The nuclear meltdown in Fukushima has given renewed momentum to the anti-nuclear power movement across Europe. However, the degree of momentum varies greatly from country to country, and considering the geographically widespread consequences of a nuclear accident, it hardly appears optimal for...

The European Commission's proposal for a Directive on the award of concession contracts has sparked vigorous public debate and intense opposition. This Directive is controversial because of the nature of the policy it proposes and because the sectors involved are highly sensitive. This Forum...

The war in Ukraine has brought the challenges stemming from Europe's dependency on natural gas and oil imports into sharp focus. This has also highlighted another dependency - that on raw materials that are critical for the EU's transition to a low-carbon economy. A strategic approach to raw...

There is a direct physical relationship between the quantity of raw materials used in industrial processes, the energy required and, hence, GHG emissions. The latter are emitted in all stages of the product lifecycle: extraction, production, consumption and waste management.

Green growth is now a central theme of the international climate change negotiations. The Rio+20 Conference in June will concentrate on green growth as one of its main priorities. The Europe 2020 strategy has identified green growth as a fundamental pillar of EU economic policy. This Forum takes...

When it comes to energy policy, EU countries go their own way with little regard for other member states. What strategies exist in the EU Commission to coordinate and integrate energy markets? Are these strategies consistent with national plans currently in action? Is it too late to establish a...

The European power market is undergoing signifi cant changes. The EU has set an ambitious goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. This will require significant investment in renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaics as well as measured policies to deal...

The low-carbon transition, for example in line with the European Commission's proposed Long-Term Strategy1 net-zero2 target by 2050 or the Commission President-elect 'climate neutrality' objective, will require a very large increase in electricity, especially for low-carbon solutions in...

In March, the European Commission released its Europe 2020 strategy proposal, which strives for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and greater policy coordination between the EU and national governments. While the document was greeted with scepticism in some quarters, others believe it lays...