European Union

Europe is facing unacceptable levels of poverty and inequality. This briefing paper reviews the current situation and presents recommendations to help put an end to poverty and extreme inequality in Europe.

The European Commission today published an action plan for a fairer corporate tax system in the European Union.

The revision of the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) offers a unique opportunity to increase transparency and predictability of climate finance from the EU and its Member States by establishing a mechanism that automatically directs a portion of the ETS revenues as additional international climate finance. 

Today MEPs voted to introduce a seven percent cap on food-based biofuels and to include carbon emissions from land use change in environmental assessments.

European Governments are increasingly relying on bioenergy as a cheap way to meet targets for renewable energy. Bioenergy represented 62% of EU’s renewable energy use in 2012. But new evidence on the real climate impacts and other environmental and social impacts of bioenergy has made its use increasingly controversial. 

This briefing explores some of the solutions for fighting corporate tax avoidance that the European Union should present in 2015, and explains why it is important to adopt them as soon as possible.

Today EU Environment Ministers agreed the official EU emissions reductions pledge for the United Nations climate talks in Paris at the end of the year, backing an "at least 40%" emissions reduction target and failing to provide clarity on whether loopholes could water down the offer.

Today the European Commission published a Communication setting out its position towards international climate change negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement by December in Paris.

Today the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted in favor of tightening the cap on biofuels competing with food production for land and other precious resources, such as water.

On Wednesday, the European Commission will put forward a communication outlining its stance on the global climate change talks aimed at reaching a deal by world leaders by the end of the year.