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The interview was conducted with six members of the consortium, as shown in the picture above from left to right: Promoting green technologies goes hand in hand with developing a skilled workforce. Which entry point do you pursue with your GreenVocNet project? Silke Steinberg: We want to improve vocational training in green technologies in Greece, […]

The political context Ireland inherits is a challenging one. In recent years, EU priorities have increasingly shifted towards competitiveness, security and economic resilience. Several important climate files have remained unresolved, as Chiara Martinelli said, Director of CAN Europe. The review of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), progress on electricity grids and preparations for the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP) are now among the key […]

EUKICON26 was the sixth network conference of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) and took place in Berlin on 19–20 May 2026. Under the theme ‘Doubling Down on Climate Action’, the conference brought together key players in European climate action. Experts from the worlds of policy and practice discussed the role of European climate action in […]

The A+ Approach to Enhance Energy Transition project recently ended. Why did you choose to focus on local authorities for promoting a just and sustainable energy transition?  Estimates say that around 80 per cent of energy transition must happen locally. Municipalities are where energy efficiency measures are ultimately implemented, heating systems decarbonised and energy communities established. We focus particularly on municipalities located in […]

What should citizens in Central and Eastern European countries expect from ETS2? How much of a financial burden is it placing on them? Jonas Sonnenschein: In the first few years, the new scheme will only slightly increase diesel and petrol prices and the cost of heating oil and gas. Many people will hardly notice the […]

In its Regional Strategy of the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) with the Western Balkans 2025–2027, Austria identified climate and environment as one of its three thematic priorities for the region. The strategy emphasises that transitioning towards climate neutrality, strengthening climate resilience, and enhancing environmental governance are key drivers of sustainable development. It also highlights the […]

Discussion with  Europe faces the task of embedding climate neutrality in a coherent industrial strategy that strengthens European sovereignty, economic resilience and competitiveness. But can betting on clean technology actually help Europe to foster climate-neutral economic growth? What is needed politically to make this progress a reality? And how can European industrial, trade and investment policies harness climate action as a driver of sustainable growth and strategic […]

Discussion with  Some of the common denominators linking climate and security are droughts, floods or water scarcity leading to armed conflicts and displacement. However, there is also another side of the coin: the transition to climate neutrality increases security, resilience and sovereignty. Some of the key synergies between climate and security involve rapid reduction of Europe’s dependency on fossil fuels sourced from unreliable partners. So how can climate and security policy be aligned to achieve mutual benefits?  Dr Holger […]

Discussion with  Is climate action at a point of decline in Europe? What is needed to make the EU stick with its strong climate targets and actually meet them? These questions were addressed from the diverse perspectives of German national policy, the EU administration, and civil society. This discussion was timely and, indeed, overdue, because previously agreed climate action is now being called into question while the EU is seeking to balance climate ambition with economic, social and geopolitical priorities, allowing for a higher degree […]

With the wealth of expertise and experience that participants from various climate action backgrounds will bring to the event, EUKICON26 will offer a unique pan-European opportunity for networking and inspiration. The diverse line-up of speakers includes politicians such as Thomas Kralinski, Director General for National and European Climate Action at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, […]