January 30, 2014
Subsidies on petroleum products and fossil energy have become a deeply rooted vice in many countries across the globe, especially oil-rich ones. They can be quite expensive, absorbing two to ten percent of GDP in a dozen countries resorting to this fallacious political favour. They constitute a hidden economic and environmental burden to the respective… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
January 27, 2014
After months of internal debate the Commission has presented EU climate goals for 2030. The green lobby has called them inadequate,while utilities, heavy industry and most member states are prepared to give their blessing. Assuming that the European Council will endorse them at its June session, the EU will be the first group of countries… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
January 24, 2014
The European Commission is due to present its policy guidelines for shale gas production on 22 January. It is expected to leave member countries large latitude for the exploration and production, subject to respect specific health and environment safeguards, e. g. for water. We should not expect a boom comparable to what the US Middle… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
January 22, 2014
Humanity is set to produce some 2.5 billion (!) smart phones, tablets and computers in 2014: one device for every three inhabitants of the planet. Smart phones have become the indispensable means of communication, sharply boosting productivity in certain fields. This development is taking place without an active European contribution: European companies have largely abandoned… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
January 20, 2014
At the December 2013 European Council Meeting, EU heads of government pledged to pursue the enlargement of the EU and the eurozone. The list of candidates is quite long. The next challenge for the EU is the accession of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo – six small, mostly multinational countries of the Western… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
January 14, 2014
In October 2004 the European Union has introduced a new company statute, the Societas Europaea (SE), to facilitate business operating in several EU countries without having to adapt their company statute to the law of the host countries. By doing so EU legislators had hoped to encourage EU companies to open subsidiaries in other EU… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
2014 will be important for European and global energy and climate policy. In preparation for the international climate conferences 2014-15 the EU will have to define its emission targets for the next 15 years and beyond. That process has started. The Commission will present its proposals on January 22. The targets must be ambitious. Reducing… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
January 9, 2014
In 2013 weather conditions in Europe have been marked by high instability and unpredictability. It is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish the seasons. In March winter weather prevailed, in December spring time. The rain distribution has become very uneven, with heavy rains causing massive inundations, especially in Northwestern Europe. Strong and frequent winds have become… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
January 8, 2014
With his recent interview in “Il Fatto Quottidiano” on Italy’s future economic policy, the newly elected Secretary General of the Democratic Party Matteo Renzi has aroused mixed feelings in Italy and other EU countries. He pleads for a radical shake-up, slashing Italy’s bloated bureaucracy, cutting its rampant unemployment and reforming its labour legislation and educational… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
Thoughts on energy and climate, the Mediterranean and whatever comes to mind.
