This week starts with the spotlight on the energy files of the European Green Deal. Sweden’s late push to extend fossil fuel subsidies is reportedly delaying the Council’s approval of EU energy market reform, which was due to take place today. Last week, the Council did approve the proposed Renewable Energy Directive, after French-led opposition to the measure was overcome with concessions on hydrogen and nuclear power. While India is hit by a deadly heatwave, the country’s power minister is accusing the US and the EU of protectionism in their energy transition efforts. Further criticism is focussed on the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law, with two different opinion articles highlighting the watering down of the law in Parliament on one hand, and the law’s negative impact for farmers on the other. On a more positive note, Bloomberg reports that EU funding will support a multi-billion hydrogen pipeline project across Spain and France.

On transport, Agence Europe reports that COREPER has approved the provisional agreement struck with the European Parliament in April on Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). In the meantime, French President Macron announced on Friday a public investment worth €500 million to support the decarbonisation of the EU’s aviation sector. On shipping, several outlets look at a potential international agreement to tax on carbon emissions from maritime trade – which, according to the World Bank, could raise up to $3.7 trillion by 2050.