Andi Hoxhaj, UCL The Russian invasion of Ukraine serves as a sombre reminder that Europe’s unresolved issues can reignite. Given the rising tension in the Balkans, Germany and France have made settling the unresolved problems between Serbia and Kosovo a top priority for 2023. This is particularly important after a confrontation in December
Despite massive pressure from platform operators, the EU Parliament agrees on a directive for more rights for platform workers. In principle, they will be considered employees—with all employment and social security rights. That means: minimum wage, paid vacation, social security and benefits in case of illness and unemployment. The directive is set to
A research team led by the University of Tokyo won a €5 million European Union prize this month for coming up with a novel way to make abundant and cheap fuel from sunlight. In the scramble to find alternatives to fossil fuels, the EU competition aimed to accelerate development of one of the
In 2020, breast cancer amounted for 13,3 percent of newly diagnosed cancer cases in the European Union making it the most frequently occurring cancer type in the EU. On average, one in eleven European women develops breast cancer before the age of 74. An Indian Start-Up has now developed a new device that
In the Dutch province of Zeeland, a robot moves swiftly through a field of crops including sunflowers, shallots and onions. The machine weeds autonomously – and tirelessly – day in, day out. “Farmdroid” has made life a lot easier for Mark Buijze, who runs a biological farm with 50 cows and 15 hectares
Amazon reportedly plans to lay off 10,000 employees, following Twitter and Meta’s lead; the question is: how will big tech conduct mass layoffs across borders? As big tech’s share prices fall and companies scramble to cut costs by slashing head-counts, a dot-com bust 2.0 is gathering speed and the world is along for
A dramatic new offer from the plenary floor at COP 27, in which rich countries would immediately set up a loss and damage fund in exchange for a pledge to peak greenhouse gas emissions before 2025 and phase down oil and gas as well as coal, may have changed the tone and salvaged
Worldwide, modern slavery is on the rise, and with it, goods and products made under forced labor. The work usually takes place under poor conditions, violence, or threat of violence. The EU Commission is now proposing a ban on the sale and import of products made with forced labor. Bricks, textiles, and electronics.
The EU Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy agrees on increasing the overall share of renewable energy in European energy production. By 2030, 45% of energy demand is to be supplied from renewable sources. In addition, energy consumption is to be reduced by 40%. This is intended to contribute to greater climate neutrality
Europe has vowed to cut its reliance on Russian fossil fuels by 2027 by scaling up renewable energy. This transition away from oil and gas was already a key goal before the war in Ukraine as the EU seeks to become climate neutral by 2050. But how realistic and affordable are the latest