Economics 

EU backing renewable energy in overseas territories

Extra funds for energy initiatives are foretaste of proposals designed to revitalise Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands.

Not everyone buys into engagement with Russia

Seen from a German point of view, eastern Europe's disenchantment with the European Union is both untrue and fantastically offensive. How can the [...]

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Farming & food 

Biofuels should not be ‘scapegoated'

European commissioner maintains support for biofuels target despite rise in food prices

EU and US lead charm offensive

Last-ditch talks to seal deal ahead of US election Effort to win backing of emerging economies

Energy 

MEP calls for financial reward for hitting renewables targets

Countries that outperform their targets on renewable energy should get a financial reward while underachievers should be fined, according to the MEP who is drafting the European Parliament's position on the renewables directive.

Energising competition

Negotiations on the European Commission's latest energy market liberalisation have been dominated by one issue: ownership unbundling. Fierce divisions have arisen over whether companies with energy-generating activities should be obliged to sell off any energy-transmission business, so as to avoid a conflict of interest when it comes to allocating transmission capacity. Countries led by the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands favour ownership unbundling, but France and Germany oppose it.

How to create a future for biofuels

Liquid biofuels – ethanol and ‘biodiesel' – have captured the worldwide and European fascination as renewable energy for the transport sector, but the tide seems to be turning now that people are realising the inherent challenges of leaping into a liquid biofuels policy in the absence of adequate consideration of the down-stream results.

Business 

Spain facing court over Endesa case

European Commission threatening to take Madrid to the European Court of Justice.

US, EU begin fresh ‘open skies' talks

Second phase of liberalisation talks focuses on mergers and aligning rules governing the US and EU aviation markets.

Do manufacturers lack drive for greener cars?

A UK expert on greener vehicles has no sympathy for foot-dragging carmakers.