Dia duit,
It’s Roi holding the pen this week.
As fellow Celtic cousins, we Galicians and the Irish have a lot in common: bagpipes, potatoes, a reputation for being a little too fond of the drink, and definitely not being used to heat like this. Making this week’s timing rather ironic.
As Ireland takes its turn at the helm of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it does so amid one of Europe’s most severe heatwaves on record, with Germany, Czechia, Hungary and Denmark having experienced their hottest days ever recorded. I sincerely hope Dublin keeps in mind our shared continental trauma – and that the fastest-warming continent in the world needs urgent action. This is the priority that underpins them all.
The record-breaking temperatures of this latest heatwave have once again exposed how unprepared Europe remains for extreme heat, with at least 1,300 deaths reported so far. These add to the estimated 200,000 lives lost across Europe over the past four years – many of which could have been saved through stronger climate mitigation, prevention and adaptation measures.
Without political courage and decisive action, today’s roasting summer will feel mild in just a few years. Ireland’s Presidency offers an opportunity to help steer Europe towards a more resilient future. Let’s take it! In this edition, we cover:
- Ireland takes the reins of the Council of the EU
- Carbon pricing wars
- The Agri Corner
- Mining in Sweden goes wrong
If you enjoy reading this newsletter, consider buying us a Guinness. Sláinte 🍻
*More deaths are caused by heat in the EU than by guns in the USA.
☘️ IRELAND TAKES THE REINS
Éire: the deal maker. One of Dublin’s biggest tests as it takes over from Cyprus will be negotiating the bloc’s €2 trillion budget for the next seven years and helping secure an agreement by December, when its six-month term ends.
The real test. With geopolitical pressures competing for public investment, it will be crucial to ensure that climate resilience, nature restoration and pollution prevention remain at the heart of EU spending. As Europe faces increasingly costly climate impacts, investing in the green transition is not a luxury but a prerequisite for Europe’s long-term security, resilience and prosperity.
Broker, not breaker. Ireland will also help shape the future of Europe’s environmental rulebook. The EU’s simplification agenda is proving increasingly messy, with several omnibus packages set to be negotiated during the Irish Presidency. From proposals that weaken protections for nature, water, and public health to those that open the door to even greater corporate influence, the stakes are high.Dublin should ensure that simplifying EU laws leads to better implementation, not to deregulation. It should keep science as its guiding compass throughout the process and resist attempts to roll back the EU environmental acquis.
Make Science Great Again. Scientists predicted this future decades ago. As our Policy Director, Faustine Bas-Defossez, notes, “the science predicted this future, and it is arriving exactly as expected.” Europe’s answer cannot be adaptation alone. Preventing further climate, biodiversity and pollution damage remains just as essential as preparing for the impacts already here.
Why Council matters. A Council Presidency cannot make decisions on its own. It works alongside the Commission, Parliament and Member States to reach an agreement. But it can still make a real difference by setting political priorities, shaping negotiations and building the compromises needed to move Europe forward.
👉 Read our full Assessment of the Cypriot Presidency.
👉 Read our full Memorandum for the Irish Presidency.
🥊 CARBON PRICING WARS
Reading from the same script? If you’ve been following this newsletter, you’ll know the carbon price is shaping up to be one of Brussels’ biggest political battles this summer. This week, the EPP set out its vision: fewer constraints on industry, more pollution permits and a slower path to decarbonisation. If this sounds familiar, compare it with the wishlist of Europe’s biggest chemical lobby, CEFIC, and you’ll struggle to spot the difference.
People vs polluters. Despite the political rhetoric, citizens continue to back a strong EU carbon market. A new YouGov poll across six European countries shows that 72% believe the biggest polluters should pay more through the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). Support stretches across the political spectrum, including among many conservative and right-wing voters, challenging the narrative that ambitious climate policy has lost public backing.
🚜 AGRI CORNER
Less is more. This week, MEPs in the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee voted to weaken the European Commission’s proposal to cap EU farming subsidies, calling for the ceiling to be raised from €100,000 to €500,000 per farm. The Commission’s original proposal was designed to prevent scandals such as the one that saw the UAE’s ruling royal family receive more than €71 million in EU agricultural subsidies.
Subsidising the rich. Under the current system, the more land you own, the more public money you receive, allowing some of Europe’s largest landowners to benefit disproportionately. A €100,000 cap would affect just 0.5% of farms while redirecting support to the farmers who need it most.
Do as the Danes do. While the Danish government is introducing tougher measures to curb agricultural pollution and protect public health, the Commission is considering moving in the opposite direction by weakening EU rules that limit excessive manure spreading.
When pollution reaches the tap. The consequences are already being felt. Nitrate pollution leaves more than 260,000 people in Spain without safe drinking water, costs EU taxpayers an estimated €22 billion every year, and has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. That’s why we joined farmers, environmental and civil society organisations in urging the Commission to uphold and strengthen these vital protections. Read our joint letter.
📡 ON OUR RADAR
Greenwashing at 40,000 feet. An EU court has ruled that the manufacture of private jets cannot be excluded from the list of activities deemed environmentally sustainable, fuelling concerns that the EU taxonomy is being stretched to accommodate the emissions of the super-rich. Read more here.
Licence first, questions later. Sweden has granted a 25-year lease to a Canadian company to mine rare earths at Norra Kärr, just 1.5 km from Lake Vättern, which supplies drinking water to more than 300,000 people. The decision comes despite the absence of an operating permit, a completed environmental impact assessment, and proven commercial viability. Local communities, who successfully blocked the mine in 2016, now have three months to appeal. We’ll be following the fight closely.
€85 billion on hold. One year after EU governments were due to submit their Social Climate Plans, only two have been approved while 19 are still missing. As a result, during an unfolding cost-of-living crisis, €85 billion has yet to reach low-income households who need support with home renovations, clean heating, affordable transport and rising energy bills.
Want to help change that? Sign our new petition urging governments to leave fossil fuels behind, not people.
Still no plans for 8 July? Join us at Cinema Palace for a special screening of Our Land, organised in collaboration with Imagine. We’d love to see you there. More information here.
🧠✨ DOPAMINE HIT
As ever, here are a few happy updates to get your weekend off to a perky start:
- Kind of miracle solution’: How Paris is harnessing the Seine to replace air-con. Read more here
- Drones are Saving Hundreds of Fawns From Mower Deaths in Germany. Read more here
- France adds 157,000 hectares of protected forest as nature preserves face pressure elsewhere. Read more here
- Paris court rules TotalEnergies must account for indirect emissions and tighten climate policies. Read more here
- A French court has just ruled that plastic bottle company Volvic’s “100% recycled” and “carbon neutral” labels mislead consumers. Read more here
🧚 JOB FAIRY
- Become the next New Leaf mate, EEB is looking for a Communications Officer.
☕ BUY US A COFFEE
From dirty lobbies to smear campaigns, billionaire bullies to climate collapse, we face a lot. Support our work, one coffee at a time.
📢 ORGANISE
If you are not involved, get involved. Find a member organisation near you.
🚀 FOLLOW US
Don’t stay delulu, deal with the pollulu 🍃✨ Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Bluesky, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Don’t miss out!
Are you a journalist? Subscribe here to stay up to date on our latest European environmental policy updates made specifically for you!
We have opened a new mailbox for your tips and tales from the ground. Got something you think we should feature? Reach out to us at newleaf@eeb.org.
✨ SIGN UP
Stay informed. Subscribe to our Newsletter by email for the latest EU green insider updates every Friday morning and to support our work. By subscribing, you also get early access to our in-depth analysis of key EU environmental policy.
By: Roi Gomez. Special thanks to the EEB’s editorial team: Alberto Vela and Ben Snelson. Editor: Christian Skrivervik