Source: Rasmussen Global Political Consultancy and Business Advisory

The views and opinions expressed here below are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the AALEP.

Impact of COVID-19 for business and politics

European trust in the United States has declined sharply since U.S. President Donald Trump took office.  During Trump’s first three years in office, many of his policies seem designed to undermine transatlantic solidarity. Trump withdrew from the Paris climate agreement, questioned the sanctity of NATO’s Article 5 defense guarantee, withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, pulled U.S. troops from Syria without consulting European allies, carried out the targeted killing of an Iranian general in Iraq again without consulting European allies, undermined U.S.

The importance of renewables for EU-Russia energy relations should grow. Despite declarative statements of mutual interest, shared objectives and cooperation in decarbonization policy, there has been very limited cooperation . The EU has set ambitious plans to decarbonize its economy and energy sector by 2050. However, in Russia energy policy is dominated by hydrocarbon exports, decarbonization targets are modest, and there are major problems with their implementation.

Russia is quite an important player in the global energy system: with just 3% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) and 2% of the global population, it provides 10% of global primary energy production, 5% of global primary energy consumption, and 16% of international energy trade. Russia is the world’s largest exporter of energy resources (#2 for oil exports, #1 for gas exports, and #3 for coal exports in 2017.

With its low population density, Russia is theoretically well placed to become a major renewable energy exporter to the EU. The options for exporting renewable energy to the EU include two choices that are already available today: biogas and renewable electricity from wind or solar. 

Fragmentation of the tourism industry makes it harder for tourism operators to form a strong lobby to encourage the EU to formulate policies in favour of the industry and there is a lack of co-ordination between stakeholders at European level. The existence of many groups with varied agendas and priorities present further problems to the EU institutions other than just keeping in regular contact. Groups are not able to communicate as effectively as perhaps they would like.

Tourism in General

Sustainable coastal and maritime tourism policies must acknowledge the impacts of tourism activities on the coastal territories, the vulnerability and complexity of the coastal and maritime ecosystems and its interactions with the different sub-components of the CMT.

Recommended Actions

1. Promote coherence, stakeholders collaboration and cooperation mechanisms.

a. Ensure coherent, integrated and consistent policies at all political, geographic and sectoral levels.

Source: Politico EU Influence

From: 20 December 2019 thru 29 May 2020

 29 May, 2020

Hill+Knowlton Strategies this week appointed Philippe Maze-Sencier as its global chair of public affairs, as of June 8. Maze-Sencier leaves McLarty Associates, where he served in leadership positions in the business advisory firm’s Brussels and DC offices.

Hill+Knowlton Strategies also appointed Kelli Parsons as its global chair of corporate affairs, as of June 15.

Source: Notre Europe (Jacques Delors Institute)

Summary

1. Renovating schools and other educational buildings

2. Renovating the dwellings of energy poor households

3. Rolling out a large network of charging points

4. Accelerating the uptake of cycling

5. Boosting European battery production

6. Encouraging the purchase of electric cars

7. Investing in clean economy start-ups and SMEs

8. Boosting investment in clean economy demonstration projects

9. Accelerating the transition towards a circular economy