Gareth Macnaughton

This year annual #UCAB event, #LFM left all partisipants with several important questions to consider, particularly given the significant impact these discussions have on the industry and the broader state strategy for #EUintegration. However, before delving into those reflections, I want to express my sincere gratitude to @Olexandra Avramenko, Taras Kachka, and Taras Vysotskyi for their continuous, thoughtful, and creative efforts in shaping the industry and advancing the government's approach to #EUintegration. As Ukraine continues its path towards deeper integration with the European Union, significant milestones lie ahead, particularly in the agri-food sector. In 2021, Ukraine accounted for 7% of agri-food exports to the EU, a figure that surged to 61% by 2023, underscoring its crucial role as a supplier. However, the journey towards fully aligning with EU standards presents a number of challenges. With the expiration of export quotas on January 1, 2024, Ukraine faces the dual task of negotiating market access while meeting stringent European regulations. The potential cost? Transitioning to EU's complex regulatory framework, especially concerning animal welfare, industrial pollution, and pesticide use. Ukraine's role as a key EU supplier was acknowledged by the European Commission, but difficult negotiations lie ahead. Poland, for instance, has expressed opposition due to a lack of certain trade restrictions. Despite these hurdles, the formation of an agricultural alliance between Ukraine and the EU holds promise, provided there is support for small farmers and flexibility in transitional periods. A pivotal date looms: June 5, 2025, when trade preferences come into play. Meanwhile, September 2025 will mark the start of more formal negotiations with the EU, a process that will require significant dialogue, financial assistance, and mutual compromise. Is Ukraine prepared for the shift to European standards, and can the idealized vision of sustainable agriculture become a reality without undermining economic stability? Only time will tell. But one thing is clear: the stakes are high, and the potential rewards for Ukraine’s agri-food sector are immense. #Ukraine #EUIntegration #AgriFood #TradeLiberalization #SustainableAgriculture #EconomicGrowth #EURegulations #InternationalTrade

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✅ EU institutions – European Parliament, European Commission & European External Action Service – are well prepared to counter foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) targeting the European elections on 6–9 June. 📰 Despite some fear-mongering headlines in the media, none of us are really seeing a meaningful uptick in the amount of elections-related FIMI. Let alone the impact of it. Don’t get me wrong, the threat is serious and very much there, but then again it always is. Information manipulation isn’t about a single post that tips the scales, it’s about a long-term effort to undermine and mislead. Lower the integrity of our information environment, if you will. AI, while rapidly developing, is a dog who still hasn’t really bitten. 🥅 On the flipside, EU institutions have been working hard since the last European elections in 2019 and we’ve made a lot of progress to keep us safer. Cooperation between EU institutions, Member States and our international allies is better than ever; FIMI is high in the political agenda; dedicated organisations and teams are being set up across the EU; we’re reaching tens of millions of people with our awareness-raising campaigns etc. The list goes on. In short – we got this. 🗳️ Oh yeah, one more thing – go out and vote! And rest assured that the integrity of EU’s electoral process is safe from foreign meddling.

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Last week, the OPP-DeHavilland EU team examined the EPP's draft programme for the next policy cycle, which retained key priorities from their electoral manifesto and translated them into a policy wish list. Get an inside look at how the largest group in Parliament intends to boost the EU's competitiveness, protect farmers, and decarbonise the EU economy 👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/eCC_hy-j  

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As citizens of the #EU start heading to the polls today, there are many uncertainties about what the next European Parliament - and overall political landscape - will look like for the next 5 years. Finding allies on your key business needs will be essential in this next legislature and #collaboration will be essential in any strategic public affairs campaign. Check our FIPRA Public Affairs's Laura Batchelor's high level take on how to be impactful and achieve your aims below 👇 #FIPRAPublicAffairs #Collaboration #Dialogue #UseYourVote

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OECD and Italy will collaborate to enhance access to justice through people-centred justice.   Together with the Italian Ministero della Giustizia and the #DGReform, the OECD - OCDE kicked off its collaboration with Italy!   🌐 The project is funded by the European Commission, and will span three other countries: Ireland, Malta and the Netherlands.   With over 70 participants at the kick-off, we: ✅ Had an inspiring exchange with key Italian stakeholders ✅ Discussed the project and its activities, as well as key concepts of people-centred justice ✅ Explored the policy context and priorities in Italy, as well as ongoing reforms in the justice sector   ⚖ Access to justice ranks as a top priority across the Italian justice sector. We are looking forward to implementing this agenda!   📺 Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months! OECD Public Governance Aleksandra Marchewka, LL.M. Tatyana Teplova, PhD Maaike de Langen Chloe Lelievre Mariane Piccinin Barbieri Cindy Boreillo Daniela Piana Heeran Kim

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The future of citizen-driven EU legislation: Is the European Citizens' Initiative under threat? Our Director, Cartsen Berg, offers his perspective on the recent "End the Cage Age" ECI decision and its potential impact on future initiatives. Read his insightful commentary and join the conversation! #ECI #EUpolicy #CitizenEngagement #ECITakeTheInitiative

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Three thoughts on right-wing and populist politics and the European Parliament: 1.        Their influence goes beyond the number of seats won and how they will use them future. The right has already succeeded in dragging the policies and positions of the centre-right and centre closer to it in terms of policies they put forward in the campaigns.  2.        The right wing’s most influential delegations are split between different political groups. Some have a ‘detoxification’ agenda for national politics that doesn’t support enhanced right-wing collaboration in Brussels. This leads to a complex picture. The AfD appears ready to try and rejoin the ID group minus Maximilian Krah which would have important funding benefits for the German party. It is questionable whether Marine Le Pen would accept this considering she now has eyes on the Parliamentary elections in France. Giorgia Meloni is probably best placed to maximise influence where her party is now; in the ECR group.  3.        Two of the top three largest national delegations in the European Parliament are now from the right: France’s Rassemblement National (No. 1 with 30 seats) and Fratelli d'Italia (No. 3 with 24 seats) who sandwich the CDU/CSU (29 seats). These delegations are a useful platform in daily parliamentary business for disruption, or the extraction of concessions from the mainstream, depending on the situation or day of the week.

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Very happy to share my new European Policy Centre discussion paper calling for a stronger #EUSecurity agenda, making this a more pervasive element of the Union’s strategic priorities, to navigate a complex period of shocks and crises. For #EUcitizens – across our varied geographies and with different levels of development - EU Security is a multi-faceted policy area that includes health and social systems, climate, agri-food systems, energy, skills and cybersecurity. Security also lies at the core of the EU’s capacity to master the #CriticalTechnologies that will define our future #competitiveness. At the same time, the debate about the future #CohesionPolicy needs a more convincing rationale to set out its value. The post-2027 #CohesionPolicy – searching for its place in the Union’s future – should reorient its purpose towards an evolving EU Security-driven direction. A security-driven #EUIndustrialPolicy is needed with regions playing a full part. To date, EU Industrial Policy has failed to generate a genuine EU-27 effort. In turn, this has marginalised the role EU regions can play. The paper offers illustrations of how #CohesionPolicy can be positioned at the core of the EU’s #competitiveness agenda to improve industrial readiness and to rise to the challenge of securing the EU’s long-term and prosperous future. Generating the will, commitment and delivery capacity for a new #EUSecurityCohesion direction will require a radical political and policy shift, at EU, national and regional levels. https://lnkd.in/emMJ778e

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As the EU tries to push forward with its ambitious green agenda, the Social Climate Fund (SCF) emerges as one of the initiatives to ensure an equitable transition. With a budget of €86.7 billion pooled from emissions trading (ETS2) revenues and Member State contributions, the SCF aims to support those most vulnerable to the impacts of carbon pricing. Hence why we at Ecorys are excited to be part of a European Commission program developing the associated plans with nine EU countries. And at the same time leading on a study for the European Parliament on the connectivity and mobility impacts of the Fit for 55 package. The social climate fund will be crucial in addressing energy and transport poverty, enabling investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy integration and low-emission mobility solutions. As economists, it's good to see and analyse first hand how the SCF will balance environmental goals with social equity, potentially setting a benchmark for climate policy worldwide.

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Digital companies are navigating non market complexity

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Only with the right policy framework #brewers can continue to: 🍺Connect people 🍺Champion moderation 🍺Drive development As a new #EU political mandate is about to start, we share our 7 recommendations on how to support our industry. 🔗https://loom.ly/Mu0R0pk

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If you've been following my work with Ecorys recently you'll know that we are (along with DG REFORM) helping 8 EU countries apply the 'Do No Significant Harm' principle in public finance. We are also helping 9 EU countries to develop their social climate plans to make the most of the €87b mobilised by the Social Climate Fund. Now the two things come together! Practically: following in the footsteps of the €724b Recovery and Resilience Facility, co-legislators decided that no measure financed by the Social Climate Fund can do significant harm to any EU environmental objectives. Technically: the Social Climate Fund regulation requires the Commission to issue tailored guidance on how to apply the Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle to the Social Climate Fund (SCF). The Commission has launched a targeted consultation on the Technical Guidance and its sector-specific annexes. If you're at all interested in EU funds and sustainable (public) finance then this is worth a look. And if you have an opinion on the guidance please contribute to the process! https://lnkd.in/eT-Xq6uM

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Bridging Gaps: EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 - Creating a better life for Europeans With €355 billion invested, we've seen remarkable improvements in infrastructure, education, health, and job creation. This transformative policy continues to shape a brighter future for Europeans. Discover more about the impact and ongoing efforts to create a cohesive and prosperous Europe⬇ #CohesionPolicy #RegionalDevelopment #SustainableGrowth

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The EC 🇪🇺has just launched a call for evidence on the framework to increase lending for energy ⚡ #renovations. 🔊#EUHaveYourSay and provide your feedback before 5 November. 🔗 https://europa.eu/!jYvpGH #EnergyEfficiency #EPBD #RenovationWave

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Main takeaways from today's session on cohesion policy restart at EU Regions Week: The significance of the "right to stay”, as outlined in Letta's report, extends beyond mere redistribution goals, and should integrate Draghi's suggestions to leverage the full potential of our regions and territories for increased competitiveness. In other words, using smart spesialisation to strategically develop more resilient regions perhaps? I think Draghi raises key issues to be addressed: the need to align decarbonisation with competitiveness, and enhancing economic security by reducing dependencies. #EU #cohesionpolicy #smartspecialisation #regionsweek #EnricoLetta #MarioDraghi #competitiveness

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🎙 As part of the ongoing hearing process for the new European Commission, all Commissioner-designates have received written questions from the #EP to address key policy areas and priorities. The responses now publicly available now 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6NiZfCM 💡 In her responses, Research Commissioner-designate Zaharieva reassured many stakeholders by confirming that "one top priority will be the development of the next Framework Program for Research and Innovation." This statement addresses earlier concerns and rumors that the new #FP might not be drafted or would undergo significant changes. ◾ On the topic of #fundamental vs. #applied research, she said that "I will work to expand the European Research Council and the European Innovation Council in the next budgetary period, to focus more on strategic priorities, on groundbreaking fundamental research and disruptive innovation, and on scientific excellence". ◾ On #innovation, there will be a proposal of a new "EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy and a European Innovation Act in order to provide the right environment for our start-ups to grow. They will address legal barriers and administrative burden thanks to an EU-wide legal status for start-ups and innovative companies (‘28th regime’). I plan to expand the European Innovation Council to further boost support for start-ups and scale-ups in strategic fields, for example #quantum, #artificialintelligence, #biotech, #advancedmaterials and #space". ◾ On other initiatives, "a Strategy to increase and to guide the #AI uptake in #science. I will also engage with the relevant players to develop a Strategy for European #LifeSciences, which will cover also #biotechnology. I will also propose targeted actions for critical sectors and deliver an Advanced Materials Act, supporting manufacturing and deployment of advanced materials in Europe".  ◾ On EIA vs ERAA, The European Innovation Act, complementary to the European Research Area Act, will support the simplification of our regulatory framework, accelerate the deployment of innovation, facilitate access to venture capital and support start-ups and scale-ups testing such as with “sandboxes”.  ◾ On #ERC vs #EIC, "I plan to expand the European Research Council and the European Innovation Council, which have proven their added value". 📃 The full responses from Research Commissioner-designate Zaharieva 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZfx9Ug4

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We have just published our 2023 Annual report - a comprehensive overview of the EDPB's binding decisions and DPAs' enforcement activities, as well as the EDPB's efforts to raise awareness on data protection and provide guidance #EDPB #GDPR

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