New Nordic trend: shifting towards a plant-based diet
Nordic countries are moving focus from saving energy to changing diets in order to achieve the UN's sustainable development goals.
Opinion
The Baltic 'Big Sea' strategy
The Baltic Sea is almost an inland European lake - it borders Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Kaliningrad and Russia. It also has an EU strategy - and an action plan.
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News in Brief
- EU will reply 'tit for tat' to US trade measures
- EU Commission registers Brexit citizenship petition
- EU launches pre-accession probe for Albania and Macedonia
- Google faces multibillion euro EU fine for Android
- EU wants more guarantees from VW on Dieselgate fix
- EU to Russia: take responsibility for MH17 attack
- Juncker to meet Trump on 25 July
- EU and Japan sign trade and data deals
Analysis
Swedish party puts EU referendums back in fashion
Swedish nationalists have gambled on an in/out referendum to win votes in Europe's next big election, amid signs of new boldness in the far right.
Norway to move ahead with CO2 capture
Norwegian MPs to vote on providing €29.5m in funding for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.
Time for Europe to fill US vacuum, says ex-Danish PM
Donald Trump's isolationism is Europe's "new next opportunity," said Helle Thorning-Schmidt - while calling on EU leaders to find solutions to citizens concerns on migration.
Sweden criticises Russia pipeline, but grants permit
Nord Stream 2 pipeline may well not comply with EU rules, but Sweden has no legal reason to say no to Russia, Stockholm said.
Norway-EU relations highlight UK's Brexit dilemma
When UK premier Theresa May meets Norway's Erna Solberg in London on Wednesday, they my find that they have a lot in common, including managing difficult in-and-out relations to the European Union.
Stakeholder
Nordic electricity market presented to global energy ministers
Energy ministers from the world's biggest economies, including the G20, were shown how co-operation works in the Nordic electricity market. This co-operation is unique by international standards and is held up as a model globally.
Stakeholder
Nordics could be first carbon-negative region in world
It is very unlikely that the climate target of the Paris agreement can be met without a system that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – we need negative emissions.
Lords force UK parliament to vote on 'Norway model'
Members of the British parliament will be given a vote to leave the EU on the 'European Economic Area' Norway model, after a majority of Lords surprisingly approved to the idea.
Feature
Norwegian polluters want state-led CO2 storage
Three companies want to participate in a carbon capture and storage project – but they want the Norwegian government to pay for it.
Feature
Nordic scientists warn Brussels over 'superbugs'
Superbugs already kill 25,000 Europeans each year, despite hospitals fighting to stop the antibiotic resistant bacteria from spreading. This week the Nordic Council lobbied Brussels to wake up.
Greenland votes with eye on independence
Six out of seven political parties running in Greenland's parliamentary elections on Tuesday are pro-independence, but they disagree on how fast the last ties to Copenhagen should be cut. Increasing dependence on China could be the consequence.
Stakeholder
Icelandic green biotechnology
Barley possesses unique characteristics and qualities that make it perfectly suited to our biotechnology needs.
Investigation
Tory and National Front websites hid Facebook tracking pixel
At least 11 European political parties, two EU agencies, and the Nordic Council have a controversial tracking pixel on their website.
Magazine
Bioeconomy is a win-win strategy for Finland
"The big problem in the world today is a lack of resources and a lack of bio-diversity," says Finnish environment minister Kimmo Tiilikainen. His country plans to produce what the world needs the most.
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Civil society asks PACE to appoint Rapporteur to probe issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
- Social Mobility – How Can We Increase Opportunities Through Training and Education?
- Energy Solutions for a Greener Tomorrow
- What Kind of Europe Do Children Want? Unicef & Eurochild Launch Survey on the Europe Kids Want
- Nordic Countries Take a Stand for Climate-Smart Energy Solutions
- China: Work Together for a Better Globalisation
- Nordics Could Be First Carbon-Negative Region in World
- Life Is Possible for Patients with Severe Asthma
- Common-Sense Approach Needed for EU Energy Reform
- Nordic Region to Lead in Developing and Rolling Out 5G Network
- China-EU Economic and Trade Relations Enjoy a Bright Future
- Empowering Businesses to Engage with Sustainable Finance and the SDGs
Latest News
- Europe's water quality falls short
- EU must create safe, legal pathways to Europe
- May avoids defeat in key Brexit bill
- EU and Japan wave light in Trump's 'darkness'
- How Israel silences Palestine in EU circles
- Putin asks Trump to go after British activist
- May caves in to Brexiteer demands, risking 'no deal'
- EU and China agree on words, not yet on action
Merkel: Nord Stream 2 is 'political'
Germany has for the first time acknowledged concerns on the "political" and "strategic" aspects of Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Interview
Norway oil minister: we'll keep drilling because we do it greener
Petroleum and energy minister Terje Soviknes – a member of an anti-tax, anti-EU party – praised Norway's CO2 tax and hoped for European cooperation on carbon capture and storage.
Nordic states discuss targeted Russia sanctions
Momentum is building in Denmark and Sweden for the adoption of Magnitsky Acts - a form of sanctions hated by the Kremlin.
Opinion
Eco-cooperation with Russia vital for Baltics despite sanctions
Russian sanctions have halted environmental cooperation in the Baltic Sea, putting millions of EU citizens living in the region at risk.
Finland plans 'Arctic Corridor' linking China to Europe
Some 500km of rails from Norway to Finland and a tunnel from Finland to Estonia are missing, but new prospects of Chinese funding are providing fresh impetus.
Stakeholder
Behind the scenes of the Nordic model
The Nordic is comprised of 74 regions and, combined, is the 12th largest economy in the world. The State of the Nordic Region 2018 gives a unique look behind the scenes of the world's most integrated region.
Feature
Catalonia shows that 'Europe of Regions' is dead
"A Europe of regions created by the state is like electrical cars created by oil companies," Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont told EUobserver.
Norway defends new Arctic oil drilling
Norway's oil and gas is "extremely important" for Europe's energy supply, oil minister says, rejecting calls to stop drilling to prevent global warming.
Sweden raises alarm on election meddling
Nordic state to create new government agency to protect its September election from Russian and other interference.
Trump says US could stay in Paris deal
President Donald Trump hinted that the US could 'conceivably' stay in the Paris climate change agreement, during a meeting in which Norway's PM pointed out the sales of US-made Tesla electric cars in her country.
Interview
Nordic-Baltic digital market 'no threat to EU'
'What we want do is add value on top, and do things' such as border controls and free data movement, said Norwegian state secretary Paul Chaffey about Nordic-Baltic digital cooperation.
Opinion
Iceland: further from EU membership than ever
With fewer pro-EU MPs in the Iceland parliament than ever before, any plans to resume 'candidate' membership of the bloc are likely to remain on ice, as the country prioritises national sovereignty and a more left-wing path.
Russia warns Denmark on gas pipeline
Russia said its Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline might bypass Danish waters, after a new law that increased uncertainty on permits.
Interview
Greenland prepares for Brexit - and possible independence
The Arctic country is trying to adapt its economy and society to Brexit, climate change and possible independence from Denmark, fisheries and hunting minister Karl-Kristian Kruse told EUobserver.
Iceland gets first Green prime minister
Leader of the Leftist-Green Movement, Katrin Jakobsdottir, will become Iceland's first Green prime minister.
EU leaders make pledge on social issues after populist backlash
Under pressure from rising populism, European leaders have vowed to put people first at a 'social summit' in Gothenburg - the first such event in 20 years.
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Cooperation in Nordic Electricity Market Considered World Class Model
- Green Stadiums at the 2018 Fifa World Cup
- China and EU Work Together to Promote Sustainable Development
- European Ombudsman Requests More Lending Transparency from European Investment Bank
- Recycling at the FIFA World Cup in Russia
- OECD Report: Gender Equality Boosts GDP Growth in Nordic Region
- “Peace and Reconciliation Is a Process That Takes Decades” Dr. Anthony Soares on #Brexit and Northern Ireland
- MEPs Positive on China’s New Measures of Opening Up
- Old White Men are Destroying Macedonia by Romanticizing Greece
- Controversial EIB-Backed Project Under Fire at European Parliament
- Income Inequality Increasing in Nordic Countries
- EU Leaders to Cease Contact with Mahmoud Abbas Until He Apologizes for Antisemitic Comments
Stakeholders' Highlights
- Annual Report celebrates organization’s tenth anniversary
- Nordic Cooperation Needed on Green Exports and Funding
- Premier Li Confirms China Will Continue to Open Up
- Calls on Brussels University to Revoke Decision to Honour Ken Loach
- 12 Recommendations for Nordic Leadership on Climate and Environment
- Oxford Professor Calls for an End to the Anti-Macedonian Name Negotiations
- People Who Speak-Up Should Feel Safe to Do So
- Progress on China-EU Cooperation
