
Copenhagen eyes climate action as it kicks off Council presidency
The discussion is set to take place shortly after a presentation of the bloc's new emission reduction target running to 2040 which is due to land 2 July. In addition to future climate targets, the work to be done in the build up to November's United Nations climate change conference in Brazil is another topic on the agenda of the ministerial while plastic pollution will also feature.
Shortly after Brussels takes a summer break, the Danes will then preside over a new high-level meeting on energy topics, planned for the 4 and 5 of September, and an official Council meeting scheduled for 20 October.
Concluding negotiations on the REPowerEU proposal, the EU's plan to increase the share of renewables in its overall energy consumption, is among Denmark's top priorities, notably to phase out the supply of Russian gas.
Advancing work to lower energy prices is another key priority for the Danish presidency, which aims to start talks on the energy infrastructure framework, strengthened grid development and streamlined procedures for energy deployment.
(jp)
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Euractiv
a day ago
- Euractiv
Copenhagen eyes climate action as it kicks off Council presidency
Denmark is launching its mandate presiding over the Council of the European Union and the agenda is now fixed for a meeting of climate and environment ministers set for 10 July. The discussion is set to take place shortly after a presentation of the bloc's new emission reduction target running to 2040 which is due to land 2 July. In addition to future climate targets, the work to be done in the build up to November's United Nations climate change conference in Brazil is another topic on the agenda of the ministerial while plastic pollution will also feature. Shortly after Brussels takes a summer break, the Danes will then preside over a new high-level meeting on energy topics, planned for the 4 and 5 of September, and an official Council meeting scheduled for 20 October. Concluding negotiations on the REPowerEU proposal, the EU's plan to increase the share of renewables in its overall energy consumption, is among Denmark's top priorities, notably to phase out the supply of Russian gas. Advancing work to lower energy prices is another key priority for the Danish presidency, which aims to start talks on the energy infrastructure framework, strengthened grid development and streamlined procedures for energy deployment. (jp)


Euractiv
a day ago
- Euractiv
Macron urges Ukraine ceasefire in talks with Putin
Emmanuel Macron urged Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine "as soon as possible" as the two held their first known phone talks since September 2022, the French president's office said. During the two-hour call, Macron "emphasised France's unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" and "called for the establishment, as soon as possible, of a ceasefire and the launch of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia for a solid and lasting settlement of the conflict," the Elysee Palace said. On Iran, "the two presidents decided to coordinate their efforts and to speak soon in order to follow up together on this issue," the French presidency added. The Kremlin described the call with Macron – the first between Putin and a European leader since Olaf Scholz spoke with the Russian president last November – as "substantive", state media agency Tass reported. "Vladimir Putin reminded (Macron) that the Ukrainian conflict is a direct consequence of the policy of Western states," the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin added that Western states had "for many years ignored Russia's security interests" and "created an anti-Russian bridgehead in Ukraine". The Kremlin said Putin told the French president that any peace deal should be "comprehensive and long-term, provide for the elimination of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and be based on new territorial realities."


Euractiv
a day ago
- Euractiv
Denmark introduces mandatory conscription for women amid growing threat from Russia
Denmark is ramping up military spending and begins including women in compulsory military service as of 1 July in a bid to bolster its defence against the growing threat from Russia. All those turning 18 after 1 July 2025 will be eligible for possible conscription into the Danish Armed Forces. Until now, this has been limited to men, although women were allowed to volunteer. In Denmark, a lottery system determines who gets drafted: each eligible conscript draws a number from a tombola. If the number is lower than the required number of conscripts not covered by volunteers, it means putting on a uniform. The country's centrist government, the Greens and most of the conservative opposition agreed on the changes in April last year, today they came into force – coinciding with the day Denmark takes over the rotating EU council presidency. The new rules should help Denmark address "the current security situation", Colonel Kenneth Strøm, head of the conscription programme, told AP. They include an extension of conscription duration from four to eleven months, with plans to train 6,500 conscripts annually from 2033 – a 40% increase on current figures. At the moment, the nation of 6 million has 9,000 professional troops. The new rules also make it easier for individuals with diabetes and ADHD. If need be, the Danish defence minister has the authority to deploy conscripts abroad. Among the Nordic countries, Denmark is the last of the three to include women in the mandatory conscription process. Norway made similar changes in 2013 and Sweden followed suit in 2017. Denmark has been one of the biggest donors of aid to Ukraine, with allocations of 9.5 billion euros – which is around 2.6% of the country's GDP. (vib)