December 5, 2014
The recent revelations about complex financial transactions of some 300 major companies profiting from differentials between corporate income tax bases and rates among member states and specific tax deals reducing their tax bill raise questions about the compatibility of national company taxation regimes with an economic and monetary union. After several fruitless efforts during the… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
September 11, 2014
The division of Commission services into one dealing with energy policy and another one with climate change policy has always been an artificial one: to influence climate change policy makers have to rely on energy policy. It is therefore positive to recombine the two sides of the coin under a single command and put an… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
June 23, 2014
With the presentation on June 18th of a comprehensive energy transition programme the French energy minister has started to fulfil promises made during the 2012 Presidential election campaign. The programme is a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion on European energy and climate policy beyond 2020 and the preparation for the decisive international climate conference… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
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C02, C02 Emission, C02 Emission Rights, Climate & Environment, Energy, Energy and Climate, Energy Efficiency, English, EU climate policy, EU Priorities 2020 |
June 16, 2014
Rising fears in Europe about a potential embargo of Russian oil and gas embargo seem exaggerated. In any case, they can only rely to gas, as the supply of oil is much more diversified. In the short run, EU disposes of stored gas of close to 100 billion cubic meter that covers its demand for… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
June 10, 2014
After one year of intensive consultations with stakeholders the US Environmental Protection Agency has presented a 645 page (!) proposal containing the rules for C02 emissions that existing power plants will have to respect in the future. When adopted they will lead to a 30% fall of emissions from electricity generation until 2030, compared to… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
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Climate Policy, CO2, CO2 emissions, Energy, English, EU climate targets, EU Priorities 2020 |
October 16, 2013
Angel Gurria, the secretary general of the OECD, has most recently reminded the world that carbon emissions were increasing at a pace that might lead to a rise of global temperatures of four centigrade by the end of the century, twice the maximum temperature still considered acceptable by the international community. That is why he… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
October 7, 2013
The EU is in the process of defining new climate targets for 2030. The Commission intends to make proposals before the end of the year, which Council and European Parliament should adopt before the end of the legislature in May 2014. This process takes place in a new international environment: The acceleration of climate change… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
The five-year mandate of the present European Commission President expires October 31th 2014. Contrary to the restrictive provisions concerning the President of the European Council and the members of the Court of Justice the Treaty on the European Union is silent on the possibility for Commission presidents and members to be reconfirmed. During the last… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
April 8, 2013
The decision by BP to sell off 4.6 GW capacity of wind power plants and projects in North America puts an end to an expensive dream to combine renewable with fossil energies that has cost BP some $ 6.5 billion since 2005. Through their investment in 16 wind farms across nine US States, BP had… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
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Climate & Environment, Energy and Climate, Energy Efficiency, Energy Supply, EU Priorities 2020, Trade & Industry |
The German Ministry of Finance has proudly announced on March 11th that the country will have essentially balanced its budget as of 2014. Structural budget deficits will belong to the past. Germany would thus be the first of the 25 EU countries to live up to the conditions of the “Fiscal Pact” which goes back… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
Thoughts on energy and climate, the Mediterranean and whatever comes to mind.
