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Global Witness reports that Mondelez has shifted from supporting the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) to actively lobbying for its weakening and delay. The company has engaged with US Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder, joined the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, and targeted conservative MEPs and government officials in France, Germany, Ireland, and Luxembourg. This lobbying occurs despite Mondelez's lack of transparency regarding its deforestation-free cocoa supply and its links to forest destruction in West Africa.

A coalition of European and international organisations calls on the EU leadership to launch an independent report to end fossil fuel dependence. The proposed report would quantify the economic burden of fossil fuels, chart a competitive phase-out pathway using proven technologies, align financial subsidies with the exit, ensure a just transition for workers and vulnerable households, and prioritise nature-based solutions for climate action.

The Clean Air Task Force and the Fusion Industry Association urge the European Commission to transition from a research-focused approach to an industrial strategy for fusion energy. They recommend establishing a credible pathway for commercialisation in the 2030s, creating a fusion-specific regulatory framework distinct from nuclear fission, and implementing milestone-driven financing to attract private capital. The authors emphasize the need for harmonised codes and standards, a comprehensive workforce strategy, and strong coordination between EU and national initiatives to maintain competitiveness against the United States and China.

The AI4TRUST project, funded by Horizon Europe, developed a Toolbox and Monitoring Dashboard to detect manipulated content at scale. However, the project encountered significant obstacles in accessing data from Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs), including rejections from X and Meta. The document argues that DSA Article 40 is failing because platforms unilaterally decide what constitutes 'systemic risk' research. It recommends reforming the DSA vetting process, integrating Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) into risk assessments, mandating infrastructure interoperability, and addressing algorithmic amplification incentives.

Between September 1 and December 18, 2025, 22,158 lobbyist entries were recorded at the European Parliament, with private interests accounting for 59% of visits. The report highlights a pervasive presence of American lobbyists (95% presence rate) and fossil fuel representatives (87.5% presence rate), who utilized direct access and professional consultancies to influence the Omnibus I law. A case study on ExxonMobil reveals the company spent between €1.3 million and €1.7 million on consultancies alone in 2025 to target climate legislation. The analysis concludes that this lobbying effort, supported by a right-wing/far-right parliamentary majority, successfully secured the removal of climate transition plans from the legislation.

The research paper examines how the 1989 Belgium-Luxembourg (BLEU)–USSR bilateral investment treaty (BIT) is being used as a legal threat to prevent Belgium from supporting an EU plan to back a EUR 140 billion Ukraine loan with immobilized Russian Central Bank assets. It highlights a broader trend of 'regulatory chill' where Russian entities use investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims to challenge sanctions. The author argues for the modernization of investment treaties and the implementation of domestic legal blocks to prevent the enforcement of arbitration awards that contradict international sanctions regimes.

The proposal outlines a structured approach to scaling permanent carbon dioxide removals in the EU through a three-stage strategy: early-stage research and innovation (TRL 1-5), a pilot procurement programme for mature technologies (TRL 6-9), and the eventual establishment of an EU Permanent Removals Compliance Scheme (EU RCS) by 2035. The framework defines permanent removals as those storing CO2 for at least 1,000 years and introduces 'Atmospheric Removal Credits' (ARCs) managed by a Central Purchasing and Reselling Platform (CPRP). The proposal emphasizes that removals must not substitute for emissions reductions and should adhere to strict sustainability, human rights, and 'do no significant harm' criteria.

The report examines the impact of declining official development assistance (ODA) on Africa's energy sector, noting a 10% drop in ODA flows since 2020. It argues that this funding gap, particularly severe in the energy sector, necessitates a shift toward private capital and domestic savings, which currently stand at 18% in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to a 36% global average. The document identifies structural inefficiencies in state-run utilities—where transmission and distribution losses cost the continent approximately 5 billion USD annually—as a primary barrier to progress. To achieve energy independence and industrial growth, the report recommends strengthening regional integration via the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to expand fragmented energy markets and diversifying away from expensive thermal generation. Ultimately, it calls for an energy agenda led by African nations rather than external funders in Washington, Brussels, or Beijing, treating energy investment as a development multiplier that could unlock market opportunities of nearly 12 trillion USD across four key sectors.

The document is a joint civil society statement opposing the European Commission's Omnibus proposal, which the signatories claim erodes corporate accountability and environmental protections in the EU.

The document is a joint statement from over 360 organisations condemning the European Commission's 'Omnibus proposal' as a 'dangerous deregulation' effort. The signatories argue that the proposal undermines the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the Taxonomy Regulation. They claim the proposal would reduce corporate accountability, limit access to justice for victims of human rights and environmental abuses, and diminish the quality of sustainability data by excluding a large number of companies from reporting obligations. The statement calls on EU leadership to block these changes and maintain the EU's commitment to becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.

The World Resources Institute evaluates the EU's Clean Industrial Deal, praising its focus on clean-tech and the mobilization of 100 billion Euros for manufacturing, but warns that potential delays to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and a lack of specific resource efficiency targets could undermine its effectiveness.

The policy brief, resulting from the CO2ol Down co-creation project, argues for a clear distinction between temporary biogenic sequestration and permanent carbon dioxide removals (CDR). It recommends that the EU set legally binding, transparent targets for permanent removals in addition to emissions reduction targets, aiming for net-negative GHG emissions by 2055. The brief proposes a governance framework involving EU-level oversight of CO2 transport and storage, member state-level procurement via reverse auctions or contracts for difference, and a financing model based on the 'Polluter Pays' principle. It emphasizes a portfolio approach to diversify removal methods and strict sustainability criteria, including the requirement that CDR activities be powered by additional renewable energy sources.

The document argues that the EU lacks a long-term strategy for green and social investment, which threatens its competitive edge and the success of the Clean Industrial Deal. The authors call for a comprehensive investment package—including a greener EU budget and a successor to the Next Generation EU programme—to mobilise public and private resources for climate neutrality, biodiversity preservation, and industrial transformation.

The NGO Declaration on the Future of Nuclear Energy advocates for the rapid expansion of nuclear power to support global decarbonization and energy security, while emphasizing that speed must not compromise safety or security. It calls for coordinated leadership across government, industry, and finance, and suggests specific actions such as pooling resources for design orderbooks, implementing sustained investment policies, and maintaining independent regulatory capabilities.

Reclaim Finance accuses the French government of attempting to undermine the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The organization claims that France, via Bruno Le Maire, is demanding the company size threshold be raised from 500 employees to 5,000 employees, which would exempt approximately 14,000 companies from the requirement to prevent human rights violations and environmental pollution in their value chains.

The document is an event notice for a discussion featuring representatives from SEATINI UGANDA, Christian Aid, and AFRODAD. The participants aim to provide a CSO perspective on the outcomes of the sixth EU-AU summit in Brussels, specifically evaluating the "Joint Vision for 2030" and its goal to consolidate a "renewed partnership" between the two continents in relation to Africa's needs.

The African Climate Foundation views COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber's holistic approach to the energy sector and his commitment to fixing climate finance as positive steps for Africa. The organization emphasizes the need for equitable access to renewable energy by 2030 and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage fund to support vulnerable African nations.

WRI Europe's 2023-2027 strategy focuses on transforming the food, land, water, energy, and city systems to achieve interconnected goals for people, nature, and climate. The strategy emphasizes Europe's role as a driver, consumer, and partner for change, specifically supporting the implementation of the EU Green Deal and managing the impacts of the energy transition, such as the demand for rare minerals. WRI Europe aims to act as an enabling office for focus countries with large emerging economies while addressing Europe's own environmental footprint through data-driven solutions and partnerships like the Systems Transformation Hub in Brussels.

The report identifies Geneva's high density of international expertise and neutrality as key strengths for SDG implementation, but notes that collaboration is hindered by bureaucratic processes, institutional silos, and a lack of accessible, informal gathering spaces. It recommends the establishment of a curated, inclusive, and inspiring physical space in the Nations area to facilitate networking, skills development, and the showcasing of innovations across the public, private, and academic sectors.

The commentary assesses the challenges of the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) partnership, noting that while common interests exist, translating them into impact remains difficult. It calls for a shift from a donor-recipient model to one based on African ownership and private sector engagement. Key areas for cooperation include a just green transition that supports African industrialisation, coordinated health systems for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and technical support for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The authors emphasize that the EU must recognize global climate injustice and provide sufficient financing to ensure African economies benefit from the green transition.