In brief | 15 December '25

Reuters: EU yields to pressure from automakers as it rethinks 2035 combustion car ban

The European Commission is expected on 16 December to propose to reverse the EU's effective ban on sales of new combustion-engine cars from 2035, bowing to intense pressure from Germany, Italy and European automakers struggling against Chinese and US rivals.

Reuters: China says talks with EU on electric vehicle minimum price plan resumed

China's commerce ministry said negotiations with the European Union over a minimum price plan for China-made electric vehicles have restarted.

Reuters: Berlin eyes TenneT Germany majority stake, Boersen-Zeitung says

The German government is in early deliberations to acquire a majority stake in TenneT's German power grid operations after agreeing in principle to take a 25.1-percent stake, newspaper Boersen-Zeitung reported.

Industry Decarbonization Newsletter: Super-emitter of the most damaging greenhouse gas found in Germany

Through atmospheric measurements, scientists have identified a chemical factory operated by Solvay in Southern Germany as the source of massive amounts of Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) emissions.

Eurostat: EU primary energy consumption decreased by 1% in 2024

Data show that in 2024, the EU continued moving closer to the 2030 target of 992.5 million tonnes of oil equivalent, with the gap narrowing to 21.1 percent.

Bloomberg: Macron’s delaying tactics risk burying Mercosur deal for good

The French president is worried about the situation facing French farmers and believes the deal, in its current form, does not provide adequate safeguards, according to an aide.

Bloomberg: Electricity is now holding back growth across the global economy

The increase in grid stress leads to a decline in capital outlay, according to new research.