The EU member states that will hold the next three Presidencies of the EU Council (known collectively as the Trio Presidency) have drawn up an 18-month agenda to ensure that, in addition to the immediate challenges the EU is facing, other important issues will receive the necessary attention and commitment. It is clear that the challenge of migration and refugees will remain high on the agenda for the Dutch, Slovak and Maltese Presidencies, which will cover the period from January 2016 to June 2017. As the December European Council underlined, steps to strengthen the EU’s external borders will be a top priority.
A €100m programme to help bring renewable energy to poor people in East Africa achieved some notable successes but still needs better supervision, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors. The auditors found that the European Commission had made some good selections among the projects proposed, but failed to monitor progress closely enough. Between 2006 and 2013, the ACP–EU Energy Facility was allocated €475 million of European Development Funds, mostly for grants to projects in sub-Saharan Africa. The main objective was to promote access to modern energy for poor people in rural areas and on the outskirts of towns, where energy for cooking remains largely based on firewood or charcoal.
Samoa Renewable Energy Development and Power Sector Rehabilitation Project will receive additional combined co-financing of USD 7.55 million (EUR 7.04m) for the 680-kW Fuluasou small hydropower plant (HPP) on Upolu Island. The financing facility includes a USD-5.06-million and USD-2.49-million equivalent grants from the European Union (EU) and the Government of New Zealand, respectively. While the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will administer both grants, the Government of Samoa will also provide USD 1.21 million in counterpart support, the former said in a statement on Friday.
EU Commissioner Phil Hogan, responsible for Agriculture delivered the keynote speech at the Bioeconomy Forum in Brussels, which addresses the need to strengthen the transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based economy in Europe. The Commission is already leading global role in sustainably managing and exploiting biological resources but moving forward requires mobilising further investments. It was recognized that this means strengthening Europe's research and innovation capacity and increase public private investments.
The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) is increasing its support for the development of green energy in the Eastern Caribbean. DFID has announced an agreement to contribute around $3.9 million USD to the Caribbean Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy for the Eastern Caribbean initiative. The program provides financing designed to advance sustainable energy solutions in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.
This article states that the export-oriented German economy should consider alternative markets in Africa. Increased investments are needed for infrastructure, energy and in turn, this could enhance integration into efficient Global Value Chains (GVC). In light of the Euro Zone problems, the crisis in emerging markets, and the Chinese economic downturn, investment in Africa offers many opportunities. Indeed, recently the German Engineering Federation Association (VDMA) emphasized that Africa is awakening “from its slumber”. Moreover, out of the ten fastest growing economies in the world currently six come from Africa.
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of a joint venture by Barloworld Handling Limited of the United Kingdom and BayWa Aktiengesellschaft of Germany. Barloworld Handling belongs to the South African Barloword group which produces earthmoving, power systems, materials handling and agricultural equipment, automotive and logistics services. BayWa is a German group active in agriculture, building materials and energy. The joint venture will distribute agricultural machinery and parts and provide related services in Zambia at first, and may become active in other Sub-Saharan areas.
EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete will attend the 46th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea this week. The visit comes few months ahead of the UN Climate Conference in Paris (COP21). Commissioner Arias Cañete said: "The EU and the Pacific are long-standing allies in the fight against climate change. Countries in this region are amongst the most vulnerable to its impacts – as demonstrated by the devastation caused by Cyclone Pam in March. This year's Forum will be an important opportunity to unite together with the view to secure a strong and credible global climate deal that will significantly accelerate the global transition to a climate resilient sustainable future."
Barbados and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have signed a treaty establishing a maritime boundary between the two countries. It is the first ever of its kind and is based on equidistance between the two countries. Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart explained, “The definition of the extent of a state’s jurisdiction over its land and maritime space is not a small matter. In fact, the ability of a state to exercise this jurisdiction unimpeded is one of the very defining characteristics of sovereignty. To agree with one’s neighbours exactly where their jurisdiction begins and yours ends is thus a matter of the highest import to the proper conduct of the business of the state.”
At the Third International Financing for Development conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the European Union (EU) pledged to remain the world's most open market, by continuing to import from developing countries and develop schemes, which benefit developing countries. On imports, the EU currently imports €860 billion worth of goods annually from developing countries and it has already indicated funds of up to €6 billion to support trade schemes with developing countries. Via the EU’s Sustainable Energy for All project , €3.5 billion will be allocated to the energy sector and this is expected to leverage a further €30billion from now until 2020. The EU’s budget support programmes, annually disburse of €1.6 billion to 80 developing countries, while EU direct support to domestic public amounts to €140 million annually.