New investment rules

The European Commission is putting forward many pieces of legislation with the aim of stimulating investments in energy transition, and the measures go beyond the proposed EU climate neutrality law. Considering the need to support the entire economy , it looks like a Herculean task. The proposals of the European Commission and the EU Parliament's stance on green issues allow for some cautious optimism. The bloc's 27 member states, which are the ultimate decision-makers when it comes to energy policy, can give rise to some skepticism, though. "Objectives are set at the European level to give room for national ambitions, so governments can decide their ambitions, and the Commission can encapsulate them in a European frame. The Commission can then step in if national plans are not respected," Jean-Michel Glachant, director of the Florence School of Regulation (FSR), told DW. Glachant says that EU institutions are called upon to increase fair competition in the energy sector, … [Read more...] about EU energy investments: Will 2021 be decisive?

As the coronavirus vaccine rollout continues, with 16 million already jabbed, the country can finally begin to see a way out of the pandemic which put normal life on hold for a year. Rightly, the Government has focused all its efforts on tackling the crisis and saving lives. But when the country emerges from lockdown and the crisis begins to ebb, thoughts will turn to how Tory election promises made in December 2019 – just weeks before Britain's first confirmed Covid-19 case was discovered – can be delivered. Here, Deputy Political Editor Ben Glaze examines the scale of the challenge. Boris Johnson is today urged to deliver on “levelling-up” promises to Northern voters as the country begins to look beyond the coronavirus pandemic. The Prime Minister was warned he owes a debt to Red Wall voters in former Labour heartlands who were seduced by his election pledges on tackling Britain's inequality. The 64-page Conservative Party manifesto contained 11 references to … [Read more...] about Neglected North where ‘even McDonald’s has left’ demands PM delivers on promises

The National People's Congress, China's annual parliamentary event , opens Friday in Beijing. For the second straight year, it will be a mostly virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic. Although the NPC is China's main legislature, the Communist Party ensures that important decisions are made long before any proposals reach the body. The party sometimes uses the NPC to reveal major policy and personnel changes. The outlook for the economy and Hong Kong's future, among others, will be under discussion at the gathering, which lasts 10 to 14 days. Watch video 02:27 Share China begins annual Congress Send Facebook Twitter reddit EMail Facebook Messenger Web Whatsapp Web Telegram linkedin Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/3qC9v What to expect from China's National People's Congress No GDP growth targets? This year, the party is unlikely to set concrete growth targets for the Chinese economy, … [Read more...] about National People’s Congress: China plans ‘green transformation’ of economy