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September 21, 2018

EU: Green Energy: One third of EU electricity from renewable sources

Electricity generated from renewable sources contributed more than 30 percent to the total electricity consumption in the EU in 2016, Eurostat figures show. Hydro power is the most important source, followed closely by wind power and then solar power. In five countries, more than half of electricity consumed was from renewable sources: Austria (73 percent), Sweden (65 percent), Portugal and Denmark (both 54 percent) and Latvia (51 percent).

Read more: One third of EU electricity from renewable sources

Austria: May humiliated by Salzburg ambush as she fights to save Chequers Brexit Plan in Austria: by Dan Sabbagh, Daniel Boffey and Pippa Crerar

Theresa May was left fighting to save her Chequers Brexit plan and with it her authority as prime minister after she was ambushed at the end of the Salzburg summit when EU leaders unexpectedly declared that her proposals would not work.

The prime minister was thrown on to the defensive – just over a week before the Conservative party conference – when EU leaders led by Donald Tusk and Emmanuel Macron rejected her Chequers plan as it stood, prompting hard Brexit Conservatives to demand it be abandoned.

May was also set an October deadline for a solution on the Irish border issue just hours after informing Leo Varadkar, the Irish taoiseach, in a private breakfast meeting that she felt it would be impossible to come to a compromise within such a timescale.

A clearly nervous and angry May told reporters that EU leaders were engaged in “negotiating tactics” designed to throw her off course. “I have always said these negotiations were going to be tough,” she said. “And at various stages of these negotiations, tactics would be used as part of those negotiations”.

The assault on May’s plan came shortly after a lunchtime meeting of EU leaders in the Austrian city, where they discussed the Brexit talks in May’s absence. EU council president Tusk declared that Chequers “would not work” while French president Macron said it was “not acceptable”.

A combative Macron accused British Brexiters of lying about how easy it would be to negotiate an exit from the EU on terms favourable to the UK.

“Those who explain that we can easily live without Europe, that everything is going to be alright, and that it’s going to bring a lot of money home are liars,” said Macron. “It’s even more true since they left the day after so as not to have to deal with it.”

Read more: May humiliated by Salzburg ambush as she fights to save Chequers plan | Politics | The Guardian

September 19, 2018

The Netherlands - Traditional Food : Top 5 Dutch restaurants in Amsterdam

The traditional food of the Netherlands has faced a lot of flak for being plain, simple, and perhaps a touch too bland for the international palate – but there are a number of restaurants in Amsterdam that prove those assumptions wrong.

Whether you’re looking for traditional stamppot, a hearty stew to warm the cockles after a cold day, or bitterballen, a deep-fried meat snack that is oh-so addictive when paired with a beer, we’ve found the top five Dutch restaurants in Amsterdam where you can experience Dutch haute cuisine first hand.

For the complete report go to: Top 5 Dutch restaurants in Amsterdam | Out

The Netherlands: Opening of the new parliament year: The Netherlands is strong, but more people should feel benefits, says the king

The Netherlands is a strong country but more people should feel that things are going well, king Willem-Alexander said on on Tuesday, as he outlined the government’s agenda for the next year to MPs and senators.

It is, the king said, "75 years ago that the Netherlands was liberated and the country which has been built up since then is a strong one, thanks to its democratic values, its healthcare, its education and the fact that people have roof over their heads."

The government wants to further improve this strong land,’ the king said. ‘The economic values are right and in 2019 the economy will grow for the sixth year in a row.’

‘This is therefore the time to decide what direction we should take,’ the king said. ‘To make choices that afford us room to manoeuvre and give us security, both in the here-and-now and for future generations. More people should have a tangible sense that things are going well: at home, at work and in their neighborhood.’

The Netherlands is strong, but more people should feel benefits, says king - DutchNews.nl