European Greens

The European Union is set to delay its methane emissions rules following pressure from member governments, according to Reuters. The rules were designed to curb methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from energy and agricultural sources. The postponement marks a setback for EU climate ambitions and has drawn attention to tensions between Brussels and national capitals over the pace of green regulation.

New European Union rules took effect Sunday aimed at curbing unverified green claims by companies. The measures target vague or unsupported environmental marketing statements, requiring businesses to substantiate eco-friendly assertions made to consumers. The move is part of a broader EU effort against greenwashing, and companies operating in the bloc will now need verifiable evidence for sustainability claims.

The World Trade Organization will examine the European Union's carbon border adjustment mechanism following a formal challenge by Russia. Moscow argues the tariff on carbon-intensive imports, including steel and fertiliser, discriminates against non-EU exporters. The dispute adds to wider criticism of the mechanism from trading partners who see it as protectionist green policy, while the EU defends it as essential to meeting climate goals.

New findings from Eurofound indicate that Europeans broadly accept the need for climate action, yet many are unwilling to change how they travel or heat their homes. The agency reports that north-western European countries are better prepared to design green policies that fit how people actually live, highlighting a gap between climate attitudes and personal behaviour across the continent.

European Greens are calling for mining projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina to be removed from the EU's list of strategic projects, according to Euractiv. The move reflects concerns over the environmental impact of mining ventures seeking EU backing. The dispute touches on tensions between Europe's push for secure critical raw materials and environmental safeguards, and it comes as the EU finalises which projects deserve strategic status and support.

The Council of the European Union has given its final approval to updated rules on social security coordination, which determine how workers' pension, unemployment and other benefits are handled when people move between EU member states. The update modernises a framework that affects millions of cross-border workers, students and families across the union, aligning it with current employment patterns.

Bruegel argues that well-designed climate policies can accelerate the decarbonisation of manufacturing across the Western Balkans, rather than hindering industry. The analysis suggests the region could align its industrial base with EU climate standards, turning regulation into a driver of modernisation. The discussion feeds into wider European debates on how enlargement countries should meet green transition requirements while keeping their economies competitive.