There was a time when energy, climate and trade policy were considered largely separate. This is now changing.
Energy & Environment
MEPs vote to expand scope of deforestation regulation
The European Parliament’s environment committee voted to expand the list of products for which businesses in Europe will have to undertake new due diligence procedures concerning deforestation.
ANALYSIS – EU-New Zealand FTA: sustainable development novelties
This article introduces the ‘sustainable development’ aspects within the recently concluded EU New Zealand FTA. The analysis is based on the draft text of the treaty published very recently by the European Commission. By Rob Francis, with a little bit of extra input from Iana Dreyer.
Week in Brussels: Indo-Pacific, India, hunting trophies
A comparatively quiet week in EU trade policy, with a few important policy signals sent over from Strasbourg. By Rob Francis and Iana Dreyer.
Environment ministers seal Council positions on CBAM, deforestation
European Union environment ministers adopted their negotiating position on the European Commission’s proposal to reduce the consumption in the EU of products coming from supply chains associated with deforestation.
Comment: How the EU disconnected itself from the Energy Charter Treaty
Last Friday Energy Charter Treaty diplomats endorsed changes to the agreement after more than two years of ’modernisation’ negotiations. Although the new text has not yet been published, a summary communication released by the ECT secretariat indicates that there will be significant changes. This effectively foreshadows a gradual ‘withdrawal’ of …
Energy Charter Treaty deal announced
Energy Charter Treaty diplomats have closed in on difficult negotiations to ‘modernise’ a treaty that originally aimed at promoting trade and protecting energy investments on the Eurasian landmass after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Week in Brussels: Germany set for CETA, CBAM controversy, Pakistan, Kazakhstan
It’s been another big week in EU trade. The European Parliament has now a position on carbon border adjustment, and climate and labour conditionality in free trade agreements is about to get much much tougher. But there are even more big news – as seen below. By Rob Francis and …
European Parliament endorses export rebates in carbon border adjustment vote
The European Parliament today voted to continue to grant free allocation of CO2 emission allowances to exports from sectors within the scope of the European Commission’s proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism. The rebates would apply to exports destined for third countries without a carbon pricing mechanism.
EU FTA partners to be asked to sign up to sanctionable climate, labour obligations
The European Commission today announced that it will introduce sanctions as a last resort in cases where free trade agreement partners persistently violate core international labour conventions as well as the Paris climate agreement.
