Today, Monday, Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson addresses the virtual High-Level Conference on Hydrogen organized by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy under the German EU presidency.
In July, the European Commission (EC) presented its Hydrogen Strategy and its Strategy for Energy System Integration. Hydrogen plays a significant role in the implementation of the European Green Deal and the attainment of the climate targets. If the EC is to undertake substantial investment in hydrogen applications and supply, investors will need to have confidence in the business model and in the reliability of the business environment. Boosting supply and demand requires coordination and support for it to be sustainable. At the same time, a suitable regulatory framework needs to be provided for the market as well as the infrastructure.
Human rights at Global Responsibility Conference
On Tuesday, Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit participates in a special conference on “Global supply chains — global responsibility: human rights and decent work in global supply chains”. This timely event comes shortly after British trade unions called on Schmit to investigate claims that Amazon is not respecting its employees’ rights.
European-based companies with global business activities must assume responsibility for both rights-holders in their supply chains and at production sites outside of Europe. This conference will help the EU and stakeholders to design a strategy to tackle this social problem. Panel discussions and workshops will focus mainly on the question of how an EU action plan for human rights and decent work conditions in global supply chains would strengthen corporate responsibility across the EU.
Conference on internet cybersecurity
On Wednesday, the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, in collaboration with Europol, holds a conference on internet cybersecurity. The online conference brings together experts from cybercrime units, computer security incident response teams, regulatory agencies and academia. The sessions will focus on artificial intelligence and the internet operations.
Josep Borrell and Janez Lenarcic in Ethiopia
On Thursday, October 8, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to deliver COVID-19 medical equipment to the authorities there. They will hold meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as well as high-level representatives of the African Union.
EU green ambition at Climate Summit
On Friday, October 9, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans will deliver a keynote speech at the Budapest Climate Summit. Some 30 percent of the EU’s Recovery package is devoted to the European Green Deal. Timmermans will speak about the Commission’s plans to deliver on the European Green Deal.
