Tootfinder

I got a few updates about my investigations on EU emission databases after the 39C3 talk and the corresponding newsletter I published. Update below the article:
https://industrydecarbonization.com/news/errors-and-inconsistencies-in-european-e…

Errors and Inconsistencies in European Emission Data
Factories that suddenly have emissions a thousand times lower than before, unexplained data gaps, and inconsistent CO₂ emissions from different data sources are some of the issues one finds when having a closer look at the European Union's emission databases.

Some of our members in Game Workers Unite Ireland were in Paris for a game union summit today and joined the STJV and other European game worker unions for a solidarity protest outside Take Two offices.
The blatant union busting firing of the Rockstar 31 workers can not stand. Reinstate them now!
Work in games in Ireland? Join us 👉 https://fs…

The European Union on Friday
indefinitely froze Russia’s assets in Europe
to ensure that Hungary and Slovakia,
both with Moscow-friendly governments,
can’t prevent the billions of euros from being used to support Ukraine.
Using a special procedure meant for economic emergencies,
the EU blocked the assets until Russia gives up its war on Ukraine
and compensates its neighbor for the heavy damage that it has inflicted for almost four years.
EU Cou…

EU set to lock up Russia's frozen assets so Hungary and Slovakia can't veto their use for Ukraine
The European Union is set to lock up Russia’s assets in Europe until Russia ends its war on Ukraine and compensates for the damage. The move expected on Friday would allow EU leaders to decide how to use Russian Central Bank assets to support Ukraine financially and militarily when they hold a summit next week. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán opposes the decision. He has accused the European Commission of “raping European law.” The EU has frozen $247 billion in Russian assets. Most…

Reading Paul Krugman talking with Adam Tooze . Re. € crisis in 2012: "Paul DeGraue, Belgian economist said, “this is a panic, the numbers don’t really justify this.” Mario Draghi actually agreed and said three words, “whatever it takes,” that the ECB will stand behind that and will make sure the countries don’t run out of cash. The crisis just evaporated like nothing. *Most effective central bank statement in the history of humanity*, I’m sure." Here is Dhragi's speech:

Perhaps the silver lining to the UK no longer being in the European Union is that it offers the opportunity to look at developments that are progressing at a different pace in the EU.
Here:
how clean consumer flexibility - EVs, heat pumps - can support the local grid, if allow it to.

Yes, consumer clean energy technologies can support the local grid — if we allow them to. Last week, I shared information about EU policy developments regarding device-level metering for charging… | Jaap Burger
Yes, consumer clean energy technologies can support the local grid — if we allow them to. Last week, I shared information about EU policy developments regarding device-level metering for charging points. This allows EV charging sessions to be measured accurately and enables the flexibility involved to be marketed. I cited the example of the UK, where this has recently become a practical reality, an opportunity to learn for other jurisdictions. Here is another example. The latest amendment to…

"it is official U.S. policy to work toward regime change in European countries and to weaken or even destroy the European Union." — @…
I think this has been coming for a long time – since long before #Trump. The interests of the US and of an incr…

New U.S. security strategy calls for regime change in Europe
In this video, I discuss the new U.S. national security strategy, which, to put it mildly, is concerning for Europe. It's largely a document about how the Trump administration sees it as a requirement for continued transatlantic cooperation that MAGA movements come to power in European countries. Watch the

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 10215 nodes and 11837 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

European Union Agrees to Landmark Free-Trade Deal With South America (Patricia Cohen/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/business/economy/european-union-mercosur-trade.html
http://www.memeorandum.com/260109/p39#a260109p39

I've never flown in a helicopter and I'd be keen to fly in one of these if it was even vaguely affordable:
https://www.the-independent.com/tech/caa-canary-wharf-london-cambridge-european-union-aviati…

Flying taxis to take passengers to airports in minutes from 2028, company says
Vertical Aerospace hopes its Valo aircraft, which has a capacity for up to six passengers, can get regulatory approval in three years.

The European Union, overcoming deep dissension among its members,
gave the green light to a sweeping trade pact with four South American countries on Friday
that would create one of the largest free-trade zones in the world,
connecting markets with more than 700 million people.
The agreement offers a stark contrast to the amped-up aggression on display this week from the Trump administration.
As Europe worked to extend an era of economic collaboration,
th…

E.U. and South America to Form Free-Trade Zone With 700 Million People
The agreement represents a push for deeper global cooperation, in contrast to the United States’ turning to coercion in its dealings with other countries.

European Union 27, under far right climate denialist pressure, opts for lower carbon emissions target and keeps door open for offsets beyond the EU, despite having been given a highly critical report on them.
No coverage that I can find in the UK press.
El tirón antiecológico germina en el plan contra el cambio climštico de la Unión Europea

El tirón antiecológico germina en el plan contra el cambio climático de la Unión Europea
Dos años después de que la UE forzara una histórica petición de abandonar los combustibles fósiles, la presión de los partidos negacionistas se hace notar en vísperas de la Cumbre del Clima de Brasil

How did the Council approve the #Mercosur agreement, exactly?
«EU capitals now have until 5 p.m. on Friday to lodge any objections and formalize the vote. This so-called written procedure»
https://www.

"Spain allocates funding for 9.4 GWh of large-scale storage projects"
#Spain #Energy #Batteries

Spain allocates funding for 9.4 GWh of large-scale storage projects
Spain has awarded more than €818 million ($956.3 million) in European Union funding to 126 energy storage projects totaling 2.2 GW of power and 9.4 GWh of capacity.

The EU unveils proposed updates to GDPR, including simplifying cookie permission pop-ups, and plans to water down the AI Act, after US and tech company pressure (The Verge)
https://www.theverge.com/news/823750/european-union-ai-act-gdpr-changes

Europe is scaling back its landmark privacy and AI laws
The European Commission has proposed changes weakening EU privacy legislation and delaying parts of the AI Act to make the bloc more competitive globally.

"To realize the vision of a truly digital commons in the European Union – one built on openness, participation, and resilience – we need the active support of public institutions, civil society, and developers for the #Fediverse."
Talk & video by @… :
https://www.sfscon.it/talks/from-open-source-to-open-spaces/

Fucking yes… finally! Thank you, Ireland, Spain, and Netherlands!
“Ireland will not participate in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and it will not be broadcast on RTÉ, after organiser the European Broadcasting Union confirmed today that Israel will be allowed to take part … Spain’s national broadcaster RTVE and the Netherlands’ AvroTros also announced that they would boycott the contest.”
Maybe we should rename it to the Genocidevision Song Contest?
Now… any more Euro…

Die Militarisierung der Karibik https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/news/detail/10192

I was surprised to learn that famously neutral #Switzerland 🇨🇭 has been a member of the Council of Europe 🇪🇺 (which is *not* the same as either of the European Council 🇪🇺 and the Council of the European Union 🇪🇺) since 1963. For reference, Switzerland joined the #UnitedNations in 2002.

I've never flown in a helicopter and I'd be keen to fly in one of these if it was even vaguely affordable:
https://www.the-independent.com/tech/caa-canary-wharf-london-cambridge-european-union-aviati…

Trump has long portrayed European allies as freeloaders that fail to pay enough for their own security and argued that the European Union was “formed to screw the United States.”
💥Now, that hostility is official White House policy.
The Trump administration issued a national security strategy paper this week
that called for European nations to take “primary responsibility” for their own defense,
indicating that the United States should no longer guarantee Europe’s secu…

Trump’s Security Doctrine Leaves Europe at a Strategic Crossroads
A new White House policy document formalizes President Trump’s long-held contempt for Europe’s leaders. It made clear that the continent now stands at a strategic crossroads.

Was there a massive leak of a dangerous greenhouse gas in Iceland🇮🇸 in 2011 - or was it just a data📈 reporting error? European emission databases show that the Norðuršl aluminium factory🏭 in Iceland released 60 tons of SF₆ in 2011 — but no such emissions in any other year. It's so much that it is hard to believe this really happened. And that is not the only odd thing I found in emission databases.

Errors and Inconsistencies in European Emission Data
Factories that suddenly have emissions a thousand times lower than before, unexplained data gaps, and inconsistent CO₂ emissions from different data sources are some of the issues one finds when having a closer look at the European Union's emission databases.

Well, that's two ways of putting it.
https://www.theverge.com/news/823750/european-union-ai-act-gdpr-changes

Europe is scaling back its landmark privacy and AI laws
The European Commission has proposed changes weakening EU privacy legislation and delaying parts of the AI Act to make the bloc more competitive globally.

Top court rules EU nations must mutually recognize same-sex marriages
The Court of Justice of the European Union said in a statement on Tuesday that any refusal to do this 'is contrary to EU law' and 'infringes not only the freedom to move and reside, but also the fundamental right to respect for private and family life.'

Top court rules EU nations must mutually recognize same-sex marriages
The Court of Justice of the European Union said in a statement on Tuesday that any refusal to do this 'is contrary to EU law' and 'infringes not only the freedom to move and reside, but also the fundamental right to respect for private and family life.

I was fascinated to read in this am's European Correspondent that game developers across Europe are starting to unionise for better working conditions and employment protection.
It's one of the few areas where trade union membership is increasing in fact. Worth a read
https://elaine.mayoris.com/go/bjb3kj8tcubqob6fv3thyzn9tgpwdd7e5pi8gc48g5xz/2866#chk_q1-o5

Opprop:NRK må stemme mot Israels deltakelse!
Palestinakomiteen i Norge krever at NRK tar et tydelig standpunkt mot Israels deltakelse i Eurovision Song Contest 2026. Som allmennkringkaster har NRK et særskilt ansvar.
Vi oppfordrer alle til å signere og dele oppropet som skal overleveres til NRK fŸr avstemmingen i European Broadcasting Union (EBU) som er i starten av desember.

EU backs another one-year delay for EUDR antideforestation law https://news.mongabay.com/short-article/2025/11/eu-backs-another-one-year-delay-for-eudr-antideforestation-law/

EU backs another one-year delay for EUDR antideforestation law
The European Union has voted to postpone implementing a key antideforestation law for the second year in a row, citing technical concerns. Critics of the move warn that a delay and other proposed changes will further weaken the law. On Nov. 26, the European Parliament voted 402 to 250 in favor of an amendment that […]

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 4499 nodes and 4891 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

Even before Microsoft Azure had a global failure this week,
Austria's Ministry of Economy had taken a decisive step toward digital sovereignty.
The Ministry is migrating 1,200 employees to a Nextcloud-based cloud and collaboration platform hosted on Austrian-based infrastructure
It's the latest move in a European trend to shift away from Big Tech.

European governments and agencies want to control sensitive data.

Another European agency shifts off Big Tech, as digital sovereignty movement gains steam
European Union states are increasingly shifting toward European-based companies that offer open-source solutions. Here's why.

Another day another study showing that "AI assistants" do not work reliably for cognitive tasks.
"Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory"
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/202…

Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory
An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC

The European Commission claims €80B of €120B in post-EU Chips Act investments remain on track, despite the stalled GlobalFoundries-STMicro project in France (Virginie Malingre/Le Monde)
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2…

Europe's relentless semiconductor decline
Microchips: The Oil of the 21st Century' (3/5). When the Chips Act, the plan by the 27 European Union member states to reduce their dependence on the US and China for semiconductors, came into force in 2023, the goal initially appeared 'out of reach.

🔊 #NowPlaying on #BBCRadio3:
#ClassicalLive
- Elgar’s Violin Concerto
Showcasing the best performances from the UK and beyond, recorded by the BBC and the European Broadcasting Union.
Relisten now 👇
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002kzm1

The European Broadcasting Union says it is tightening Eurovision's voting rules to limit the influence of governments on the public poll that decides the winner (Lynsey Chutel/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/arts/music/eurovision-votin…

Eurovision Tightens Voting Rules to Tamp Down on Government Influence
In this year’s contest, a campaign by Israel to encourage voting for its entrant drew criticism.

where is the revolution? https://euobserver.com/news/ar1c67c9a3

The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) is now a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) Program-Root, thus becoming a central point of contact within the CVE program for national/EU authorities, EU CSIRTs network members, and cooperative partners falling under ENISA’s mandate.
htt…

Scientific Advice Mechanism to the European Commission
December 2025
SAPEA (2025). Artificial intelligence in emergency and crisis management: Rapid evidence review report.
Downloadable from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17737962

Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/new-ebu-research-ai-assistants-news-content

https://apnews.com/article/croatia-protest-far-right-surge-4f76f067fef8ea56f682c79bb5fae61d

"Europe eyes investments in Africa into clean energy and infrastructure"
#Europe #Africa #Energy

EU partners with Africa to step up clean power and infrastructure
European and African leaders met in Luanda during the EU-African Union summit where they pledged to increase trade in renewable energy and critical raw materials. Shortly before, European leaders met in Johannesburg for the G20, where the bloc struck a trade deal with South Africa.

Yeah, _that's_ going to happen...
#UkraineWar
"When the war is over, Ukraine would repay the EU using theoretical compensation received from Russia for the invasion. "
EU has a plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine – how will it work? | European Union | The Guardian

EU has a plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine – how will it work?
What are the legal implications, and why does Belgium fear being left alone with the bill?

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 48702 nodes and 77142 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

Bursting AI bubble may be EU’s “secret weapon” in clash with Trump, expert says:
Spotify and Accenture caught in crossfire as Trump attacks EU tech regulations.
The US threatened to restrict some of the largest service providers in the European Union as retaliation for EU tech regulations and investigations are increasingly drawing Donald Trump’s ire. […]
🤖

Bursting AI bubble may be EU’s “secret weapon” in clash with Trump, expert says
Spotify and Accenture caught in crossfire as Trump attacks EU tech regulations.

[OT] Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/new-ebu-research-ai-assistants-news-content "Gemini performed worst"

Largest study of its kind shows AI assistants misrepresent news content 45% of the time – regardless of language or territory
An intensive international study was coordinated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and led by the BBC

Ireland has been every bit as important in exporting US Big Tech around the world as the US has been.
But Ireland has another key export, one that is confined to the European Union.
Because every tax haven must be a crime haven,
and because Big Tech's favorite crime is illegal surveillance,
Ireland has exported American tech spying to the whole European Union.
-- @…

The EU warns of possible action after the US imposes travel bans on five Europeans, saying it will defend its "regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures" (Lorne Cook/Associated Press)
https://apnews.com/article/europe-bret

EU warns of possible action after the US bars 5 Europeans accused of censorship
The European Union's executive is warning of possible action against the U.S. after travel bans were imposed on five Europeans accused of pressuring American technology firms to censor viewpoints. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the five "radical" activists. They include Thierry Breton who is the former EU commissioner responsible for supervising social media rules. The European Commission condemned on Wednesday the U.S. decision and is seeking clarification. It says the EU is within…

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 4339 nodes and 5472 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

EU touts climate leadership while undermining antideforestation rules, critics say https://news.mongabay.com/2025/11/eu-touts-climate-leadership-while-undermining-antideforestation-rules-critics-say/

EU touts climate leadership while undermining antideforestation rules, critics say
BELÉM, Brazil — At a Nov. 19 press conference at the U.N. climate summit currently underway in Brazil, European Union officials spoke for half an hour without a single mention of forests or efforts to halt deforestation — even though COP30 is taking place in a city dubbed the “gateway to the Amazon.” For Boris […]

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 5038 nodes and 6325 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

Citizens of both Greenland and the Faroe Islands are full citizens of Denmark.
As one of the Overseas Countries and Territories of the European Union,
Greenland’s citizens are also recognized as EU citizens.
https://mastodon.world/@Sumocat/115832984603150620

Erasmus is back.
UK to rejoin EU’s Erasmus student exchange programme | European Union | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/16/uk-to-rejoin-eu-erasmus-student-exchange-programme?CMP=Share_An…

Austria’s high court orders Meta to change its personalized ad practices https://therecord.media/austria-court-meta-ruling

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 3920 nodes and 8053 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

Europe's startup ecosystem, which had 35,000 early-stage companies in the EU and the UK in 2024, per Atomico, is hindered by complex and varying regulations (Niki Kitsantonis/New York Times)
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/business/europe-st…

Hoping to Grow in Europe, but Bogged Down by Red Tape
Start-ups are booming in the European Union, but experts say bureaucracy keeps them from expanding across borders.

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 1629 nodes and 3865 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

eu_procurements_alt: EU national procurement networks (2008-2016)
These 234 networks represent the annual national public procurement markets of 26 European countries from 2008-2016, inclusive. Data is sourced from Tenders Electronic Daily (TED), the official procurement portal of the European Union.
This network has 19438 nodes and 23191 edges.
Tags: Economic, Commerce, Weighted, Temporal

🇺🇦 #NowPlaying on BBCRadio3's #SaturdayMorning
Jean‐Philippe Rameau, European Union Baroque Orchestra & Roy Goodman:
🎵 Pygmalion (Overture)
#JeanPhilippeRameau #EuropeanUnionBaroqueOrchestra #RoyGoodman

"Analysis: Which countries have sent the most delegates to COP30?"
#COP30 #ClimateSummit #Climate #ClimateChange

Analysis: Which countries have sent the most delegates to COP30? - Carbon Brief
According to the provisional figures, 193 countries, plus the European Union, have registered a delegation for the COP30 summit.