Think-Tanks'Press

Nitrogen oxides emissions (NOx) in Germany plunged by 44% between 1995 and 2016.

Road traffic recorded the sharpest decline (-62%).

After the decision of the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, however, certain diesel vehicles can be banned from inner cities.

Apparently, there is a conflict of interests between the human right to clean ambient air and the protection of diesel car owners against an erosion of their vehicles‘ value.

In our view, this conflict could be resolved over time.

To this end, policymakers could, for instance, introduce a Blue Badge for low-emission diesel passenger cars, which is tied to a transitional period for older vehicles.

On 17 February 2018, a group of young Belarusians holding a banner reading ‘Legalize Belarus’ gathered on Independence Avenue in the heart of Minsk.

The group was campaigning for the legalisation of marijuana in Belarus, a proposition that, at least for now, seems unlikely to attract support from the public or government officials.

2018 is a year for the European Commission to reflect on the priorities to give to the energy-climate issue.

The Juncker Commission will publish a communication at the end of the spring regarding its energy-climate priorities for 2025.

In view of this the present paper describes the areas which might be given to the next European Commission to turn the Union’s ecological leadership into a lever for industrial development, growth and sustainable employment.