Lara Wolters

Energy Council 🇪🇺 meeting in Luxembourg - 15 of October 2024 EU Energy Ministers: ✅ Exchanged views on the contribution of the energy sector to the EU’s competitiveness -> following up on the recommendations in #Draghi Report 📒 ✅ Held a discussion on the divergence of wholesale electricity #prices whithin the EU 📈 ✅ Discussed preparedness for the upcoming winter season ❄️ Ukrainian Energy Minister 🇺🇦 gave presentation on the energy situation in Ukraine 🇱🇹💛🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine ✅ Commission presented its report on #StateofEnergyUnion and provided a follow-up on the implementation of #REPowerEU Plan. In particular, how EU is progressing in achieving its goal to phase out Russian fossil fuels ⚠️ ✅ Some of the MSs called for more coordinated implementation of EU restrictive measures on Russian LNG transshipments 🚢 ✅ Ministers received update from the Commission on the implementation of “Fit for 55” legislation package🔋 https://lnkd.in/ejaxnHRg #EuropeanUnion #EnergyCouncil #TTE #EnergySecurity #Renewables #EnergyPrices #EUCompetitiveness

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I am working for some time now with #EU laws. Yet one thing that I still do not really understand is why our Regulations / Directives do not feature a clear link between #recitals and #articles by default. In particular for people outside Brussels, it is often impossible to understand, which recital has been added for which article. During the #AIAct trilogue negotiations, some of us had a list prepared by the European Commission (I think it was from Laura Jugel) that was however created on basis of their legislative proposal from 21 April 2021. Over the last week, I have finally found some time to update that document, based on the latest legal text that will be entering into force on 1 August 2024. My table gives you an overview of how all recitals and articles relate to each other, allowing you for instance to easily locate the extensive #copyright explanations in Recital 104-108 with regard to Article 53(1c/d). In the first column, you find also in brackets the previous number, which the respective recital had during the trilogue negotiations. Let's hope that what I did here becomes one day the norm for EU laws since such as step would IMO significantly increase the #accessibility of our legal texts. You can download the document either here on LinkedIn or via my blog: https://lnkd.in/e6Pk8dwX p.s. Risto Uuk and team did a similar effort with their great 'AI Act explorer' (https://lnkd.in/eD76WKbV), in which you find "suitable recitals" for each article of the EU AI Act.

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We are closing a very challenging and interesting year, full of new and rich professional experiences. It’s a good moment to look backwards and remind some key developments: 🚜The year started with protests by the farming community, with important complaints to both national and EU administrations on a broad range of domains. The Commission took very seriously the calls for more simplification and better funcioning of the food supply chain, with several actions already put in place this year. Changes in the CAP were already adopted, and changes in the CMO and UTPs have been proposed. 💡While farmers were on the streets, a crucial process took place to reduce the polarisation and build a new consensus on the long-term evolution of the policies that affect farming: the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU Agriculture. Launched by the Commission President under the chairmanship of Professor Peter Strohschneider, this high-level process managed to bring on the table key stakeholders, who agreed on a set of recommendations. The Strategic Dialogue showed that there is space to build bridges across opposed interests and that new working methods should be explored to address the future challenges faced by agriculture and food. This is, to me, the main lesson to learn of the year 2024! 💯 🤝 The new advisory body -European Board on Agriculture and Food (EBAF)- is currently being set up. It's interesting to see how the methodology of the Strategic Dialogue is also now extended to the automotive industry. 🇪🇺 All these developments took place at a moment of institutional change, in a transition from one Commission to another and with European elections on in June. The new Parliament and the new Commission, with Commissioner Christophe Hansen as a new Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, have established a new political direction: agriculture, together with food security and water, are at the center of the new political agenda. Building on the results of the Strategic Dialogue, the new Commission will present its Vision for the future early in 2025. 🌍 The current geopolitical context (including the relation with Mercosur and the situation in Ukraine), the climate crisis and the sustainability transition will require new solutions to accompany the sector in these challenging times and making the most of the new emerning opportunities. ➡️ 2025 will be a crucial year in building the alliances and shaping the new policy responses, including the future Multiannual Financial Framework and the Common Agricutural Policy (CAP) for the period after 2027. Let's start the new year with optimism and hope. I wish you a happy and prosperous 2025 🥂

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✅ EU institutions – European Parliament, European Commission & European External Action Service – are well prepared to counter foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) targeting the European elections on 6–9 June. 📰 Despite some fear-mongering headlines in the media, none of us are really seeing a meaningful uptick in the amount of elections-related FIMI. Let alone the impact of it. Don’t get me wrong, the threat is serious and very much there, but then again it always is. Information manipulation isn’t about a single post that tips the scales, it’s about a long-term effort to undermine and mislead. Lower the integrity of our information environment, if you will. AI, while rapidly developing, is a dog who still hasn’t really bitten. 🥅 On the flipside, EU institutions have been working hard since the last European elections in 2019 and we’ve made a lot of progress to keep us safer. Cooperation between EU institutions, Member States and our international allies is better than ever; FIMI is high in the political agenda; dedicated organisations and teams are being set up across the EU; we’re reaching tens of millions of people with our awareness-raising campaigns etc. The list goes on. In short – we got this. 🗳️ Oh yeah, one more thing – go out and vote! And rest assured that the integrity of EU’s electoral process is safe from foreign meddling.

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Digital companies are navigating non market complexity

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Policy-makers in Brussels and EU Member States must improve the EU's economic competitiveness or our citizens and businesses will suffer. Watch the press conference with Mario Draghi and President @vonderleyen LIVE here https://lnkd.in/efY6p7Mg

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Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Ferreira at the ComPAct conference to discuss public administrations' role in strengthening EU competitiveness Tomorrow, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira will attend the ComPAct high-level conference in Brussels. Joined by partners in Member States and civil society, as well as officials from EU institutions, the Conference provides an opportunity to discuss the Commission Communication on enhancing the European Administrative Space (ComPAct) and how it can help Member States to modernise their public administrations and contribute to the Single Market. Through simplification, re-design of business processes, and enhanced administrative cooperation, ComPAct can reduce Member States' administrative burden and subsequently contribute to boosting long-term competitiveness across the EU. The Commission is keen to engage with social and economic partners to ensure that the efforts related to the implementation of ComPAct have a strong social dimension. This will ensure that any proposed measures are fair and inclusive, with benefits to the largest possible parts of the Union. The Conference will also discuss the critical role that public administrations play in transforming EU and national policies into effective instruments, which help Member States to implement reforms to the benefit of people and businesses alike. These instruments also support Member States in channelling strategic investments towards the green and digital transitions. ComPAct is the Commission's first ever comprehensive set of actions to support the modernisation of public administrations across the EU and to strengthen their cross-country collaboration so that they can address common challenges together. These actions aim to reinforce the capacity and capabilities of public administrations at national, regional, and local level, so that they can continue to deliver on EU priorities on the ground. For further details on the Conference programme and how to watch live, visit the dedicated webpage. (For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker - Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Laetitia Close - Tel.: +32 2 296 70 73) https://lnkd.in/e5sErPzJ

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Finally acknowledging that the naive perception that the world is not a global village. Over-reliance on third countries for one's prosperity only works if there is peace, trust and democratic institutions. None of these three hold these days.. The new Economic Playbook should be accompanied by a New Political Playbook...

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The Council today reached an agreement (general approach) on safer and faster procedures to obtain double taxation relief, which will help boost cross-border investment and help fight tax abuse. #TaxLaw #EuropeanUnion

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Feeling highly motivated after the second edition of our industriAll Europe & European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) youth training on fighting against the Far Right ✊ Thanks to the expertise of Trademark Belfast's Stiofán Ó Nualláin, 22 young unionists from France, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Italy and Germany learned to: ➡identify far-right ideas ➡untangle the political economy that led to their rise (#austerity) ➡developed strategies to fight against their spread among #workers ➡learned to use #AI tools against them. The Far Right won the internet through the strategic use of social media, spreading misinformation and fake news. Trade unions need to reconcur the space by complementing our organising strategy with an online organising strategy! There is no separate online and offline world ❌ Our members and future members are online, so we need to also be there and spread our trade union values based on #solidarity! More information 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYGfwvqy

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The UK imports 80 per cent of its wood most of which comes from the EU, Sweden being the single biggest source. European Union elections next month will elect a new Parliament and in turn this will decide who gets the top jobs in the Commission. The legislation that will then be passed in the following five year term will impact on a wide range of issues including wood supply to the UK. Hence CEI-Bois and EOS are encouraging our EU members to promote an active engagement with the elections especially the importance of voting. No voting in the UK due to Brexit.

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📢 Help shape a digital future where people & their rights are at the centre! Participate in our virtual workshop on EU Digital Rights & Principles to explore findings from ongoing monitoring efforts, connect with experts & share good practices! ⬇️ More on Digital Rights & Principles: https://lnkd.in/eCC_gngN

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Our Newsflash of 5 July 2024 is available, addressing: ▶️ Conclusions of the June #EUCO and adoption of the EU #StrategicAgenda 2024-2029 ▶️ Priorities of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council, with a focus on SGIs' contribution to competitiveness, the social dimension, the implementation of the EU Green Deal and the integration of migrants and refugees in the labour market READ MORE 👉 https://bit.ly/4cL4raI

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🇪🇺 I share my interview published in #EUPoliticalReport as President of Assembly of European Regions (AER) 🗣️ “Regional interests still face significant challenges in European decision-making and policy design” https://lnkd.in/dtUmZPZq

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New election cycle, new vision. As Europe votes, the new cadre of policy makers representing European citizens will have major economic and social challenges to address - security, sustainable growth, labour productivity, changing demographics, equality of living standards, quality healthcare and protecting rights. We are excited to share ten specific, positive set of actions that policy makers can take to unleash the potential of digital networks and solutions to meet Europe's needs: ✅ AI ✅ Cybersecurity ✅ Government data demands ✅ Connectivity ✅ Sustainability ✅ Trade ✅ Advanced tech Cisco's Gov Affairs team has spent the last 6 months drawing up a plan of action - and I want to thank Nicole Isaac, Jeff Campbell, Pastora Valero, Diane Mievis, Lauriane Giet, Josh Falzone, Marcus F. for their work and support! #DigitalEurope #TechPolicy #Cybersecurity #SustainableTech

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Innovative forms of citizen participation, such as online and in-person co-creation and deliberation, can enhance public governance by providing policymakers with a better understanding of citizens’ needs and ideas. Leveraging technological development and digital solutions can scale up participation and offer new ways for citizens to engage in policymaking, as exemplified by the EU Orbis Project, which RIE is currently ready to test. #democraticinnovation 

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En kort video om The Art of Cooperation #HU24EU #europe #international #economy #Eu #sweden #politics #action #collaboration #hungary #artofcoopetation #artcop #euroregionbaltic #innovation #kronoberg #utveckling #regionkronoberg #sweden #business #growth #future

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❓ Why some nations thrive while others falter? ❓ Why are neighbouring countries so different in their development process? ❓ Why does Greece still lag behind Portugal and Ireland, since they all faced similar financial crisis in the 2010s? Working on administrative transformation has deepened my interest in the structural factors that determine a nation’s success. Two books I recently read: 📖 “Why Nations Fail” by D. Acemoglu and J. Robinson (Profile Books, 2013) This classic in political science argues that nations thrive when inclusive institutions prevail—where economic and political power is widely shared, fostering competition and creating a virtuous cycle of development. On the contrary, extractive institutions, which concentrate power in the hands of a few, lead to a vicious cycle that stifles prosperity. The book offers impressive examples: Why is there unequal development on either side of the Congo River? Between North and South America? Between the two cities of Nogales, one in the U.S. and one in Mexico? And what role did colonization play? My favorite example is the role of the French Revolution in fostering inclusive institutions in Europe: it sparked societal changes that transformed the continent. 🎓 This book made me reflect on Greece's development. Why, despite having institutions comparable to those in Western Europe, does Greece still lag behind economically? 📖 “Paradox Country” by Takis Pappas (Ed. Pataki, Athens 2024) This book offers some answers. Pappas compares the political development of Greece, Ireland, and Portugal over the last 50 years. In 1974, all three countries had serious internal divisions, similar income levels, and comparable populations. Yet their trajectories diverged significantly. All three faced deep crises in the 2010s, but Portugal and Ireland recovered three times faster than Greece. Why? According to Pappas, the main reason is extreme political polarization in Greece, which hinders coalitions and consensus, leading to delays or postponed decisions. But even when this happens, often the next government undoes the work of the previous one. Pappas shows that many necessary changes were made in Greece despite fierce opposition, often at great cost, while in Ireland and Portugal, decisions were typically made through consensus or at least with tacit approval from the main political parties. He suggests that a political system where three parties share power and form coalitions is more effective than the current two-party system. 🥖This makes me consider France’s current political divisions and how they might impact the country during a time when crucial decisions - about finances, social cohesion and more- are needed. #postAP

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🌍 New Blog Alert! 🚀 "Local Finances in South-East Europe: Navigating Challenges and Embracing Progress" is out now. Check out the key findings from the NALAS Fiscal Decentralization Report by Thomas Prorok and me. 🌍💡 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/edt8acuW

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