Christian Ernhede

National capitals are considering calling on the fossil fuel industry to lead efforts to cut global CO2 emissions, according to draft EU negotiating provisions for the upcoming COP29 conference that will be discussed by ambassadors in Brussels next week.

Environmental campaigners have described as “unacceptable” a proposal to postpone the implementation of controversial anti-deforestation rules, following intense pressure from the EU’s trading partners.

Representatives of all political groups have jointly agreed to fast-track a proposed postponement of the EU’s anti-deforestation law, in a political u-turn by progressives aimed at thwarting any right-wing efforts for a broader revision.

The European Environment Agency has found that most of Europe’s surface waters remains in a poor state, with agriculture and chemical pollutants a major contributor, as Commission officials maintain that the EU executive has a “clear determination” to tackle pesticide pollution.

The Hungarian presidency is standing firm against the European Commission’s broader stakeholder involvement in deciding the future direction of EU farming, underscoring that co-legislators have “sole responsibility” for political decisions on the bloc’s agriculture policy.

The Hungarian presidency has put forward a proposal for mandatory tax exemptions for aviation and shipping fuels, in an effort to reach a compromise on the Energy Taxation Directive.

Political group envoys have endorsed the environment commissioner-designate despite a “weak” parliamentary hearing, after repeatedly delaying their decision as part of a broader political battle.

Renew MEPs are pursuing last-minute negotiations to limit the damage of tabled amendments to the bloc’s deforestation regulation, amid speculation that the European Commission will withdraw the text if tweaked.

Lawmakers have adopted a series of controversial amendments to the EU Deforestation Regulation put forward by the conservative EPP group in a chaotic plenary sitting.

The conservative EPP group has narrowly pushed through an updated Parliament stance on the EU Deforestation Regulation with the backing of the far-right, as mainstream political groups explore possibilities for a revote after voting devices failed.