European Council

Acelen Renewables Selects Honeywell for SAF and Renewable Diesel Fuel Production

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 24, 2024

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) announced that Acelen Renewables has selected its Ecofining™ technology to help support the efficient production of a targeted 20,000 barrels per day of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel. The fuels will be processed at Acelen's facility in Bahia, Brazil, from a blend of inedible seed and waste oils. With this agreement, Acelen Renewables becomes the 50th site to license Honeywell's renewable fuels technology.

Key Points: 
  • CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) announced that Acelen Renewables has selected its Ecofining™ technology to help support the efficient production of a targeted 20,000 barrels per day of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel.
  • With this agreement, Acelen Renewables becomes the 50th site to license Honeywell's renewable fuels technology.
  • Honeywell's Ecofining process, which was developed in collaboration with Eni SpA, offers a capital- and cost-effective solution for processing waste fats, oils and greases into renewable diesel and SAF.
  • Acelen Renewables joins a roster of companies around the world currently licensing Honeywell's renewable fuels technology, including BP, CVR Energy, Diamond Green Diesel, Eni, Repsol, Total Energies, and World Energy.

Press release - Fundamental rights report finds threats to key freedoms, equality and dignity

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 19, 2024

The report on the state of fundamental rights in the EU was approved with 391 votes in favour, 130 against, and 20 abstentions.

Key Points: 
  • The report on the state of fundamental rights in the EU was approved with 391 votes in favour, 130 against, and 20 abstentions.
  • MEPs call for justice for the killing of journalists and welcome the agreement on the media freedom act.
  • poverty and social exclusion, digital poverty); and
    - improving institutional safeguards (including establishing the Fundamental Rights Agency as an independent human rights authority).
  • Quote
    Rapporteur Katarina Barley (S&D, Germany) commented: “Fundamental rights violations are widespread in EU member states.

Press release - The Hungarian government threatens EU values, institutions, and funds, MEPs say

Retrieved on: 
Friday, January 19, 2024

The EU must not give in to blackmail, they highlight.

Key Points: 
  • The EU must not give in to blackmail, they highlight.
  • Further, MEPs condemn the reported systemic discriminatory practices against academia, journalists, political parties and civil society when allocating funds.
  • They regret the use of manipulated public procurement procedures, takeover bids by the government and entities with ties to the Prime Minister, and the use of EU funds to enrich the government’s political allies.
  • The measures required to release EU funding under different rules must be treated as a single package, and no payments should be made if deficiencies persist in any area.

Press release - MEPs debate EU summits and situation in Hungary

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

On Wednesday morning, MEPs discussed the December European Council, the upcoming 1 February special summit, and assessed the situation in Hungary.

Key Points: 
  • On Wednesday morning, MEPs discussed the December European Council, the upcoming 1 February special summit, and assessed the situation in Hungary.
  • Regarding Hungary, she said the Presidency will continue working on the ongoing Article 7(1) procedure and announced that a new hearing with Hungary will take place in June.
  • She stressed that assessing the implementation of reforms by the Hungarian authorities – to allow for unfreezing EU funds - is a Commission task.
  • Addressing the situation in Hungary, President von der Leyen defended the Commission's recent decision to release a part of withheld EU funds.

Alberta sovereignty push: Learning from the economic fallout of similar separatist movements

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, while not explicitly advocating for outright independence, continues to promote increased provincial autonomy.

Key Points: 
  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, while not explicitly advocating for outright independence, continues to promote increased provincial autonomy.
  • A shift from a theoretical discussion to actively pursuing an independence referendum by Smith or her successors could have dramatic economic consequences for Alberta and Canada similar to the impact separatist movements have had in other parts of the world, including in Spain and the United Kingdom.

‘Alberta Agenda’

  • Among other changes, the letter proposed replacing the Canada Pension Plan with an Alberta Pension Plan and establishing an Alberta police force.
  • While the majority (61.9 per cent) voted yes, such a Constitutional change cannot be made without support from six other provinces.
  • Smith has kept key elements of the Alberta Agenda front and centre during her first year as premier.

Similarities to Spain

  • Traditionally, the province of Québec in Canada and the Basque region in Spain have been the primary regions pushing for independence.
  • However, Catalonia’s separatist movement in Spain, which has now surpassed the Basque movement, represents a rapid rise of the kind that could conceivably be seen in Alberta.
  • The Basque region has experienced strong economic growth, while the fallout from the events of 2017 seems to have dampened Catalonia’s economic prosperity compared to other regions in Spain.

Brexit parallels

  • The Brexit referendum, driven by the U.K.
  • Independence Party and conservative factions under David Cameron, prime minister at the time, was intended to quell separatist sentiments.
  • Brexit has been a major factor in the U.K.’s poor economic performance in recent years, and 57 per cent of the British public now want to rejoin the EU.
  • In the case of both Catalonia and Brexit, it hasn’t just been regional economies that have suffered.

‘No plan’

  • Additional challenges include restructuring trade relationships, establishing an independent financial system and addressing potential investor dissent.
  • Both the Alberta and federal governments must act to address western alienation and prevent a catastrophic scenario.
  • That requires not just policy adjustments but a commitment to constructive dialogue and inclusive efforts to resolve these issues.


Carlos Freire-Gibb does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Action1 Expands into Europe, Opens Data Center in Germany

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Action1 Corporation, a provider of the #1 risk-based patch management platform designed for distributed enterprise networks, today announced its expansion into the European market. This move follows a significant year-over-year growth in North America from 2022 to 2023. As a part of its expansion, Action1 established a data center in Germany, Frankfurt.

Key Points: 
  • A US-based patch management vendor is expanding into crucial EU regions and opening a data center in Frankfurt to ensure stringent GDPR compliance.
  • HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Action1 Corporation, a provider of the #1 risk-based patch management platform designed for distributed enterprise networks, today announced its expansion into the European market.
  • As a part of its expansion, Action1 established a data center in Germany, Frankfurt.
  • In line with Action1's commitment to data privacy, the company has established a facility in Frankfurt, Germany, to help ensure that customers handling sensitive data meet the stringent GDPR standards and ensure data residency and sovereignty.

Over 150 Global Humanitarian, Business and Political Leaders Demand Freedom of "Armenian Prisoners"

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nobel Prize laureates, business leaders, former heads of state, and humanitarians are among the more than 100 global figures who have signed a letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the "Armenian Prisoners," which includes eight Armenian political prisoners, who are former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh's government illegally detained following Azerbaijan's invasion and seizure of the region in September. More than a dozen other prisoners of war arrested during the conflict also remain in custody.

Key Points: 
  • The collective plea echoes growing concerns over conditions and treatment of these imprisoned individuals, including prominent Armenian businessman and humanitarian, Ruben Vardanyan.
  • While the December 7th release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released.
  • The failure of Baku to release the remaining eight political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.
  • Their unified plea serves as a powerful reminder that global political leaders are closely monitoring developments in Azerbaijan and calling for the release of the detainees.

Over 150 Global Humanitarian, Business and Political Leaders Demand Freedom of "Armenian Prisoners"

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 12, 2023

BRUSSELS, Dec. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nobel Prize laureates, business leaders, former heads of state, and humanitarians are among the more than 100 global figures who have signed a letter calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the "Armenian Prisoners," which includes eight Armenian political prisoners, who are former leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh's government illegally detained following Azerbaijan's invasion and seizure of the region in September. More than a dozen other prisoners of war arrested during the conflict also remain in custody.

Key Points: 
  • The collective plea echoes growing concerns over conditions and treatment of these imprisoned individuals, including prominent Armenian businessman and humanitarian, Ruben Vardanyan.
  • While the December 7th release of 32 Armenian prisoners of war is a welcome first step, all of the others must be released.
  • The failure of Baku to release the remaining eight political prisoners raises deep concerns over the motives by the Aliyev regime of their continued detention.
  • Their unified plea serves as a powerful reminder that global political leaders are closely monitoring developments in Azerbaijan and calling for the release of the detainees.

CGTN: Xi Jinping urges China, EU to step up cooperation, handle differences

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 7, 2023

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and has witnessed frequent high-level exchanges between China and the EU.

Key Points: 
  • This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and has witnessed frequent high-level exchanges between China and the EU.
  • "China and the EU should uphold the apt description of their relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership," Xi said at Thursday's meeting.
  • Echoing Xi, Michel and von der Leyen noted that the EU does not want to decouple from China.
  • "Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices that China and Europe have made, respectively, with the future in mind," said Xi.

CGTN: Xi Jinping urges China, EU to step up cooperation, handle differences

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 7, 2023

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and has witnessed frequent high-level exchanges between China and the EU.

Key Points: 
  • This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and has witnessed frequent high-level exchanges between China and the EU.
  • "China and the EU should uphold the apt description of their relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership," Xi said at Thursday's meeting.
  • Echoing Xi, Michel and von der Leyen noted that the EU does not want to decouple from China.
  • "Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices that China and Europe have made, respectively, with the future in mind," said Xi.