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Euronews
18 hours ago
- Business
- Euronews
Commission to withdraw greenwashing proposal in new blow to Green Deal
The European Commission intends to withdraw a proposal aimed at combating so-called "greenwashing" by ensuring companies' environmental claims are accurate, substantiated and independently verified, an EU executive spokesperson told reporters today. The proposal on Green Claims was initially presented in March 2023 as part of the broader European Green Deal legislative framework. This move marks the latest in a series of rollbacks of major Green Deal initiatives, after so-called "Omnibus" papers intended to simplify EU legislation effectively narrowed the scope of measures such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The announcement on the Green Claims Directive came ahead of a final meeting between the Polish EU Council presidency and MEPs scheduled next Monday, which was expected to give the proposal the green light ahead of formal adoption. Its withdrawal at this late stage has taken many by surprise, including the negotiators. When questioned by reporters, Commission officials declined to provide detailed reasons for the decision, saying only that more information would follow. According to parliamentary sources close to the file, chief negotiators socialist MEP Delara Burkhardt and liberal MEP Sandro Gozi still intended to proceed with the trilogue negotiations on Monday, noting that the talks were nearing a successful conclusion. 'It is unacceptable that the Commission blatantly interferes with the progress made by co-legislators on this file,' a member of the Parliament's negotiating team told Euronews, expressing frustration at what they see as a unilateral and premature move. Likewise, Poland's presidency of the EU Council 'is ready to enter constructively into the trilogue and go ahead as planned until there is a clear decision from the Commission [on the withdrawal],' a Polish spokesperson tol Euronews. It remains unclear whether the decision to withdraw the proposal has been formally adopted by the Commission's College, the weekly meeting of the 26 Commissioners and EU President Ursula von der Leyen. Beyond the immediate legislative impact, the move raises broader questions about the Commission's authority to retract its own proposals. While EU treaties do not explicitly grant this power, a 2015 ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union affirmed that the Commission may withdraw proposals as part of its right of initiative. However, the Court also made clear that this power is limited and subject to both substantive and procedural constraints. The ruling emphasised that withdrawal should only occur in justified cases, such as institutional deadlock or the proposal becoming obsolete. Neither condition appears to apply in the case of the Green Claims Directive, prompting concerns that the Commission could be overstepping its role and upsetting the institutional balance by exercising a de facto veto over the legislative process.
Euronews
13-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
European Parliament mulls seizure of Russian assets to help Ukraine
The total amount of frozen money is more than the entire aid provided to Ukraine by the EU over the three- year war. But taking it is not without risk. ADVERTISEMENT The Euroclear building in the centre of Brussels is at the centre of intense political discussions within the European Union, since the Belgian Securities Depository is believed to hold the lion's share of €258 billion's worth of Russian assets that have been frozen across EU countries. The EU institutions are divided over whether and how to confiscate this money to support Ukraine, having made the first €1.5 billion of interest generated from these immobilised Russian assets to Kyiv. Some member countries, such as France and Belgium, believe that seizing these assets would be illegal and are therefore urging caution. Others are pushing to seize the money, which would represent more than the entire aid provided by Europe to Ukraine over the three-year-war. Debate is also ongoing in the European Parliament, which held a debate on the issue on Wednesday. 'There are governments which are particularly involved,' Renew MEP Sandro Gozi told Euronews. 'Together with the European Central Bank and other EU institutions, they are working to verify what the legal and financial possibilities are. It's clear that, if there were no market and legal risk arising from confiscating the Russian funds, we would push to do it immediately.' While seizing the interest on these assets, an initiative valued at €3 billion a year, presents almost no risks, some believe confiscating Russian assets themselves could threaten the confidence of foreign investors in the single currency. However, this argument is rejected by lawmakers from the Baltic States, Poland and other countries close to the Russian border keen to seize the money as soon as possible. 'Any decision needs to be anchored in international law,' Finnish Green MEP Ville Niinistö told Euronews. 'So as long as international law is abided by in the confiscation, it is possible to do it. It's a separate thing. Euro stability and the euro market is very reliable for anyone to invest into.' Another point of discussion is more strategic one. Some governments seem to believe that these Russian funds could also give the EU some leverage in any peace negotiations. They should be 'part of the negotiation at the end of the war', French President Emmanuel Macron said last week in Washington, opening up the notion of using the assets as a bargaining chip, or as a security guarantee for Ukraine after a peace deal.
Euronews
12-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
European Parliament mulls seizure of Russian assets to help Ukraine
The total amount of frozen money is more than the entire aid provided to Ukraine by the EU over the three- year war. But taking it is not without risk. ADVERTISEMENT The Euroclear building in the centre of Brussels is at the centre of intense political discussions within the European Union, since the Belgian Securities Depository is believed to hold the lion's share of €258 billion's worth of Russian assets that have been frozen across EU countries. The EU institutions are divided over whether and how to confiscate this money to support Ukraine, having made the first €1.5 billion of interest generated from these immobilised Russian assets to Kyiv. Some member countries, such as France and Belgium, believe that seizing these assets would be illegal and are therefore urging caution. Others are pushing to seize the money, which would represent more than the entire aid provided by Europe to Ukraine over the three-year-war. Debate is also ongoing in the European Parliament, which held a debate on the issue on Wednesday. 'There are governments which are particularly involved,' Renew MEP Sandro Gozi told Euronews. 'Together with the European Central Bank and other EU institutions, they are working to verify what the legal and financial possibilities are. It's clear that, if there were no market and legal risk arising from confiscating the Russian funds, we would push to do it immediately.' While seizing the interest on these assets, an initiative valued at €3 billion a year, presents almost no risks, some believe confiscating Russian assets themselves could threaten the confidence of foreign investors in the single currency. However, this argument is rejected by lawmakers from the Baltic States, Poland and other countries close to the Russian border keen to seize the money as soon as possible. 'Any decision needs to be anchored in international law,' Finnish Green MEP Ville Niinistö told Euronews. 'So as long as international law is abided by in the confiscation, it is possible to do it. It's a separate thing. Euro stability and the euro market is very reliable for anyone to invest into.' Another point of discussion is more strategic one. Some governments seem to believe that these Russian funds could also give the EU some leverage in any peace negotiations. They should be 'part of the negotiation at the end of the war', French President Emmanuel Macron said last week in Washington, opening up the notion of using the assets as a bargaining chip, or as a security guarantee for Ukraine after a peace deal.
Euronews
19-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU lawmakers to discuss tech rules with US officials in Washington
EU lawmakers will meet officials from the White House, the US Department of state, the US Department of commerce as well as Congress representatives from both sides of the aisle to discuss a broad range of technology topics and legislative files, during a visit to Washington DC next week, Euronews has learnt. The visit, scheduled from 24 to 28 February, comes after the newly installed US administration led by Republican President Donald Trump has expressed criticism of EU regulation, which they claim is 'excessive.' Vice President JD Vance, who spoke in Paris last week at the AI Action Summit, said the US will not accept others "tightening the screws" on US companies. Big Tech companies, including Meta, seem keen to work with Trump on pushing back against rules that affect online platforms. 'My aim as a member of the Renew group is to show our determination to apply our digital legislation, in particular the DSA, which is the target of multiple attacks from the US administration and Big Tech,' MEP Sandro Gozi (France/Renew) told Euronews. 'The visit will enable us to clarify exactly what the Americans expect of us in a commercially and security-conscious context on both sides of the Atlantic,' he added. The US administration is denouncing the fines that threaten US companies under the two flagship digital laws, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which both regulate online platforms' behaviour. According to Gozi, the DSA, more than the DMA, is under threat from American accusations that the legislation is censoring freedom of expression. The moderation requirements set out in the DSA are also targeted by the American criticism. Trade relations between the two regions have been strained since Trump announced tariffs on European aluminium and steel that are set to kick in next month. Reciprocal customs duties are also under consideration. Euronews has learned that Lynne Parker. Executive Director of the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science & Technology at the White House, confirmed her availability to meet the delegation of MEPs. They also hope to meet David Sacks, Trump's advisor on artificial intelligence. The delegation will also meet representatives of think tanks such as the Atlantic Council and from the business sector. The lawmakers that will make the trip all sit on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committee. They include chair Anna Cavazzini (Germany/Greens/EFA), Andreas Schwab (Germany/EPP), Pablo Arias Echeverría (Spain/EPP), Christel Schaldemose (Denmark/S&D), Klára Dostálová (Czechia/PfE), Piotr Müller (Poland/ECR), and Sandro Gozi.
