Annalena Baerbock was one of the Greens’ leading foreign-policy voices: staunchly pro-European, tougher on big authoritarian powers, and focused on human rights and climate issues, yet keen to strike a pragmatic tone on issues such as NATO and military spending. Here below her views on key issues:

Trans-Atlantic Relationship

1. BMW Group: Goal of at least 50 percent of sales to be electrified by 2030. BMW subsidiary Mini is on track to become fully electric by the beginning of the coming decade.
2. Daimler (Mercedes Benz): Full electric version of every car from 2025
3. Ford: By 2030 all passenger vehicles sold in Europe will be all electric. Two thirds of commercial vehicles will be either electric or hybrids by 2030
4. Honda: Honda has committed to selling only electric or hybrid vehicles in Europe by 2022

Scholz's centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), the ecologist Greens and the libertarian Free Democrats (FDP) want to accelerate the transition to a green economy and digitalisation while maintaining fiscal discipline.

The European branch of the World Health Organization warns that up to  700,000 more may die from Covid-19 by March 22 in Europe and Central Asia in addition to the 1.5 million who have already succumbed to the virus. Europe is by far the region currently worst hit by the virus.

The WHO said it expected "high or extreme stress" in intensive care units (ICUs) in 49 out of the 53 countries that comprise its European region this winter.

On December 9-10, 2021, President Biden will host a virtual Summit for Democracy, which will bring together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector to set forth an affirmative agenda for democratic renewal and to tackle the greatest threats faced by democracies today through collective action.

The summit will focus on challenges and opportunities facing democracies and will provide a platform for leaders to announce both individual and collective commitments, reforms, and initiatives to defend democracy and human rights at home and abroad.

On average Member States spend between € 65 and € 100 million to run the presidency ( Poland € 120 million, Italy € 68 million, Latvia € 70 million, Luxembourg € 93 million broken down as follows: cost of equipment, meetings and entertainment € 35 million, cost of personnel € 20.9 million, travelling and food and lodging expenses abroad € 4 million, cost of furniture and computers € 100,000).

Costs covered by the Presidency’s member state

During its term, the French Presidency will have to manage many contacts with the  European Parliament. During its semester, the Presidency has to carry out a number of specific tasks in the context of relations and negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament. They aim at facilitating interinstitutional relations.

1. Amazon- Brazil
2. Amazon-Colombia
3. Amazon-Peru
4. Amazon-Bolivia
5. Amazon- Venezuela/Guyana
6. Gran Chaco- Paraguay/Argentina
7. Cerrado- Brazil
8. Choco-Darien- Colombia/Ecuador
9. Maya Forests- Mexico/Guatemala
10. West Africa- Liberia/Ivory Coast/Ghana
11. Central Africa- Cameroon
12. Central Africa- Gabon/Cameroon/Republic of Congo
13. Central Africa- Democratic Republic of Congo/Central African Republic
14. Central Africa-Angola
15. East Africa- Zambia
16. East Africa- Mozambique

INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

​There are five major pollutants: 1. ground-level ozone, 2. particle pollution (also known as particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM 10, 3. carbon monoxide, 4. sulfur dioxide and 5. nitrogen dioxide.