Eacon - European Affairs Consulting Group

Last week, the European Commission unveiled  a new regulation introducing the “Flight Emissions Label (FEL)”, an environmental performance label designed to calculate the  greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with flights.  Starting in July 2025, airlines operating within or departing from the EU will have the option to voluntarily participate in this initiative. In other words, from next summer, passengers will be able to compare the GHG emissions of their flights.  Previously, airlines used different methodologies to estimate and compare flight emissions, leading to inconsistencies. The Flight Emissions Label aims to create a standardised and harmonised methodology for calculating these emissions. When searching for flights online, a dedicated logo will appear alongside emissions data, ensuring the information is reliable and helping to prevent greenwashing claims.  The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will take the role of calculating flight emissions using the most advanced international standards for aviation emissions accounting, taking into account the aircraft type, the (average) number of passengers, volume of freight on board, aviation fuel used, etc. This approach will ensure a fair, transparent, and consistent estimation of flight emissions based on the latest performance data for the same routes.  #FlightEmissionsLabel #SustainableAviation #GreenTravel #EUEnvironment #ClimateAction #GHGEmissions #EASA #AviationStandards #EcoFriendlyFlights #EuropeanCommission

Last week, the European Parliament’s groups reached an agreement to create two new special committees dealing with housing and foreign interference and transform the subcommittees on public health (SANT) and security and defence (SEDE) into full committees. The mandates of these committees will be put to a vote during this week’s plenary session in Strasbourg, with committee chairs to be appointed in January. The decision to expand SEDE’s mandate has sparked criticism, most importantly regarding its jurisdictional boundaries. The proposed responsibilities include  overseeing the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, monitoring and implementing defence research, innovation and joint production, tackling hybrid threats, enhancing Europe's defence industry and cyber-defence capabilities, and developing military mobility infrastructure. Regarding SANT, various MEPs advocated for a greater focus on health issues. However, others opposed it, saying that narrowing the scope might undermine the cross-sectoral approach to public health. If approved, SANT would officially oversee pharmaceuticals and medical devices, preparedness to health crises, mental health and patients' rights, and health aspects of bioterrorism, while maintaining inter-institutional relations with other health authorities. Food security and animal welfare would remain under the renamed Environment, Climate and Food Safety Committee. Last but not least, the Parliament seeks to form a temporary committees dealing with the EU housing crisis to assess housing needs across member states and their impacts on the European population. These special committees have a renewable 12 month mandate. The Committees of the European Parliament play an essential role in shaping the institution’s work. They draft the institution's positions on legislative proposals, prepare own-initiative reports, conduct hearings with experts and oversee the other EU institutions and bodies. Previously, the Parliament had 20 committees and four subcommittees addressing a wide range of policy areas. #EuropeanParliament #EUPolicy #PublicHealth #SecurityAndDefence #HousingCrisis #HealthPolicy #DefencePolicy #FoodSecurity #CrisisManagement #Governance

Last Thursday, European transport ministers met at the EU Council meeting to discuss several key topics, including the so-called “air passenger rights.” The ministers adopted their negotiating position regarding the two Commission proposals (dating back to November 2023) forming the “passenger mobility” legislative framework. The EU passenger rights regulatory framework is based on five regulations dealing with several transport modes (air, waterborne, bus, and rail transport). This legislative package seeks to address gaps in the existing passenger rights regulatory framework. The Council emphasized the dual objective of safeguarding passengers’ rights while minimizing the administrative burden for operators and national enforcement authorities. The draft regulation primarily aims to ensure effective and consistent enforcement across the Member States for various modes of transport. This will be achieved through new tools to monitor operators’ compliance with passenger rights. Additionally, it seeks to establish a straightforward and efficient complaint-filing process for passengers. With regard to reimbursement, the draft clarifies that passengers are entitled to a full refund of their ticket cost, even if booked via an intermediary, should the flight not proceed as planned. Notably, this draft regulation does not introduce new passenger rights but focuses on clarifying existing provisions and simplifying procedures. These clarifications include enhanced attention to the needs of individuals with reduced mobility, simplification of the procedures for reimbursement, and a reduction in administrative burdens for carriers, intermediaries, and passengers alike. These developments mark an important step towards a more transparent and passenger-friendly regulatory framework, benefiting both individuals and the transportation industry across Europe. 🚀 #PassengerRights #EUTransport #SustainableMobility #AirTravel #TransportInnovation #AccessibilityMatters #EURegulations

On the third of December, the Energy Charter Conference approved the modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). The primary goal of this update is to align it with the climate goals set out in the Paris Agreement. The 51 governments of the ECT agreed to leave protections for fossil fuels behind. This modernisation comes after multiple parties abandoned the treaty. Back in June this year, the EU and 26 of its Member States announced their intention to withdraw from the ECT. The EU now officially endorsed the withdrawal of the EU and Euratom from the treaty while allowing Member States wishing to remain contracting parties to do so under the updated framework.  Nevertheless, numerous environmental NGOs and think tanks have demanded to leave this treaty behind. They argue that the modernised treaty still hinders effective climate action and continues to protect the fossil fuel industry and accepts its controversial solutions to climate change, such as carbon capture and storage and fossil-based hydrogen.     This reform is set to apply provisionally in September 2025 for the countries that chose to adopt it. However, it requires ratification by three-quarters of the ECT countries to become fully operational. #EnergyCharterTreaty #ClimateAction #ParisAgreement #EnergyTransition #FossilFuels #Sustainability #ClimateGoals #EnvironmentalPolicy #EnergyReform #GreenFuture 

Last week, the Council adopted the “Forced Labour Regulation (FLR)”, a regulation prohibiting products made using forced labour from being sold in the EU market. This marks a significant step toward the long-anticipated ban on the sale of products made with forced labour, a critical milestone for human rights protection since more than 27M people are subjected to forced labour conditions around the world. More than two years ago already, the Commission proposed this regulation to prohibit the import of goods made under forced labour. After thorough negotiations, the law is now subjected to the presidents of the European Parliament and the Council for signatures. With this regulation, the EU can base legal action targeting products made with forced labour and brought on the internal market. To support enforcement, the Commission plans to create a database identifying economic sectors and geographic areas at risk of exporting goods made under forced labour. The Commission or the relevant Member State’s administration can then eventually investigate the case. If the investigation determines that forced labour was involved, authorities can mandate the withdrawal of the relevant goods from the EU market and online platforms, as well as their confiscation at the borders. These goods must then be either donated, recycled, or destroyed. Besides, the different EU Member States shall share information with each other with regard to suspected use of forced labour in a third country. The same authority leading the investigation will take the final decision on whether or not to ban, withdraw and dispose of a product made using forced labour. On top of that, the decision will apply in all EU member states, under the principle of mutual recognition. Now that the legislative act has been adopted, the law is subjected to the presidents of the European Parliament and the Council for signatures before being published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It will enter into force the day after publication, with the regulation set to apply three years after that.   #ForcedLaborBan #HumanRights #EURegulation #SupplyChainEthics #CorporateResponsibility #SustainableTrade #LaborRights #GlobalJustice #EthicalBusiness

Countdown to EU Commission Approval: What’s Next? Over the past two weeks, EU politics have been dominated by the confirmation hearings of the commissioner-designates. The 26 commissioner nominees have faced the lawmakers and their questions for hours, with varying levels of success. So far, 19 of the 26 have been confirmed by the Parliament, while seven have not. Thus, what happens now? What are the next steps? Of the seven unconfirmed nominees, six are executive vice presidents. Like the other commissioner-designates, they require the support of at least two-thirds of the European Parliament committee conducting the confirmation hearing to be appointed. To allow time to find a deal, the EVP confirmation meetings have been postponed. If the new commission intends to start its activities on the 1st of December, the total amount of 26 commissioner-designates must be confirmed in Strasbourg during the week of November 25. In case no agreement is reached before the 27th of November, the new Commission will not take office before the start of next year. #EUCommission #EuropeanParliament #CountdownToApproval #PolicyAndGovernance #FutureOfEurope #EULeadership #BrusselsUpdates #CommissionHearings #EU2024 #ShapingEurope

🌍 As global travel continues to increase, managing border security and facilitating smooth travel processes have become essential for the European Union. The Schengen Strategy stands at the forefront of this effort, strengthening border management and enhancing security across the Schengen area. 🚀 Building on this framework, the EU introduced a new initiative to digitalise travel documents and visa procedures. The idea is to simplify border controls, reduce the burden on consular services, and prevent document fraud, while meeting the growing demands of travellers across the continent. The digitalisation of travel procedures represents a significant step toward a unified, secure, and efficient border experience for EU citizens.  #TravelInnovation #EU #BorderManagement #DigitalTransformation #Schengen #Travel

The European Parliament is set to begin a structured evaluation process for commissioner candidates on November 4th. Each 180-minute hearing will use a two-round Q&A format to ensure focused scrutiny and efficient use of time. Behind closed doors, a select group of coordinators will assess each candidate’s qualifications, with final votes taking place in committee. This process highlights Parliament's dedication to transparent and accountable EU leadership. Stay tuned—these decisions will play a key role in shaping the EU's future direction! #EUCommission #EuropeanParliament #EULeadership #Governance #Accountability #Transparency #EUHearings #FutureOfEurope #LeadershipEvaluation #EUPolitics #CommissionerHearings #EUDirection

It was a pleasure speaking at Nova Formatsia‘s International Business Forum in Ukraine today! Ukraine is a young aspiring democracy trying to leave a difficult heritage of soviet inertia, centralism and corruption behind. While the country fights bravely for its survival aggainst the Russian aggression, its economy is undergoing deep transformation. Today, sectors like IT, renewable energies or automotive production are flourishing, and many start-ups have been created. Young talents and a skilled workforce make Ukraine attractive for foreign investors. Ukraine deserves full and unconditional support of western democracies and the international community. A democratic, independant and stable Ukraine will be an asset for the whole of Europe. 🇺🇦🇪🇺 Nova Formatsia #Ukraine #EuropeanUnion #europeanintegration #standwithukraine European Commission Eyes on Ukraine We are Ukraine Eacon - European Affairs Consulting Group Special thanks to: Vyacheslav Kredisov Arianna Boccialone Alice Martinetto

AI is rapidly emerging as a transformative force in today’s fast-paced political landscape, significantly aiding public affairs professionals in navigating the intricate European policymaking environment. By providing real-time insights and predictive analytics, AI enhances the ability to manage complex legislative and regulatory processes—offering capabilities far beyond what can be achieved through manual efforts. However, as AI’s role expands, it also introduces new challenges and ethical considerations that must not be overlooked. Here are 5 ways AI can assist public affairs within the EU: 🔍 Automated policy monitoring: Track legislative changes and developments across multiple institutions in real-time. 📊 Data-driven analysis: Leverage AI to analyse vast amounts of data, identifying trends and potential impacts on policy. 🤖 Predictive insights: Forecast political shifts, stakeholder positions, and future regulatory challenges with AI-powered predictions. 🎯 Targeted engagement: Use AI to identify key stakeholders and decision-makers, enabling more focused advocacy efforts. 📡 Sentiment analysis: Monitor public and stakeholder opinions on policy issues to adjust strategies proactively. As AI capabilities grow, so does its potential to reshape advocacy, lobbying, and public policy across the EU. Are you leveraging AI to stay ahead in the policy game? 🌍💼 #AI #PublicAffairs #EUPolicy #DigitalTransformation #AIAdvocacy #FutureOfLobbying