Search

In February 2026, two and a half years after the European Commission's proposal, trilogues started on a new regulation on the production and marketing of plant reproductive material (PRM). The proposal, put forward on 5 July 2023, would replace 10 of the 12 PRM directives that currently lay down the rules for seeds, tubers, cuttings, seedlings and young plants. It would introduce sustainability requirements for registering new varieties of agricultural plants, vegetables and fruits intended for professional ...

Timely, cost-efficient expansion and modernisation of the European energy infrastructure is one of the key challenges in the EU's ongoing energy transition. Grid development is needed to ensure energy supply security, increase the resilience of Europe's energy system and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources. Cross border infrastructure plays a vital role in connecting national energy networks. Meeting the 2030 interconnection targets is particularly important for completing the ...

Expansion and modernisation of the energy infrastructure in Member States is one of the key challenges of the ongoing energy transition in the EU. The electricity grids need to develop in order to ensure the security of energy supply, increase the resilience of Europe's energy system, and integrate the rapid roll-out of renewable energy sources, particularly at the distribution level. Given the peristent challenges relating to permit-granting procedures and delays in grid connection approvals at ...

The great cormorant is a highly mobile, fish-eating bird that has a significant and widespread impact on fish stocks and aquaculture sites. Due to its predation impact, the cormorant was heavily persecuted in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but has been a protected species since the European Union Birds Directive came into force in 1979. Its population has grown significantly since then. While the bird cannot be hunted, the Birds Directive permits derogations to prevent serious damage to wild ...

This study provides an overview of the EU policy instruments, including Cohesion Policy Funds, that are used in natural disaster response and recovery. It assesses their contribution to strengthening resilience to climate change and to meeting disaster-relief and reconstruction needs. The study also examines how the ‘Build Back Better’ approach can be integrated into future Cohesion Policy to ensure that disaster-affected areas are rebuilt in a more resilient and sustainable manner. Recommendations ...

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the adoption, design, and impact of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and Contracts for Difference (CfD) across the EU. It assesses current trends, market effects, and policy frameworks, and proposes actionable recommendations to resolve barriers to wider uptake. This document was provided by the Policy Department for Transformation, Innovation and Health at the request of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE).

Recent climate related disasters, health crises and security threats have highlighted the need to build a resilient Union, capable of anticipating and effectively managing future disasters and crises based on an all hazards approach. More comprehensive and integrated crisis management, requiring close and efficient cooperation between the EU and Member States, is essential for addressing complex and long lasting crises impacting several sectors simultaneously. To this end, and as part of the proposed ...

Starting in 2026, the EU will address the future of the European emissions trading system (EU ETS). The existing ETS (ETS1) aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial and energy installations, aircraft operators and maritime transport by setting a price on carbon through a cap-and-trade system, while a separate ETS for road transport, buildings and other sectors (ETS2) will start operating in 2028. The ETS1 succeeded in reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the covered sectors ...

The roadworthiness package (RWP), last updated in 2014, aims to ensure that minimum standards are maintained by vehicle owners to ensure road safety and an adequate environmental performance of vehicles in the EU. The evaluation of the 2014 RWP found that unsafe and polluting vehicles are still circulating, and that the package has not been fully effective at achieving its objectives so far. The RWP's current revision seeks to further improve road safety and sustainable mobility and facilitate the ...

The Commission is proposing to revise the market stability reserve for the buildings, road transport and additional sectors covered by the EU emissions trading system. The targeted amendments aim to reinforce the capacity of the reserve to intervene if the price of carbon escalates in these sectors.