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Construction of the Mateševo-Smokovac section of Montenegro’s 41-kilometre long Bar-Boljare highway is set to be finished in January 2022. Now, how the country’s largest-ever infrastructure project, built and financed by Chinese interests, will be paid for remains in question. Not only has Montenegro’s largest-ever infrastructure project gone
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The EU is rewriting its energy infrastructure investment rules to fully align them with its Green Deal programme. The three main arms of the EU – the European Council, European Parliament and European Commission – have revised the “TEN-E” framework and are set to agree on the removal of funding of oil
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EU lawmakers overwhelmingly adopted a position in favour of the Digital Markets Act on Wednesday, which would put constraints on “gatekeeper” tech companies such as US tech giants Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft. MEPs voted 642 in favour and 8 against, with 46 abstentions. Under the new rules big
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Moldovan President Maia Sandu said in no uncertain terms that her country will pursue EU accession ahead of today’s Eastern Partnership summit. “We will insist that it is our choice and we would like other countries to respect that choice,” Sandu told Reuters. Moscow is fully aware of this
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Electric vehicles (EVs) and gas will reportedly be similarly classified as sustainable investments in Europe from 2026 under the new EU Taxonomy regulations formulated by the European Commission (EC) expected on 22 December. “The classification of EVs as sustainable vehicles is possibly the most advanced green classification in financial markets,
ESG
Lower value added tax (VAT) rates may be on the horizon for goods and services linked to mitigating climate change, like bicycles and solar panels sold in the European Union. Products contributing to digitalisation and health protection (like face masks) could also see reduced rates. EU finance ministers agreed to
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The European Union is not happy with proposed US tax credits towards the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs), which it says would put European EV manufacturers at a disadvantage. An element of the Biden Administration’s Build Back Better Act which has passed in the US House but is being
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The G7 group of countries has issued a statement that aligns with the European Union’s recently unveiled Global Gateway Strategy, which aims to finance quality and sustainable infrastructure globally. The G7 Statement on Partnership for infrastructure and investment also commits to narrowing the existing investment gap. Through its strategy,
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After 20 years of fierce debate, the plan to construct a EUR 2 billion stretch of ring-road on Vienna’s north-eastern outskirts has been cancelled after scientists warned against building a motorway tunnel underneath a nature reserve. Austrian Climate, Environment and Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler announced the kiboshing of the
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Slovenia, which holds the EU presidency, has released a progress report on the European Union’s draft artificial intelligence act (‘AIA’) on 29 November. Among the suggested modifications, EU member states would like to retain their national competence over AI affairs in terms of national security and military matters, and
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In an unprecedented development, the EU will make significant investments in new small and medium-sized enterprises as part of the “Accelerator” programme launched by the European Innovation Council (EIC). Previously the EU has previously only issued grants or backed private investors, without taking ownership stakes. EIC director Jean-David Malo told
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Production of “green” hydrogen produced with renewable energy sources may be coming into focus for the European Union as a way to reduce CO2 emissions. EU officials say the cost of producing it should fall, if the gigawatt capacity of electrolysers is ramped up sufficiently. At an event in Brussels