Special highlights from EU decision making: sustainable finance and Nord Stream 2 project

Leave a comment Published in: Insights, News, Politics & Institutions, Varia

This briefing includes our latest observations regarding the politics behind EU policies on the following subjects:

– Sustainable finance

– European Deposit Insurance Scheme

– Nord Stream Pipeline

– EU relations with the Middle East countries

– Green public procurement (premium subscribers only)

– Carbon Capture Storage and Utilisation (premium subscribers only)

– Due diligence in the mineral industry (premium subscribers only)

– EU framework on minimum income (premium subscribers only)

–

Finance

Broad political support was confirmed in the EP for increasing the share of green bonds in the portfolio of the European Central Bank (ECB). Continue Reading

How each MEP voted on Lagarde, Brexit backstop, US-Iran sanctions and Amazon fires

Leave a comment Published in: EP Plenary, News, Politics & Institutions, Varia
© European Union 2019 – Source : EP

While preparing for the upcoming hearings of the EU Commission nominees, MEPs cast their votes on some of the hottest topics on the EU agenda: the appointment of Christine Lagarde to succeed Mario Draghi at the ECB, the EU strategy on the Brexit negotiations, the US sanctions against Iran and the case of the Amazon fires.

While the mainstream forces (S&D, Renew Europe and EPP) managed to remain cohesive in backing Lagarde and the EU Brexit strategy, rifts among these groups were observed with regards to the EU position on US-Iran and the Amazon fires. Continue Reading

This is why the EU lacks a position on the Middle East crises

Leave a comment Published in: Foreign policy, Insights, Policy

Qatar responded to the ultimatum imposed by other Gulf countries, as the tensions in the region keep escalating. While the US is very active, the EU seems to lack the ability to have a coherent position on these developments. Why? This report shows how key European political actors have different preferences for their coalition partners in the Middle East, which leads to the EU as a whole having an ambiguous response when these regional crises occur. Continue Reading

Why Central Asia is a key area for the EU during Trump’s America

Leave a comment Published in: Foreign Affairs, Insights, News

The astonishing result of the recent American Presidential election still reverberates across Europe and the World. Donald Trump has been seen by most foreign policy experts as an isolationist, who will (partially) withdraw the US from the realm of international diplomacy. Some European leaders have immediately indicated that this is a clear signal that the EU should get its act together and start to exert real leadership at a global level. Continue Reading

EU and US send opposite signals to Iran’s reconciliation plan

Leave a comment Published in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign policy, Insights, News, Varia

The agreement between the international community and Iran is under question now that Donald Trump will preside over the United States. The new American President has taken a clear position against the deal throughout his campaign. In contrast, just a couple of weeks ago the Europeans have expressed very contrasting views, voting a resolution that endorses closer economic and political relations with Iran. Continue Reading