'We need more clean, homegrown, cheap European energy': EU Climate Commissioner

'We need more clean, homegrown, cheap European energy': EU Climate Commissioner

With Europeans sizzling in a record-breaking heatwave in May, and lands and rivers facing severe drought conditions in April, the effects of extreme climate-related events are becoming increasingly obvious. We sit down with the EU's Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Dutch politician Wopke Hoekstra, to talk about the EU's carbon emissions reduction targets, the next COP summit, and, of course, the energy crisis resulting from the war in the Middle East. We begin by asking Hoekstra if the EU [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/european-union/] is being more proactive in learning lessons from the current energy [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/energy/] crisis than it has been in the past. "I think, in all honesty, the jury is out," Hoekstra replies. "This crisis will take longer and we are still calibrating and improving our response. But it is crystal clear that, if you look at all the previous crises, in hindsight, we should have done more. We should have done more in the domains of renewables, in terms of electrification, in terms of nuclear, because that would have saved us at least partially from the problems we're currently having." Is the crisis an opportunity to press home the green transition and energy independence? "There is a potential silver lining," Hoekstra answers. "But at the same time, I can very much understand that when viewers are watching and they're seeing their energy prices going up, the last thing they want to hear is politicians talking about, 'Well, hey, this is a great opportunity for you!'" He continues: "What is of course true is that whether you do it for climate [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/climate/], for competitiveness, or for independence, the answer of more clean, homegrown, cheap European energy, that is what we need. It works for solving the climate problem. It will finally give us lower prices for our consumers [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/consumers/] and our industry [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/industry/]. And it basically ends this geopolitical nightmare of being so responsible in the domain of energy. It was probably always off the mark to think about energy as just a market. It is a matter of national and European security, and that is the way it should be treated." We point out that the EU's 2030 target for reducing CO2 emissions is an overarching goal, while EU member states have their own national goals. Is the divergence in levels of ambition a problem? "No, as long as you have the same minimum bar and that is the one we have set," Hoekstra replies. "And some countries are doing phenomenally well overall. For example, if you look at how Denmark [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/denmark/] and Sweden [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/sweden/] have been doing, that is absolutely amazing. Others are doing very well in specific domains. For example, France [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/france/] is one of the absolute leaders in nuclear and therefore also in electrification, which has a huge upside for those consuming the electricity [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/electricity/]. Others are doing a phenomenal job in renewables. So the name of the game here is: let's make sure the minimum bar is being made by everyone." Hoekstra goes on: "And something we can (also) do at a European level is to have the same scenarios on what temperatures are going to be like and what that demands from policymakers. This might sound like an abstract thing, but it is hugely important to have the same understanding of what is happening and how that will affect our society." We ask Hoekstra about the controversial idea of EU countries using international carbon credits from 2036 and counting those towards their own C02 reduction targets. "I stand by that proposal," Hoekstra says. "We are the amongst the most ambitious globally. I don't know any other geography of our size and economic importance that does the same as Europe [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/europe/] in terms of a 90 percent ambition for 2040. Full stop. And then I think it is also fair to allow for at least a bit of flexibility into the system, which does not mean lowering the bar. Because the logic of these credits is cost-effectiveness. The vast majority of things we need to do (will be) on European soil. But then allowing ourselves to – if that is cost-effective and only if – to then do a bit of the work outside of Europe, I think is actually a smart thing. Climate change doesn't discriminate. It just matters how many things we pump into the air, how many emissions we have. And if we can actually drive things down in Europe, but also in other places, that is in essence a very good thing." Programme prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Perrine Desplats and Aline Bottin.

EU reaches provisional deal on migrant returns: An effective and fair system?

The EU Parliament and EU Council have provisionally agreed to simplify and speed up the return of migrants staying in the bloc unlawfully. Backers of the deal say it is urgent to do something about the low enforcement of deportation orders: 27 percent last year, and just 24 percent the previous year. But critics say governments are giving in to anti-migrant sentiment as they face pressure from rising populist forces across the EU. They have also questioned the nature of EU [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/european-union/] deals with third countries, as well as the workability and fairness of the so-called "return hubs" for migrants [https://www.france24.com/en/tag/migrants/]. We debate the issue with two MEPs from opposing sides of the political spectrum. Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats, Oihana Almandoz and Isabelle Romero Find out more about the work of the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) [https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/libe/home/highlights].

EU should not miss an opportunity on Ukraine diplomacy: Bulgarian FM Velislava Petrova

Bulgaria has become notorious for holding elections. In 5 years, voters went to the polls 8 times. But this debilitating crisis finally ended on April 19th, when the Progressive Bulgaria party won an outright majority. It is led by the former president, Rumen Radev, now the prime minister. He has pledged to continue on the country's pro-European path, following Bulgaria’s entry into the Eurozone in January. But he has also called for pragmatism from the EU towards Russia, and a restoration of dialogue with Moscow – that has raised a few eyebrows in other European capitals. We welcome the new Bulgarian foreign minister, Velislava Petrova, who was appointed to the job in early May. She is no stranger to the foreign ministry, nor to European affairs, having been deputy minister of foreign affairs in three consecutive Bulgarian governments. We begin by asking her about the government’s reform programme. “We have a majority that we haven't had in more than 20 years. We have a clear mandate from people to deliver on what they expect as the next phase of our European integration,” Petrova states. “We joined first the EU, then Schengen, then the Eurozone as well. People have given us a mandate to fight corruption, to establish the rule of law, and to have transparent working institutions. When it comes to the Recovery Fund, we actually managed to unblock the fourth installment of the RF (from the EU), exactly because the reforms in the judiciary were implemented extremely quickly. We were less than four weeks in government and all the legislation was pushed through. So this promise of judicial reform is already underway.” We point out the dark cloud hanging over this pro-European path – The EU Commission recommending the opening of an excessive deficit procedure against Bulgaria, less than 6 months after the country joined the single currency! “The previous governments acted mainly on populism rather than on true measures that were needed to maintain a healthy budget, and we'll have to pay the price,” Petrova remarks. “For us it’s a very difficult path ahead. We don't shy away from it, and we know that we'll have to set very clear reforms and clear steps forward.” Prime Minister Rumen Radev – seen by some pro-EU forces as being too sympathetic to Russia – has called for the EU to be pragmatic when it comes to talking to the Kremlin. Is this a significant shift? “All we are calling for is for effective use of all three pillars; military support (to Ukraine), economic sanctions and diplomacy. The third one has been missing,” Petrova replies. “It does not show a very strong image when we are not able to speak between ourselves. We should focus on the question of under what terms do we sit at the table, what are the non-negotiables for us and for Ukraine, and how do we conduct those negotiations, and with what end result? We need to have those discussions internally. It's been a bit too long that we haven't held them. I am happy to see that more and more leaders recognise the importance of this. But we need to be strong and united in the way we sit at the table. And we have to be clear that we shouldn't miss an opportunity.” When it comes to Bulgaria’s neighbourhood and EU enlargement, Petrova points out that “during our 2018 EU presidency, we were the country that put enlargement back on the agenda. So we absolutely believe that it should be a topic of high priority.” She elaborates; “It's important that enlargement does not create a sense of scepticism in some current (EU) members. Trust requires the sense that institutions are working in (candidate) countries. I think that the fundamentals: transparency, the rule of law, working institutions – these are the areas that are non-negotiables. So the merit-based approach needs to be the core that we cannot really step away from.”   Programme prepared by Aline Bottin, Oihana Almandoz and Perrine Desplats

Negotiations on air passenger rights hit turbulence: EU Parliament takes on airlines

Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states have been trying to reach an agreement on the rights of air passengers travelling within the bloc. The current rules date back to 2004, but the scale and nature of air travel have changed dramatically since then. We take you inside the negotiations, examine the key sticking points, and explain why MEPs are pushing for stronger protections for passengers affected by delays and cancellations. Programme prepared by Oihana Almandoz, Perrine Desplats, Aline Bottin and Isabelle Romero

Europe’s fight to stay in the AI race

This week’s special edition of Talking Europe asks whether the EU is ready for the disruption that comes with Artificial Intelligence. It is the most important technological revolution of the century, and is set to impact every aspect of our lives. Whether you are working in a small business or in an industrial giant, whether you are a student, a musician or an author – the anxiety is real. As Nobel prize-winning economist Philippe Aghion puts it: “AI means new ideas and new activities, but it may be that job destruction will occur before job creation. Countries need to adapt.” Our report covers half a dozen EU countries to find out how they are preparing, from grassroots education and upskilling efforts in rural Ireland, to the manufacturing sector, which sees AI and robotics as key to improving productivity and helping offset a shrinking workforce.  We also look at global competition: How does Europe plan to catch up with leaders in the United States and China when it comes to AI infrastructure? We visit one of the EU’s first “AI factories” in Luxembourg and take a look at the Meluxina supercomputer, which provides European startups with processing power for their AI models. Indeed, the question of digital and AI sovereignty has become key given that so much AI infrastructure is based in the US, meaning many European organisations are rethinking their dependence on Silicon Valley. And just as important for the EU: The creative sector, where European artists remain influential figures worldwide. For many musicians, AI can be both a tool and a threat to their creativity as AI-generated music has begun to capture revenues on streaming services. Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre tells FRANCE 24; “What differentiates chaos from democracy is, of course, the rules. We creative artists deserve our share, and we should be considered as real partners at the table.” While AI is set to transform the economy, many in Europe still remain wary, believing in the need for safeguards. While two-thirds of Europeans say AI can improve workplace productivity,  84 percent insist that it requires careful management. Balancing that fine line between innovation and regulation will be crucial for the EU. Report by Luke Brown and Renaud Lefort. Programme prepared by Isabelle Romero, Perrine Desplats and Oihana Almandoz.