The Roundup “Europe has to be a security provider because that’s what European citizens want – to be protected by the Union,” EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell told several European media outlets, including EURACTIV, in an interview. Borrell emphasised the importance of EU strategic autonomy and “a common strategic culture.” European cities are increasingly giving their inhabitants a voice on local matters by asking urbanites how to spend municipal budgets and engaging them on innovative platforms. But critics of the strategy say it is not enough to stop populism. Check out EURACTIV’S special report for more. And urban Europeans place environmental transition, sustainable infrastructure, and green public spaces high on their local agendas. “Most citizens are calling for projects that have an impact on their quality of life, on the built environment and their immediate surroundings,” a Eurocities official said. A new draft of the COP26 negotiations calls on all countries to ramp up their short-term commitments for 2022 emissions reduction, in a recognition of the widening gap between current pledges and the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. The draft, released before dawn on Wednesday and to be negotiated by countries over the final three days, is likely to form the basis for the main outcome at the summit. The new Global Methane Pledge was announced during the very first days of the COP26, and will directly impact practices in the agricultural sector. The pledge focuses on technical measures such as animal feed supplements which, according to the UN, can cut emissions in the sector by 20% per year until 2030. And as COP26 continues, policymakers are looking at efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the food and drink industry, a sometimes overlooked sector in emissions reduction policies. Food and drink emissions make up roughly 30% of total carbon emissions in the EU, and sustainability experts say there is an “absolutely massive” amount of work to be done going forward. A COP26 pledge to stop the sale of polluting vehicles by 2040 has been called insufficient by climate campaigners, who criticised the absence of major economies, including the US, Germany, and France, as well as leading car manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and Toyota. Russia blames the EU for the ongoing migrant ‘catastrophe’ on the Belarus-Poland border, accusing EU leaders of trying to “strangle” Belarus with plans to close part of the frontier. Overnight, Moscow sent a further signal of support for its ally Belarus by dispatching two strategic bomber planes to patrol Belarusian airspace. North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who announced his resignation over poor results in a local vote last month, has revealed that he will stay on in the job until the political situation stabilises. “I expect the democratic majority to stabilise, especially the majority that is for the EU, for a multiethnic society,” Zaev said. Seasonal agriculture workers are exposed to numerous labour rights violations in Germany, according to a new report. Trade unionists are asking the next government to implement the social dimension of EU agricultural subsidies as early as 2023 and not take advantage of the transition period granted by the Commission. People with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic neuromuscular disease, must receive more social rights and better inclusion in society, according to Greek lawmaker Stelios Kympouropoulos. “Having good health is important but if someone is being excluded from society, that person’s living conditions would be terrible,” the Christian Democrat lawmaker said. Look out for… Finance Commissioner Mairead McGuinness meets with officials in Finald to discuss sustainable finance. Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius travels to Greece to discuss the European Green Deal and visit areas damaged by this summer’s wildfires. European Parliament plenary session continues on Thursday. European trade ministers discuss World Trade Organisation (WTO) reform at Foreign Affairs Council. Views are the author’s. | 
