Analysis

Expert analysis, features and profiles of key topical issues in the European Union.

Major progress on wind in 2009 — 15 February 2010, 16:35 CET

2009 is in danger of being remembered as the year of the Copenhagen ‘failure’ and Obama’s failure to get a cap-and-trade bill through the US Senate. However, it should be remembered as a year when, despite extremely difficult economic conditions, major polluting countries made substantial progress in expanding wind energy.

Substantial EU progress on CCS — 10 February 2010, 23:40 CET

On Tuesday 2 February 2010, European Union member states agreed to European Commission proposals on how to distribute billions of Euros collected under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to CCS and renewable energy projects. The EU aims to have 10 to 12 large-scale (above 250Mw) CCS plants operational by 2015. This target was agreed in 2007 and the source of funding identified in 2008, but arguments about whether the Commission or national governments should select the schemes have held up progress in actually making awards of most of the money.

Renewing and decentralising Iraq’s electricity — 04 February 2010, 23:27 CET

The European Union and Iraq on 18 January signed an agreement to strengthen their energy cooperation in areas such as natural gas, energy security and renewables (see EUbusiness: EU, Iraq sign energy agreement).

Derek Prag (1923-2010) — 04 February 2010, 23:24 CET

Derek Prag was the Conservative member of the European Parliament for Hertfordshire from 1979 to 1994.

Europe must follow Germany and Spain — 07 January 2010, 16:23 CET

For the next six months, Spain holds the Presidency of the EU and, from the start of February, there will be a new European Commission, with the German Gunther Oettinger, a member of Merkel’s centre-right CDU party, as Energy Commissioner. Spain and Germany lead the EU on wind and solar power, so there are good grounds to hope that the new leadership will result in a major speeding up of the low carbon transition.

Was Copenhagen worth it? — 29 December 2009, 11:55 CET

Yes, just. The Copenhagen Accord is vague and, having been negotiated by a small number of countries led by the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa, was only “noted” by the Conference, not formally adopted.

Focus on forests and finance — 17 December 2009, 15:40 CET

During the last two days of the Copenhagen Summit, world leaders should focus less on targets and more on forest protection and finance.

Copenhagen + Obama = progress? — 10 December 2009, 23:47 CET

The single most important thing that must be agreed at Copenhagen is to provide substantial extra money to protect forests.

Controlling fuel poverty during the transition — 01 December 2009, 19:33 CET

The transition from a fossil fuel economy to a renewable one, and the use of low-carbon bridge technologies like nuclear power and carbon capture and storage (CCS), will cost billions.

The EU and energy efficiency — 20 November 2009, 22:47 CET

The now-ratified Lisbon Treaty says that there will, in the future, be a common energy policy, but this is unlikely to have much practical impact. Yet the EU has already set binding and enforceable targets on renewables, has significant regulatory powers which will be crucial for widespread CCS deployment. It also has money, which will be important both for renewables and for CCS demonstration. It has little role over nuclear energy. However, it should be doing much more on energy efficiency.

Little progress, just a dustpan and brush — 12 November 2009, 23:36 CET

The Finance Ministers of the G20 economies met over the weekend in Scotland. UK Prime Minister Brown, who attended the meeting, won headlines for his support for a tax on financial transactions, the so-called Tobin Tax. This could raise substantial amounts, which could then help fund the low-carbon transition. However, Brown did not win support, notably from the US, and the finance ministers made no significant progress on low-carbon finance.

Major economies talk money, not targets — 23 October 2009, 15:29 CET

Most international discussion about climate change this week has been about finance, not targets. This is good news. Targets are important, but mainly for focussing attention. The Kyoto targets are supposed to be legally binding, but there is no effective enforcement mechanism. Anything agreed at Copenhagen will be similarly unenforceable. Therefore, a business plan for the low carbon transition, and substantial money for forest protection and for adaptation to the now-inevitable impacts of climate change, is urgently required.

Acting locally, thinking globally — 17 October 2009, 15:07 CET

“Think global; act local” – the phrase often used by of Friends of the Earth – is an excellent philosophy.

How to Preserve Trust in Anti-trust — 25 August 2010, 21:32 CET

Let it be known: yesterday was European Competition Day. With a one-day conference in Stockholm, hosted by the Swedish EU Presidency, the European Commission wanted to enhance the visibility of EU competition policy (or anti-trust policy, in American terminology) and explain its achievements to the general public.

Ireland votes for a more effective EU — 08 October 2009, 10:38 CET

The Irish have voted to accept the Lisbon Treaty so, unless the Czech Republic or Poland decide unexpectedly to refuse to do so, the Treaty of Lisbon will come into force. This will not have a significant direct effect on climate and energy policy, but it will enable to EU to focus on more important things rather than endless institutional wrangling. Most importantly, the EU can now focus on reducing its annual greenhouse emissions from over ten tonnes to the two tonnes maximum needed to protect the climate.

Will Merkel II be green? — 01 October 2009, 22:40 CET

Angela Merkel’s victory in Germany’s election was not unexpected. What was less clear was who her coalition partner would be. The decline in the Social Democrat (SPD) vote and increase in the Free Democrat vote means that it will be the FDP. This party is liberal, in both economic and social senses. It is also very pro-business and in favour of tax cuts and is now arguing for reductions in subsidies.

How can the EU best meet its 2020 renewables target? — 24 September 2009, 16:22 CET

Climate change: Europe needs to move more than three times as fast over the next 12 years as it has over the last 12.

Is the ‘peak oil’ debate relevant? — 17 September 2009, 12:04 CET

Should we worry about oil and gas running out? No.

We have much to learn from Scandinavia — 11 September 2009, 23:36 CET

The Danish government has said that it will pay for poor nations, including the Maldives, to send people to the Copenhagen climate conference in December. This won’t be very expensive - EUR 2.5 million. However, it has great symbolic significance, since the Maldives could well be submerged by rising sea levels, so is the most immediately threatened of any country.

EU talks finance as well as targets — 11 September 2009, 23:36 CET

The EU is prepared to push for funding to help developing countries control emissions and deal with the effects of climate change, according to the current chairman of the Environment Council, Swedish Environment Minister, Andreas Carlgren. However, in return, it expects national climate plans and “advanced developing countries” will have to deliver more than less advanced ones. For example, China is expected to cut emissions by up to a third compared to business-as-usual.

Brazil must look after the Amazon - with our help — 11 August 2009, 17:44 CET

Brazilian president, Lula da Silva, says (quite often) that “Brazil is in charge of looking after the Amazon” and, to be fair, his government has tried to reduce the rate of destruction. However, being in charge doesn’t mean paying the bill. In 2006, the Brazilian government proposed a fund, based upon donor country contributors, to defend forests. In climate terms, preventing deforestation makes more sense than investing in re-forestation, as trees do not grow fast enough to absorb enough carbon. The future international climate treaty must include significant sums of money for forest protection.

New EUbusiness study: only 2% of MEPs have financial experience — 31 May 2009, 16:15 CET

Who are the people responsible for reviewing and legislating on around 75% of all laws enacted in the 27 EU member states on behalf of 375m voters? As Europe is about to vote for a new set of MEPs, the answer to this question is fundamental both for citizens of the EU and all organisations interacting with it.

Economic mayhem and the 2009 European elections — 23 May 2009, 23:30 CET

At a time of financial turmoil, electing 700-odd representatives to the European Parliament in Strasbourg this June may seem somewhat of a sideshow.

Imagination, Entrepreneurship and the EU — 23 May 2009, 22:28 CET

Each year the European Union spends billions of euros on an array of programmes with aims that include developing new technologies and encouraging Universities and business to work together.  However, such initiatives can seem often more akin to the Eurovision Song contest; part of the cultural fabric, but only rarely delivering a big hit.