In today’s Morning Brief:

Energy Poverty Advisory Hub Launch Event 2021

A socially fair transition towards a climate-neutral Union by 2050 is central to the European Green Deal. This is even more important in the current high energy price context. It means, among other things, tackling inequality and energy poverty through structural measures.

The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub Launch Event 2021 will raise awareness as to how EU policies and this dedicated initiative are stepping up energy poverty alleviation efforts. This event will create an enabling environment of sharing good practices that identify both opportunities and challenges perceived from different levels of governance.

Make sure to not miss the two day online event from Monday 22 November 2021, 09h00 CET to Tuesday 23 November 2021, 14h00 CET! You can register here and select the sessions you wish to attend!

Dialogue between EU Mayors and the EC on Cities and Communities

On 2 December, Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton will engage in a dialogue with EU Mayors from movements seeking the green and digital transformation and socio-economic resilience of cities and communities.

This will be a hybrid event, providing a livestream but also available to attend in person in Brussels. It will take place from 13h30 to 17h00 CET on December 2nd and registration is required here.

EIT Health and Biogen launch the ‘neurotechprize’

EIT Health and Biogen have announced the launch of the ‘neurotechprize’, a programme to rapidly identify technological solutions to the growing challenge of Alzheimer’s Disease. Teams and researchers can apply now to be considered for one of the slots, which will see them working with experts to receive mentoring and funding to bring their ideas to patients and their families in the form of new products and services.

Over a period of 10 weeks, teams will undergo an intense mentoring and validation process facilitated by EIT Health and Biogen experts. Following the work, teams will pitch their idea to an independent panel of experts, consisting of leading neurologists, patient representatives and payors who will award €100,000 and €50,000 prizes to the two best solutions.

To find out more about ‘neurotechprize’ and apply by 19th December 2021 click here!

‘A step in the right direction’: EU reacts to COP26 deal

The UN target of containing global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius “remains within reach, but the work is far from done,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

Despite widespread disappointment over coal, von der Leyen welcomed the Glasgow deal, saying “COP26 is a step in the right direction,” with progress achieved on all three objectives the EU had set for itself ahead of the conference.

– First, to keep the 1.5°C target within reach, with commitments to cut emissions “also during this decade”;

– Second, to reach the target of $100 billion per year of climate finance to developing countries;

– Third, to get an agreement on the Paris rulebook, which lays out rules for the international trading of carbon emission allowances between countries.

Von der Leyen believes that COP26 is sending a message that time is up for fossil fuel subsidies and unabated coal and if all long-term commitments announced in Glasgow are implemented, we should keep global warming under two degrees.

EU Lawmakers and Member States want AI regulation more innovation-friendly

Christian Democrat MEP Axel Voss has been leading the charge against “overburdening” companies with excessive regulation, arguing that the EU regulatory environment should leave more room for innovation.

That was the underlying motive of an own-initiative report on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age, recently approved in the AIDA committee, a parliamentary body set up in 2020, under Voss’ leadership.

While the AIDA committee has no regulatory power, Voss, who is also an influential member of the legal affairs committee (JURI), might be gaining a key role on the AI Act, the EU’s flagship legislation meant to set international standards for regulating risks related to AI application.

“The scope of measures and the definition of AI systems is currently too wide,” Marten Kokk, Estonia’s deputy permanent representative to the EU, told EURACTIV.

The Baltic country also fears that the EU could fall further behind on private sector AI investment.

“We must avoid classifying de facto whole sectors as high risk. Risks should be considered alongside benefits and added value that AI offers across sectors,” Estonia’s Kokk told EURACTIV.

If you want to read more about this click here.