Austrian ministers Gewessler and Rauch express their concerns about an upcoming EU proposal for genetic engineering. European Commissioner Thierry Breton announces his plans for a “cyber shield” and a “cyber reserve.” Belgian and German police raid the EPP’s offices in Brussels as part of an ongoing investigation.
A French sailing vessel from the Tara Foundation studies the impact of pollution on biodiversity along the European coast. German Agriculture Minister Özdemir campaigns against an EU ban on bottom trawl fishing. The European Parliament endorsed an agreement on salary transparency for companies.
The Belgian government’s investment department plans to buy abandoned European Commission office spaces with a value of 1 billion euros. Slovakia’s parliament agreed on a common position concerning support for Ukraine. Bulgarian farmers demonstrate against duty free imports of Ukrainian agricultural products.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer plans to organize a summit with car manufacturers to talk about e-fuels. Several member states call for urgent reforms of the Common European Asylum System. French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to travel to China together.
In the dispute over the planned ban on new cars with internal combustion engines, the EU Commission has proposed a solution to the German government. Other news this week: EU member states criticize a proposed ban of bottom trawling in the fishing industry and Bulgaria’s interim government does not plan for additional military aid to Ukraine.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expects the energy cooperation with Germany to be stepped-up even further, as the countries are in talks about wind energy, hydrogen and more. French President Emmanuel Macron backs Moldova in the face of “Russian attempts to destabilize” the country. Spain adopts a pension reform along the lines of demands from the European Commission.