Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
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nkurmayer.bsky.social
Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
@nkurmayer.bsky.social
Journalist - energy, climate, buildings and occasionally politics @Euractiv

Tell me what I got wrong: [email protected]
If you, like me, ever wondered why there appear to be so many Italians in the EU's many institutions -- @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social found: they are indeed slightly overrepresented and there is a major issue that threatens to make things much worse

Free: www.euractiv.com/news/pressur...
Pressure grows for broader nationality mix among EU staff | Euractiv
The Commission's new measures likely won't be enough, diplomats warn
www.euractiv.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The vatican just got booed for insisting that it can only support an agreement that is clear on there being just 2 sexes at COP30
November 22, 2025 at 5:07 PM
I tire of the ritualistic EU bashing that seems to be par for the course at the annual climate shindigs

Also, inane phrasing

Via @ed-king.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 12:33 PM
There is a new bad trend in European power markets and few race to avert it

www.euractiv.com/news/analysi...
ANALYSIS: The race to avert a homemade European energy crisis | Euractiv
Capacity markets: old idea, new threat
www.euractiv.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
Combining a scoop with an in-depth look at the man whose name everyone in Brussels ought to know -- our profile of juggernaut MEP Christian Ehler!

www.euractiv.com/news/how-a-d...
November 19, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Combining a scoop with an in-depth look at the man whose name everyone in Brussels ought to know -- our profile of juggernaut MEP Christian Ehler!

www.euractiv.com/news/how-a-d...
November 19, 2025 at 8:56 AM
NEW in the ongoing case of Huawei membership in EU lobby groups

www.euractiv.com/news/key-pla...
Key player ditches EU solar lobby group over role of Huawei | Euractiv
The move shines a spotlight on China’s stranglehold over the solar panel industry
www.euractiv.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Right now, it is up to Rome or Warsaw to rescue the EU's 2040 climate target -- without them, a deal looks to be out of reach (which means a massive embarrassment at COP30)

Berlin sent both minister and state secretary (v rare) to hammer out a deal

www.euractiv.com/news/austria...
Austria’s defection leaves EU 2040 climate target on shaky ground | Euractiv
The EU’s last-mile talks on a 2040 climate target face fresh pressure as support for the 90% deal falters
www.euractiv.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
Cracking scoop on #Frontex by my ace Euractiv colleague @nicolettaionta.bsky.social

She is a scoop machine. If you're not following her, what's wrong with you!?

www.euractiv.com/news/exclusi...
EXCLUSIVE: EU capitals eye wider powers for Frontex to tackle drone threats | Euractiv
The move comes amid mounting concern over a series of drone incursions into European airspace in recent months
www.euractiv.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Ahead of environment ministers meeting on Tuesday, the NDC is becoming clear off in the distance.

"We've set a range of 66 to 72.5%," said Germany's Carsten Schneider in an interview with DLF. Similar statements from Hoekstra over the weekend.
November 3, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Btw Banyan ended up doing this, in some form, although the K-pop inclusion seems forced
There is a banger essay to be written between the use of One Piece imagery in Asian popular protest movements and Peter Thiel's take that Luffy is a Jesus-like figure
November 2, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
One wall in Brussels shows how Europe has changed in one year.

From federalist mural to private banking advert
October 31, 2025 at 3:05 PM
This is the one story you absolutely can't miss today
October 31, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
Netherlands, ANP projection based on 99.7% counted:

Seat projection national parliament

PVV-PfE: 26 (-11)
D66-RE: 26 (+17)
VVD-RE: 22 (-2)
GL/PvdA-G/EFA|S&D: 20 (-5)
CDA-EPP: 18 (+13)
JA21~ECR: 9 (+8)
FvD-ESN: 7 (+4)
BBB-EPP: 4 (-3)
...

+/- vs. Last election result

➤ europeelects.eu/netherlands
October 30, 2025 at 9:58 AM
The energy crisis over, right? So why are household electricity bills not going down? Ask your finance minister!

Free: www.euractiv.com/news/tobacco...
Tobacco-like taxes on electricity keep Europe in energy permacrisis | Euractiv
Finance ministers' love for electricity taxes is keeping prices high
www.euractiv.com
October 30, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Do you think there will be a Sudan flotilla
October 29, 2025 at 7:13 AM
There is a new 2040 climate target draft, which EU ambassadors will discuss on Wednesday

www.euractiv.com/news/eu-coun...
EU countries offered more climate outsourcing to secure elusive 2040 target deal | Euractiv
Environment ministers are set to decide on an ‘adequate’ role for UN-backed carbon credits
www.euractiv.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:18 PM
5%! According to my sources, that was the informal deal yesterday that let the climate conclusions pass EUCO unbothered last night.

www.euractiv.com/news/eu-to-b...
EU to boost climate outsourcing to secure 2040 target deal | Euractiv
Reluctant national capitals are insisting that up to 5% of the bloc’s 2040 climate target be achieved elsewhere, ahead of the 4 November meeting
www.euractiv.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
58. Traded electricity wholesale markets are the worst way of deciding how to dispatch energy resources, except for all the others that have been tried.
October 20, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
30. Decarbonizing aviation is really hard. The CEO of Lufthansa said in 2023 that running its fleet on sustainable aviation fuel made from electricity would take half Germany’s current electricity demand. BNEF thinks this an underestimate.
October 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Reposted by Nikolaus J. Kurmayer
29. Electrification of transport is far better than biofuels; solar plants can run an electric car on a small fraction of the land used to grow fuel to run a biofuel car.
October 20, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Next no confidence vote will be very interesting

www.euractiv.com/news/von-der...
Von der Leyen’s parliamentary majority crumbles amid rejected red tape cuts | Euractiv
MEPs’ refusal to water down green law flies in face of pressure from EU leaders
www.euractiv.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:52 PM