methane Pledge. Discussed questions included:
- How to improve the current legislative framework to tackle methane emissions in the livestock sector?
- How to encourage the sector to move towards more sustainable and low GHG food production?
- Which policy measures are likely to yield most methane reductions?
- How best to combine government policies, large company regulations, and individual lifestyle choices to produce the best results in reducing methane emissions?

In the framework of the EU-funded project Teachers4Europe, relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how policy makers can support new and innovative citizenship education initiatives across Europe. Discussed questions included: - How to promote democratic awareness through education across the EU? - How to provide teachers with adequate learning tools to promote democratic culture? - What is the role of new digital technologies in achieving these goals

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the urgency of reducing the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels and supporting its energy and food independence. This effort will require mobilising an array of domestic resources.

Fit for 55 had already raised the stakes with major revamps of several laws affecting the EU biofuels sector – including the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), CO2 standards for cars, the revamp of the Effort Sharing Regulation and the Emissions Trading System with the possible inclusion of transport, and the Energy Taxation Directive.

Now, with the European Commission’s recent Communications on energy security and food security unveiled as a result of the war in Ukraine, those stakes are even higher.

This event, in the run-up to crucial European Parliament votes on Fit for 55 legislation, will answer key questions confronting the EU as it drives toward carbon neutrality, including: How can the EU scale up renewables in transport in order to meet its emissions-reductions goals? What role will low-carbon liquid fuels play in the transport energy mix? What will be the economic and societal impact of the EU’s climate proposals?

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how the EU can maintain its commitment to achieving Fit for 55 climate and energy goals in an uncertain geopolitical situation.  And what is the evolving role of low-carbon renewable fuels in achieving EU climate and energy goals and the policy steps required to ensure that Europe can meet its commitments for 2030 and beyond? 

The UN Sustainable Development Goals, EU Green Deal, Paris Climate Agreement, and numerous national initiatives adopted by individual governments all reveal there is no dearth of fora and mechanisms to demonstrate the public interest and global political will to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to the recently published March 2022 BEREC draft report on sustainability in the connectivity sector, the digital sector’s impact is 2-4% compared to other industries.

Some industry stakeholders within the connectivity sector have gone beyond being content with these statistics. Many have already begun working towards tackling the energy intensive aspects of their operations and are currently prioritising sustainability. A number of operators have also announced their voluntary commitments to meeting ambitious goals by joining the European Green and Digital Coalition.

There is broad agreement that the ICT sector and digitalisation can have a favourable impact on international and regional climate targets, by enabling green and digital transitions. Companies in the connectivity sector claim they want to make responsible and sustainable investments. For them, one of the key challenges will be to balance their role as an enablers of green and digital transformations with operational resources required to implement their own sustainability efforts. Moreover, several of the EU’s Green Deal and Digital Decade 2030 targets require upgraded infrastructure and increased private investment.

Connectivity operators, within this consistently evolving sector, must contend with increased demand. They claim predictable and harmonised regulations will facilitate sustainable and responsible investments that also benefit consumers.

Relisten to this EURACTIV – GIGAEurope Digital Debate to find out how, through collective action and multi-stakeholder approaches, we can enable a green and digital transition that works for all. Discussed questions included:

-How does the current energy crisis, amplified by the current geopolitical situation, impact the Green Deal objectives and their implementation? How can green ICT contribute to a solution?
-What are the indices, metrics or KPIs that industry and stakeholders can agree to? How can industry, regulators, and policy makers reach a consensus on standardising data and methodologies?
-What should be taken into account when discussing the twin transition and the environmental footprint of the ICT sector?
-By what means should policy makers and stakeholders map sustainability-related actions in the sector and determine what should be counted towards these goals?

Deutschland ist eines der waldreichsten Länder in Europa. Wälder machen fast 30 % der Gesamtfläche aus und erbringen vielfältige ökologische und wirtschaftliche Leistungen. Die Zukunft von Wäldern in Deutschland bleibt jedoch ungewiss - Aspekte wie Forstwirtschaft, Artenschutz und Klimaneutralität sorgen für Uneinigkeit in der nationalen Politik.

Die Waldstrategie 2050 wurde von Deutschlands vorherigen Ministerin für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, Julia Klöckner, ins Leben gerufen. Ein großes Ziel besteht darin, Wälder an ihre klimatischen Bedingungen anzupassen, um so der Klimakrise entgegenzuwirken. Doch es gibt auch Kritik, vor allem im Punkt der Holzerzeugung. Während sich Klöckner in der Strategie weiter für die Nutzung von Holz als Baumaterial ausspricht, fordern viele die Senkung von wirtschaftlichen Interessen im Wald.

Mit den Bundestagswahlen 2021 hat sich der politische Fokus in
Deutschland verschoben. Die neue Regierung will die Klimapolitik verschärfen, zum Beispiel durch die Weiterentwicklung des Klimaschutzgesetzes. Cem Özdemir, derzeitiger Bundesminister für Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, hebt die Bedeutsamkeit von Umweltschutz und Artenvielfalt vor.

Waldpolitik ist ein essentieller Teil der Klimapolitik. Bedarf es also einer Erneuerung der Waldstrategie durch die Ampelkoalition?

Im Rahmen des Life Terra Projektes hat EURACTIV einem
virtuellen Stakeholder-Workshop organisiert, um Kritikpunkte und Chancen der Waldstrategie 2050 zu diskutieren.

Der Inhalt dieser Konferenz gibt ausschließlich die Meinung des Autors/der Autorin wieder, der/die allein für den Inhalt verantwortlich ist. Die Europäische Kommission haftet nicht für die etwaige Verwendung der darin enthaltenen Informationen.

Renovating both public and private buildings has been singled out in the European Green Deal as a key initiative to drive energy efficiency in the sector. To pursue this dual ambition of energy gains and economic growth, in 2020 the Commission published the strategy "A Renovation Wave for Europe – Greening our buildings, creating jobs, improving lives".

This strategy comes at a moment when the EU is facing several challenges. First of all, there is the climate emergency. Buildings, currently making up 36% of EU’s energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, are an important sector to be decarbonised to ensure the EU reaches its legally binding target to cut emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

Then, there is a social crisis. Energy poverty is on the rise in Europe. Data from the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub indicates that the number of energy-poor citizens in the EU is between 50 and 125 million. These citizens find themselves struggling to pay their bills due to soaring gas prices, with lowest-income households hit the hardest. These social disparities are also reflected in health inequalities, with housing conditions being an important environmental determinant of health.

Furthermore, Europe has plunged into an energy security crisis. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European leaders have committed to cut their reliance on Russian fossil fuels, which Europe largely depends on, including for heating homes. However, replacing the Russian supply with fossil fuels — instead of renewables and energy efficiency measures — could derail climate action and promote volatile gas prices.

A recently published study by the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy claims that, if well-designed, the EU Renovation Wave has the potential to cut low-income households’ energy costs by a third and increase their disposable income with home renovation and a switch to clean heating. It suggests that policies to boost home renovation and the uptake of renewable heating could deliver a fairer society and alleviate energy poverty, ensuring that the most vulnerable have access to clean, affordable energy and live in energy-efficient homes.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out how a socially just EU Renovation Wave can be achieved. How can a massive renovation of buildings be triggered in the coming decade while ensuring that energy poverty is eradicated?

The European Commission identifies buildings in the EU as the primary energy consumer, accounting for 40% of our energy consumption and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions. In December 2021, the European Commission adopted a legislative proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, as part of the so-called ‘Fit for 55’ package.

In March, MEPs adopted the proposed revision of the Directive. It aims to progressively decrease greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in the EU building sectortowards climate neutrality by 2050.

Specifically, all new buildings should be zero-emission as of 2030, while Member States must enact measures for energy consumption reduction and renovate a portion of poorly performing non-residential buildings. Additionally, there is a focus on decarbonising heating systems.

Improving building energy efficiency not only reduces bills and energy poverty but also enhances Europe's energy independence, stimulates the economy, and generates green jobs, particularly in construction.

Listen to this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Some questions to be discussed include:

- Is the Directive sufficiently aligned with the EU's climate ambitions?
- Are the measures feasible for Member States to implement?
- What existing initiatives address energy efficiency and the renovation of buildings?
- Are measures needed to support the construction industry in fulfilling the Directive's objectives?

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Buildings are one of the largest sources of energy consumption as they account for 40% of the EU’s final energy consumption and 36% of its greenhouse gas emissions. Boosting their energy performance and moving to low-carbon forms of energy is crucial as it would reduce emissions, tackle energy poverty, support the economic recovery after the Covid-19 crisis, and create new job opportunities across the EU.

The recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) is an essential element in completing the objectives of the Fit for 55 package. The new EPBD emphasises the need to modernise the EU building stock by increasing the rate and depth of buildings’ renovations, improving information on energy performance and sustainability of buildings, as well as ensuring that all buildings will be in line with the 2050 climate neutrality requirements. Consequently, the EPBD will also be instrumental to implementing the REPowerEU plan, whose objective is to faster reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels.

The electrification of heating and cooling in buildings will play a major role on the road to decarbonisation, as it will facilitate the switch from fossil fuel boilers to more sustainable electric solutions. The EPBD revision also stresses the need to develop e-mobility by implementing recharging points in buildings to support smart charging for electric vehicles.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out what can be done to improve the existing regulatory framework to support an effective decarbonisation process in the building sector. Discussed questions included:

- How the EPBD proposal could best contribute to the decarbonisation of the building sector?
- What are the technical challenges and solutions to electrifying the EU's building stock?
- What renovations in buildings can contribute to sustainable mobility?
- How to increase users’ awareness of their housing’s carbon footprint and of the low-carbon solutions that are available?

The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) revision plays a central role in the overall Fit For 55 package and is an important contributor to unlocking ambitious environmental, societal and financial benefits.

It is also an opportunity to integrate a multiple benefits approach, rather than primarily focusing on energy.

To create a sustainable, future-proof and energy-efficient building stock, we need to put people at the centre. Typically, we spend around 90% of our time indoors, so bettering the conditions of our indoor climate – and thus our health and well-being - is an important driver for renovation, alongside improving energy efficiency, mitigating climate change, and reducing the energy bill and dependence.

The EPBD proposal goes further than energy performance requirements by introducing carbon emission reduction targets, and putting more emphasis on multiple benefits of energy efficiency, including improving indoor environmental quality and reducing energy poverty.

It also introduces new building tools to boost renovation rates, supports the digitalisation of energy systems for buildings, and facilitates more targeted financing to investments in the building sector.

How can we best ensure these new, holistic approaches to energy efficiency and the EBPD are properly accounted for and factored into the final directive and the new tools - EPCs, Renovation Passports, MEPs – it proposes?

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how the revision of the EPBD can support a healthy indoor climate while accelerating a decrease of energy costs and decarbonising our buildings. Discussed questions included:

- What's the current state of buildings in the EU and how can the EPBD help achieve a faster transition towards sustainable and healthy buildings?
- What will be the costs and economic/societal benefits of such a building transition?
- What data and definitions are we lacking to properly account for the impact of multiple benefits?
- How can we ensure energy efficient, decarbonised and healthy buildings?
- What lessons has the COVID-19 pandemic taught us when it comes to buildings? How can good ventilation in buildings contribute?

The European Commission has recently adopted a proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, which aims to foster sustainable and responsible corporate behaviour throughout global value chains. Companies are at the heart of the proposal and they will be required to identify and, where necessary, prevent, end or mitigate adverse impacts of their activities on human rights and on the environment. A number of Member States have already introduced national rules on due diligence and some companies have taken measures at their own initiative.

The due diligence regulation is very important for industries, especially the ones that largely depend on the import of critical raw materials, such as battery manufacturing. On 17 March, the European Council adopted a so-called “general approach” to the batteries regulation, following a proposal tabled by the European Commission in December 2020. The regulation aims to set up a circular economy sector by targeting all stages of the life cycle of batteries, including responsible sourcing. The Council and Parliament will now start trilogue negotiations with a view to progressing towards an agreement.

Some industry stakeholders argue that policymakers should seek a coherent and consistent approach on sustainability and due diligence throughout EU legislation, as choosing specific approaches for different legislative pieces could lead to inconsistencies and confusion. Moreover, they stress the importance of industry-led schemes aligned with standards recognised by independent third parties, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and approved by the International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance (ISEAL Alliance), as they are tailored to the specific characteristics of specific industries. Another point brought forward by the industry is the importance of having realistic time-frames for action.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about responsible sourcing and due diligence. How can companies best develop tools and standards that fit the upcoming European legislation? And how can the European Commission ensure there is a coherent approach for all actors involved?

The EU's Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) introduces a 90% collection target for beverage PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles by 2029 and also mandates that they should contain at least 25% recycled plastic by 2025, and 30% by 2030. To meet EU food safety and quality standards, PET bottles must be of food-grade quality. Effective bottle-to-bottle recycling is therefore a prerequisite to ensure that the targets laid down in the EU SUPD are met.

However, the versatility of PET bottles brings high demand from a variety of industries. An increasing number of non-food industries are using PET materials in their products. Some analysts claim this leaves the beverage industry with unfair competition and difficulty in delivering EU Green Deal objectives to increase resource efficiency and accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

The beverage industry is thus calling on the European Commission to introduce a "right of first refusal mechanism" on recycled PET in the revision of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD). They argue that such preferential access to recycled PET that the industry puts on the market, and of which it finances the collection, will accelerate its transition to a more circular economy.

The industry is also calling on the Commission to adopt minimum requirements for new Deposit Refund Systems (DRS) in the revised PPWD. Deposit Refund Systems are collection schemes whereby consumers pay a small amount of money (a deposit fee) for their packaging at the point of purchase and are reimbursed upon the return of the empty packaging to specific collection points.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out what’s the best recipe for meeting circular economy and climate objectives and whether DRS are an efficient way to meet collection and recycling targets for EU natural mineral and spring water producers set in the EU’s Single Use Plastics Directive. Discussed questions included:

- Can PET bottles be prevented from being downcycled?
- What are the challenges in making Deposit Refund Systems effective?
- Can a “right of first refusal mechanism” be delivered in the revision of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive?
- Can beverage manufacturers be given back the same amount of recycled content that they bring on the market?

Food supplements are concentrated sources of nutrients (or other substances) with a nutritional or physiological effect. They are typically taken in “dose” form, such as pills, tablets, capsules, liquids in measured doses.

The European Commission's Food Supplements Directive of 2002 aims to protect consumers against potential health risks from food supplements products and to ensure that they are not provided with misleading information. It also establishes a core framework for the marketing of supplements in the EU. With respect to the safety of food supplements, the Directive lays down a harmonised list of vitamins and minerals that may be added for nutritional purposes in food supplements.

Over the past 20 years, the market in supplements has developed significantly and there has been a much greater recognition by consumers. In addition to the 2002 framework, a wide range of EU food legislation is in place which covers food supplements. This includes additives, contaminants, labelling, hygiene claims.

The European Commission is also working on two areas that are not currently harmonised at the EU level: the maximum levels of permitted vitamins and minerals in food supplements, and the use of botanical ingredients.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out what a potential policy framework for supplements could look like, given the regulatory environment is broadly in place. Addressed questions included:

- How can supplements play a role in helping build more resilient societies and reduce the burden on national health systems?
- Since deficiencies in a range of vitamins and minerals still exist in the EU, can supplements help redress this imbalance?
- Can food supplements help governments achieve their objective of keeping an ageing EU population healthy and productive?

In December 2021, the European Commission adopted a Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles, in which it identifies complementary solutions to CO2 emissions reductions to achieve the EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050.

Indeed, to maintain the atmospheric concentration of CO2 at levels compatible with the objective of the Paris Agreement, solutions to capture carbon emissions directly from the atmosphere are needed. Some of these solutions include promoting carbon farming practices under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and standardising the monitoring, reporting and verification methodologies needed to provide a clear and reliable certification framework for carbon farming and carbon removals.

There are two types of carbon removal solutions: nature-based and industry-based ones. These involve different levels of maturity and market readiness and have different impacts on the involved stakeholders. Each solution has specific advantages and challenges that need to be addressed, contingent on its accessibility to users and complexity of implementation.

However, the challenge of setting a regulatory framework that would foster trust and mobilise potential parties remains. Independent measurement and verification are essential to ensure that carbon removals have been properly conducted and that the carbon is effectively and permanently removed from the atmosphere. Such verification not only ensures the most effective implementation of climate policies, but also helps eliminate false reporting and greenwashing.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how we can ensure the validation of carbon removals in a way that satisfies consumers, industry and policymakers. How can we overcome the ongoing differences in the calculation of emissions and harmonise methodologies? And how can buyers, land managers, technological companies, investors, and policymakers agree on clear and common standards?

The price of European Union allowances in the EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) reached an all-time high this winter, with a record high close to 100 €/t of CO2 in February 2022. This surge in allowance price levels and volatility occurs in the context of a crisis in European energy markets, with a sharp increase in commodities prices, and in a context of uncertainty about the scope and the ambition of the ongoing reform of the EU ETS.

Last July, the Commission presented a legislative proposal which aims for emissions from the current EU ETS sectors to be reduced by 61% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. To reach this target, the Commission proposes a steeper annual emissions reduction of 4.2%, following a one-off reduction of the overall emissions cap by 117 million allowances.

Under the EU ETS, regulated entities buy or receive emissions allowances, which they can trade with one another as needed. At the end of each year, regulated entities must surrender enough allowances to cover all of their emissions. If a regulated entity reduces its emissions, it can keep the “saved” allowances to cover its future needs or sell them to another installation that is short of allowances. A Market Stability Reserve, in place since 2019, stabilises the market by removing surplus allowances from it.

Recent market developments have raised questions regarding speculative trading, whether and to what extent the participation of financial players should be constrained, and if so, what would be the best mechanism to do so. More generally, it has revived the debate on the potential measures to stabilise EU allowances prices as Europe’s ambition to fast track the decarbonisation of its economy requires a strong and predictable carbon price signal.

According to industry stakeholders, allowance price instability and lack of predictability could have significant short- and long-term consequences on the EU policy objective of fast-tracking decarbonisation, including higher compliance costs for obligated entities and higher decarbonisation costs. They underline the need for a review and potential regulation on the role of financial trading in the EU ETS market, as well as the need to address some of the structural issues that induce price instability.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about the possible impacts of excessive speculation on the functioning of the EU ETS market. What measures could be taken to mitigate the risk of excessive speculation, and more broadly to stabilise allowances prices and improve the EU ETS market functioning?

The EU’s proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) was adopted by the European Commission in July 2021 to complement the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively in line with the Fit for 55 objectives. Products from the following sectors will be impacted: cement, aluminium, fertiliser, electricity, iron and steel.

CBAM aims to impose a CO2 charge on products entering the EU so that European industry can play on an equal footing with foreign manufacturers. According to the European Commission, the main objective of CBAM is to counteract the risk of carbon leakage, which will increase due to higher European carbon prices. In the long term, CBAM should gradually replace the free allowances distributed through the EU ETS. The issue of exports recently heated up at the European Council, where Member States agreed on the general approach on CBAM, leaving the exports issue for a later stage.

However, several European industries have expressed their concerns that the CBAM only levels the playing field for imports and that no solution has been proposed for exports leaving the EU. They also stress that there is a high risk that EU products would be replaced by more carbon-intensive products, which would be counterproductive. This leads them to call EU decision-makers to include an export mechanism in the CBAM Regulation.

Yet, as it stands today, they argue that CBAM would hinder the reach of European industry in global markets. The industry expects the EU to boost sustainable trade globally by facilitating the export of low carbon products. An example of this is the fertiliser sector, where trade flows follow the natural growing season of crops across the world. By providing nutrients for farmers to harvest high quality crops, the fertilizer sector contributes to food security in Europe and globally, while guaranteeing EU’s strategic autonomy.

In January this year, Kazakhstan experienced a series of large protests, sparked by the sudden increase of fuel prices, after the government had removed a previously enforced price cap.

The protestors first came out into the streets in the petroleum-producing city of Zhanaozen in western Kazakhstan but then spread rapidly across the country, first to other oil and mineral producing regions and then to other districts of Kazakhstan.

Protestors' demands and grievances varied widely. They included oil workers as well as liberal activists in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city. Young people throughout the country also joined in.

An array of related challenges were brought forward: inflation, inequality of opportunity, corruption, injustice, lack of benefits, fuel prices, low wages, and lack of labour bargaining power. According to Kazakh officials, peaceful demonstrations were hijacked by violent criminals.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reacted by declaring a state of emergency and announced that the Collective Security Treaty Organization will step in to help the Kazakh forces to protect the strategic facilities. He also made radical changes to the country’s national security leadership. Former President Nazarbaev stepped down from the position of the chair of the National Security Council.

A few days after the protests swept across some city centres, the government declared that constitutional order had been mainly restored in all regions and promised ambitious economic reforms, aimed at reducing the state's deep involvement in the economy and bridging the gap between the wealthy minority and the majority of the population.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Debate to find out about the recent unrest that shook Kazakhstan and the way forward in building back better. Will the recent internal strife prompt real change? How will president Tokayev move forward? How will the demands and needs of protesters be addressed?

The European Environment Agency estimates that long-term exposure to poor air quality is responsible for over 400,000 premature deaths in Europe every year. The worst air quality read-outs are reported during winter, when temperatures are very low and there is high demand for heat. In some countries, one of the causes of poor air quality is the employment of old and inefficient coal or wood-burning stoves used in households.

Very often, fuels of the poorest quality are used in old stoves. This results in the emission of significant amounts of dangerous substances such as PM2.5, PM10 and various chemical compounds. Moreover, the emissions are released from chimneys that are not very tall and located close to other residential buildings. The volume of these so-called “low-level emissions'' mean that they have a considerable impact on air quality.

A practical way to resolve the problem could be replacing old, inefficient household heat sources and encouraging the usage of good-quality fuels. Another solution, which might be even more effective in urbanised areas, is a district heating system that provides clean heat to numerous end users.

In its proposal for recasting the EU Directive on Energy Efficiency, the European Commission has put a particular emphasis on district heating and cooling, where the definition of “efficient” systems will gradually be tightened to move away from fossil fuel-based systems. In cogeneration, the aim is to introduce additional criteria for specific emissions in high-efficiency cogeneration (270 gCO2/kWh). District heating will be also influenced by the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Some industry stakeholders have expressed concerns about the new definition of efficiency and they urge the Commission to keep current criteria for the share of high-efficiency cogeneration heat until 2030.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about the link between pollution and district heating systems, and the impact that the proposal for the recast Energy Efficiency Directive plays in this regard.

2024 marks the year of another significant change in the EU’s political composition. Every five years, EU leaders collectively determine the EU's political priorities, a process occurring in conjunction with the European Parliament elections and preceding the appointment of each European Commission. Kicked off by the European elections in early June, the shifts in political groups and coalitions within the EU will shape its policy agenda and future legislation.

In light of the recent farmer’s protests all over Europe, but most notably in Brussels, the future of the agricultural sector is under the microscope like no other sector at the moment. Special attention will be paid to any new developments, plans, and legislation, putting a lot of pressure on the new leaders of the EU.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is the most significant update of Europe’s digital rules in over two decades. The European Commission sees the DSA as being a core plank of making Europe fit for the Digital Age. But what does this mean in practice, and does the DSA fit the bill?

According to the Commission, the new rules are proportionate, foster innovation, growth and competitiveness, and facilitate the scaling up of smaller platforms, SMEs and start-ups. The responsibilities of users, platforms, and public authorities are rebalanced according to European values, placing citizens at the centre.

The Digital Services Act includes rules for online intermediary services, which millions of Europeans use every day. The obligations of different online players match their role, size and impact in the online ecosystem.

The EU institutions are now entering the final phase of negotiations following an intense legislative process in the European Parliament which saw a number of new amendments proposed. These amendments covered a wide range of issues that will have significant implications for how we use and interact with online services for years to come.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Debate to find out about the DSA and its impact on Europe’s digital economy. Discussed questions included:

- What will change for users of online services?
- Will online marketplaces continue to function effectively with the proposed KYBC and product requirements?
- How will ‘user redress’ work?
- What effect will content moderation requirements have on user content?
- Can the data protection and data access requirements operate in parallel?
- What will digital advertising look like?

Last summer, the European Commission published a proposal for recasting the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), aimed at further stimulating EU efforts to promote energy efficiency and progress towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Heating and cooling play a significant role in the Union’s ambition to transition to a clean and carbon-neutral economy. In the EED, a particular focus is put on district heating and cooling, where the definition of efficient systems will gradually be tightened to move away from fossil fuel-based systems. In cogeneration, the aim is to introduce additional criteria for specific emissions in high-efficiency cogeneration (270 gCO2/kWh).

These proposed measures in the recast EED should be seen alongside the new targets proposed in the revised Renewable Energy proposal for including renewables in heating and cooling (at least 1.1%) and for district heating and cooling (2.1%), which aim to ensure wider use of renewables and waste heat in such systems.

The energy industry expressed some concerns for the new definition of "efficient systems" and its impact on district heating systems, especially those based on natural gas high-efficiency cogeneration. They claim that for existing efficient district heating systems, an adequate transition period should be introduced to adapt to the new requirements, in order to avoid these systems from suddenly losing their status.

District heating is not the same across the Union, since it largely depends on regional and local conditions and is therefore mostly used in the EU’s coldest countries. During the open public consultation carried out by the European Commission, several energy industry stakeholders expressed their concerns that the current goals of increasing the share of renewables can be seen as a challenge for Member States that have decided to develop heating systems as an effective way of ensuring heat supply while at the same time reducing the emissions of district heat by replacing coal with other fuels like natural gas.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss the new definition of efficient district heating systems in the EED proposal, and how stakeholders can best cooperate to achieve cost-effective decarbonisation.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how long it will take until autonomous vehicles become the norm, and what is delaying progress. Discussed questions included:

- Can the existing infrastructure be adapted to accommodate autonomous vehicles?
- What are the most efficient technologies that can be deployed in a sustainable and ethical manner for making autonomous driving an everyday reality?
- Is there harmonisation of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) across Europe, such as data standardisation and the extension of digital infrastructure, to ensure a seamless service for road users and to prepare for autonomous vehicles?
- Are users aware of, and ready for, the challenges, like roads with mixed driver and driverless traffic?

The EU's post-pandemic Green Recovery is laying the foundations for a new understanding of buildings and construction processes. The needs of people and systems are being reconsidered, while new implications of construction work are taken into consideration, such as energy production and efficiency, recycling of materials and sourcing of raw materials, transportation of tools and materials.

Buildings are responsible for about 40% of the EU's energy consumption, and 36% of greenhouse gas emissions from energy. But only 1% of buildings undergo energy efficient renovation every year.

The Commission aims to at least double building renovation rates in the next ten years and make sure renovations lead to higher energy and resource efficiency. This will enhance the quality of life for people living in and using the buildings, reduce Europe's greenhouse gas emissions, foster digitalisation, and improve the reuse and recycling of materials. By 2030, 35 million buildings could be renovated and up to 160,000 additional green jobs created in the construction sector.

A carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), announced in the European Green Deal, will also serve as an essential element of the EU toolbox to meet the objective of a climate-neutral EU by 2050. The CBAM will equalise the price of carbon between domestic products and imports and encourage producers in non-EU countries to green their production processes. It will initially apply only to a selected number of goods at high risk of carbon leakage: iron and steel, cement, fertiliser, aluminium, and electricity generation.

Given the scale of emissions produced by the construction sector, cleaning it up will be a challenge for EU policymakers and Member States, particularly when addressing entire global supply chains.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about the new economic and environmental challenges for the construction sector, particularly for South-Eastern Europe. Discussed questions include:

- What will be the new implications faced during, before and after construction - from conceptualising, planning, designing, constructing and maintaining?
- How can the global supply chain crisis be navigated by South-Eastern Member States?
- What role can the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility play?
- What are the implications of higher construction materials and energy prices?
- Would there be an increased demand for recycled (secondary) construction materials and products? And, is there a lack of adequate recycling facilities?
- What form can the 'renovation wave' take in less economically advanced Member States, and what will the costs be for the construction sector?
- How to make construction a cornerstone of CBAM?

Agriculture is one of the key focus areas of the partnership between the EU and the African Union (AU), with the EU’s focus being on facilitating a green transition in line with its Green Deal ambitions. By working together to boost safe and sustainable agri-food systems, the AU and the EU can address the challenges of nutrition and food security, environmental concerns, and economic growth.

From February 17-18 at the EU-Africa Union Summit, African and European Heads of State and Government will meet to determine joint priorities for their common future. The Summit is due to include an exchange of views on common areas of cooperation in a renewed Africa-EU Partnership. The partnership agreement is expected to cover agriculture, a key sector in Africa with a large social and economic footprint.

Some stakeholders argue that future agri-food partnerships between the EU and Africa, while enabling a sustainable transformation, must also be adapted to the realities of farming in Africa. Such realities include, among others: unrealised yield and the yield potential of farms; the ambition to end hunger; agriculture is predominantly smallholder led; it is more affected by climate change, disease and pests pressure not present in Europe; low technology access and use; and low investment despite governmental commitments made in the 2014 Malabo commitments. They also highlight the ongoing challenge of illicit products circulating in the market.

The partnership is also being agreed against a backdrop of the newly established and evolving African Continental Free Trade Area that created the largest free trade areas in the world, measured by number of countries participating.

Listen to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to discuss how Africa can transition sustainably towards greener agriculture. Questions to be discussed include:
- How can the global sustainability agenda be effectively localised? What do the localisation agendas look like for Europe and Africa respectively?
- What laws, partnerships and investments are needed to unlock a sustainable transformation that empowers smallholder farmers, builds food security and contributes to livelihoods?
- How can we unlock the potential of sustainable technologies?

En réponse aux conséquences économiques et sociales de la pandémie, les Etats membres de l'Union européenne ont adopté un plan de relance historique baptisé « NextGenerationEU ». Avec une enveloppe d'environ 750 milliards d'euros, cet accord a pour objectif principal le financement du pacte vert pour l'Europe et la transition numérique.

La crise sanitaire a rappelé l'importance de la souveraineté alimentaire ainsi que la nécessité de renforcer la transition agroécologique sur le continent européen. Une partie conséquente du plan de relance sera allouée au secteur agricole, majoritairement par le biais la PAC, dont la France est la première bénéficiaire. Selon l’INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l’agriculture, l’alimentation et l’environnement), les aides directes de la PAC auraient financé 74% du revenu des agriculteurs en 2019 en France.

L'agriculture durable est également un point essentiel de la réforme de la PAC qui entrera en vigueur en 2023. Après de longues négociations au Parlement européen, les avis restent partagés concernant les ambitions de l'accord sur le plan environnemental. La France doit désormais soumettre son Plan stratégique national (PSN) qui sera présenté à la Commission et fixera les priorités du gouvernement quant à la mise en œuvre du nouvel accord sur le territoire. L'élaboration du PSN est un réel enjeu pour la France car la nouvelle réforme de la PAC octroie une marge décisionnelle plus importante aux Etats membres de l'Union.

Ecoutez cette conférence virtuelle organisée par EURACTIV. Les questions abordées sont les suivantes :
- Comment la France utilise-t-elle concrètement les ressources financières mises à sa disposition au niveau national et régional ?
- Comment le gouvernement français soutient-il la transition agroécologique ?
- Comment contrôle-t-on la mise en œuvre des initiatives durables par les agriculteurs ?
- Quelles solutions innovantes sont utilisées pour maintenir ces objectifs ?

In July 2021, the European Commission adopted a Proposal for establishing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The aim of the proposal is to require importers to buy carbon certificates corresponding to the carbon price that would have been paid had the goods been produced under the EU's carbon pricing rules. Conversely, once a non-EU producer can show they have already paid a price for the carbon used in the production of the imported goods in a third country, the corresponding cost can be fully deducted for the EU importer.

The CBAM is intended to complement the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and level the playing field between EU and non-EU businesses. The EU ETS, which sets a cap on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be released from industrial installations in certain sectors, works through a system of allowances that must be bought on the ETS trading market, though a certain number of free allowances is distributed to prevent carbon leakage. The CBAM will progressively become an alternative to this. Moreover, in the Commission's new proposal for a revised ETS, the number of free allowances for all sectors will decline over time, and for the CBAM sectors, the free allowances will gradually be phased out as from 2026.

An industry particularly susceptible to these mechanisms is that of steel, which has set out the ambition to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2018 (= 55% compared to 1990). Currently, there are more than 50 steel projects that could be implemented at industrial scale by 2030 in order to achieve this ambitious objective. The estimated costs are 25 billion EUR Capex and 45 billion EUR Opex, plus 150 TWh of carbon-free electricity needed, including for hydrogen production, by 2030. The EU steel industry states it is willing to invest in order to implement these and other projects, with the support of EU and national programmes and EU legislation that allows a sustainable transition.

Stakeholders from the industry have expressed some concerns about the CBAM and ETS. They claim that the additional direct carbon costs for the steel industry with the combined effect of CBAM and ETS on the free allowances phase-out will be of nearly 14 billion euros in 2030 with ‘business as usual’ emissions, or 8,4 billion euros if the sector is able to reduce its emissions by 30% by 2030. Industry also claims that in 2030, an average EU steel company retrofitting its plant with clean technology will face 400 million euros carbon costs, while a similar non-EU company exporting its steel into the EU market will bear only 30 million euros of costs, despite the CBAM levy at the border.

Relisten to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out about the impact of the CBAM and ETS mechanisms on the steel industry. Discussed questions included:

- Is the Fit for 55 Package also “fit” to ensure a level playing field between EU steelmakers and non EU-steelmakers?
- In light of the current energy and carbon prices spikes, how can the phasing out of free allowances be implemented in a sustainable way?
- Can the CBAM coexist with the current system of free allowances?
- Why should we need export adjustments and to what extent are they compliant with WTO requirements?
- Investments in breakthrough technologies and affordable CO2-free energy are key for scaling up low-carbon steel projects already in progress. How can those needs be met, while creating lead markets for the greener but also more expensive EU steel?

In December 2021, the European Commission published the Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Market Package with the aim to decarbonise the EU gas market by facilitating the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, and to ensure energy security for EU citizens.

One of the main aims of the new legislative proposals is to establish a market for hydrogen, create the right environment for investment, and enable the development of dedicated infrastructure, including for trade with third countries.

A new governance structure in the form of the European Network of Network Operators for Hydrogen (ENNOH) will be created to promote a dedicated hydrogen infrastructure, cross-border coordination and interconnector network construction, and elaborate on specific technical rules.

The new legislative proposals follow from the strategic vision set out in the EU Strategy for Energy System Integration, the EU Hydrogen Strategy and the EU Methane Strategy.

Listen to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out the EU's shift from natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen. Questions included:
-Will the new legislative proposals be enough to decarbonise Europe’s gas supply, and help the EU reach its 2030 and 2050 targets?
-How can the EU ensure effective integration of hydrogen within its energy system?

 

Over the last century, the amount of methane in the atmosphere has more than doubled. A rapid, large-scale effort to tackle its emissions could slow global warming by 30%. Last year, the EU played a major role in launching the Global Methane Pledge signed by over 100 countries representing 70% of the global economy committing to reduce methane emissions this decade.

Up until now, little has been done in Europe on the regulatory front to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas. But the European Commission is to change that by finalising a regulation aimed at cutting down methane emissions as part of a gas package of legislation published on 15 December.

As the world’s largest gas importer, with 85% of the bloc’s natural gas produced outside its borders, the EU’s plan to crack down on methane emissions is crucial. The European Commission’s methane proposal has been criticised by some industry and climate stakeholders for not going far enough in dealing with extraterritorial emissions.

Attention now turns to the European Parliament and Member States to set the tone of the negotiations in the coming months to ensure the EU methane legislation achieves deep greenhouse gas reductions.

Listen to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how the EU can tackle energy sector methane emissions and reach its 2030 climate targets and the 2050 climate neutrality goal. Questions included:
– Are the proposed methane measurement, monitoring and mitigation requirements enough to address Europe’s methane problem?
– How can the EU lead the way on reducing methane emissions at a global level?

 

The European Parliament and the Council are working with the European Commission to find a final compromise on the Digital Markets Act (DMA) that aims to ensure contestability, fairness, and a level playing field in the EU. While the political directions from the Parliament and the Council have been set, more work is needed to get to the final text and make the DMA work.

Clear and predictable rules are necessary to provide legal certainty for gatekeepers and users alike and for the DMA to be self-enforcing. In order to regulate dynamic digital markets effectively and proportionally, account should be taken of the nature of core platform services targeted by the DMA and the presence of different business models. It is deemed unwise for self-enforcement to be left entirely to the gatekeepers. Guidance will be needed to get to effective remedies and the Commission might need to play a stronger role in defining what concretely gatekeepers should and should not do.

Many industry stakeholders support the idea of some form of regulatory dialogue. Both gatekeepers and users would benefit and enforcement would be strengthened. Such a dialogue could contribute to ensure the DMA achieves its objectives and to create legal certainty by providing further specification to the obligations gatekeepers will have to comply with as well as to hold gatekeepers accountable. It could also help to better understand the effects that the DMA would have on the different platform services, on consumers and business users.

Listen to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out how the regulatory dialogue could be designed and implemented to contribute to the effectiveness and durability of the DMA. How would the general obligations of the DMA apply across the diverse platform services covered? How can companies best assist the EU Commission in achieving the DMA policy objectives?

Decarbonising the heating and cooling sector is central to achieving the energy transition. This is recognised in the European Green Deal and the ‘Fit for 55’ package, as without increasing the share of renewables in this sector, our energy and climate targets cannot be achieved cost-effectively.

Within the heating sector, district heating is proving particularly difficult to decarbonise, as district heating systems operate mostly on fossil fuels. However, some stakeholders argue that power-to-heat technologies could be a good solution, as they use renewable energy for heating.

By converting electricity into heat, power-to-heat technologies have the potential to help raise the share of renewable energy in the district heating sector. Power-to-heat could be particularly important in large heating systems which, due to their high heat demand, and with a lack of local renewables, are the most difficult to decarbonise.

Listen to this Euractiv Hybrid Conference to discuss the potential of power-to-heat technologies in decarbonising district heating. Questions to be discussed include:
· How can power-to-heat help in reaching the objectives of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Directives?
· What role can power-to-heat play in energy stabilisation? And what implications can this have on energy grids?
· What are the next steps to support the necessary rollout of power-to-heat technologies in district heating?

SMEs play a significant role in the economic well-being of the EU economy, accounting for over 60% of employment across the EU27 and the UK. SMEs are also a key driving factor for economic inclusivity. They push forward economic innovation and flexibility given their importance to entrepreneurship and new market entry, adoption of new innovative technologies, and overall wider benefits to market competition and ultimately to consumers.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, many SMEs expressed cautious optimism, with a positive economic outlook for growth and the opportunity to invest. But COVID-19 has seen many SMEs in a fight for survival. Despite the benefits of digitalisation, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2020 data found SMEs lag behind larger businesses in adoption of nearly all technologies despite being connected to the internet at the same rate. This ‘digital divide’ presents policymakers with the task of supporting SMEs in the economic recovery.

While all SMEs have been impacted and face risks due to COVID-19, it is clear that the more digitalised SMEs - operating in sectors such as financial/insurance services and professional services - have identified new business opportunities in the pandemic economy at a higher rate than the less digitalised businesses, such as those operating in the construction, manufacturing and hospitality sectors.

Challenges related to availability, capacity and capability impede the ability of SMEs to digitalise and ultimately find new business opportunities. SMEs therefore look to policymakers to help with availability of tools and technologies required for digitalisation, such as high-speed connectivity in urban and rural areas; capacity (financial and time) to engage with digital transformations; and the capability to gauge, plan, implement and optimise their digital transformations through digital skills.

Listen to this EURACTIV – GIGAEurope Digital Debate to find out how policymakers can support SMEs to maintain their economic resilience post-pandemic. Questions included:

- Are current EU and national policies equipped to support SMEs in the cases of availability, capacity and capability?
- How can policy best mitigate a digital divide amongst European SMEs by addressing the financial constraints that impede the ability of SMEs to digitalise?
- Should the opportunities presented by the use of digital (e.g. flexible working) be prioritised in ongoing government policy support?
- What should a tailored policy approach look like for SMEs, as there can clearly not be a ‘one size fits all’ approach for ongoing SME support?

The Farm to Fork strategy, which outlines several targets to green the EU’s agri-food sector, has sparked debate ever since its unveiling in May 2020.

The outcomes of some initial studies on the Farm to Fork’s impact concluded that the Farm to Fork’s goals are in reach but risk a significant reduction in EU food production and farmers’ income, underlining their fears about the strategy’s potential impact on the sector.

Environmental organisations have been quick to highlight the shortcomings of these. They say the studies do not consider the full range of benefits that more sustainable production would bring to the sector.

A main divide between the two sides is that industry wants an overall impact assessment of the Farm to Fork strategy, whereas environmental organisations believe that evaluating each measure in the strategy would be sufficient.

Listen to this EURACTIV Virtual Conference to find out what we still do not know about the impact of the EU’s Farm to Fork strategy on farmers, consumers, and the environment. And what policy instruments will be needed to reach the targets?

In November 2020, the European Commission launched the Pact for Skills – a shared engagement and approach to skills development. The Pact is aimed to maximise the improvement of existing skills (upskilling) and training in new skills (reskilling). It calls on industry, employers, social partners, chambers of commerce, public authorities, education and training providers and employment agencies to work together and make a clear commitment to invest in training for all working age people across the European Union.

The Pact builds on the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU’s compass for a social and inclusive recovery. It emphasises the promotion of lifelong learning for all, building strong skills partnerships, monitoring skills supply/demand and anticipating skills needs, and working against discrimination and for gender equality and equal opportunities.

As reskilling is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Funds, taking account of regional, national and European developments is imperative for a fair and resilient recovery.

Join this EURACTIV Virtual Conference, the third event of the 'Future of Work Lab debate series', to discuss where we stand one year after the launch of the Pact for Skills and how skills are becoming 'the currency of the future'. Questions to be addressed include:

- How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted concepts like lifelong learning and skills partnerships?
- What lessons can be drawn from the pandemic regarding skills supply/demand and anticipating skills?
- What are national systems doing to enforce upskilling of their workforce in the framework of National Resilience and Recovery Plans?
- What role can industry play in ensuring a fair and efficient upskilling of the workforce?
- What role can the EU play in skills demand and supply needs for workforce and companies at regional, national and European level? How is this foreseen in the NRRPs?
- Can the Recovery and Resilience Facility play a role in the implementation of the EU Pact for Skills?