EU Environment Policy

Latest news on the environment policies of the European Union.

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EFSA identifies risks to bees from neonicotinoids — 16 January 2013, 15:50 CET

EFSA scientists have identified a number of risks posed to bees by three neonicotinoid insecticides. The Authority was asked by the European Commission to assess the risks associated with the use of clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam as seed treatment or as granules, with particular regard to: their acute and chronic effects on bee colony survival and development; their effects on bee larvae and bee behaviour; and the risks posed by sub-lethal doses of the three substances. In some cases EFSA was unable to finalise the assessments due to shortcomings in the available data.

EU hints at insecticide ban over threat to bees — 16 January 2013, 15:48 CET

The European Commission has hinted that it could ban several insecticides, some made by German chemicals giant Bayer, after scientists found disturbing evidence of harm to bees.

Euro VI - emissions from heavy duty vehicles — 04 January 2013, 17:28 CET

The work of the EU on reducing emissions is in progress for heavy duty vehicles (buses and trucks) with the Euro VI standards. The European Commission's proposal for a regulation on a new norm called Euro VI, aimed at reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matters from trucks and buses as of January 2013, was adopted in June 2009. As follow-up to the adoption of the above-mentioned regulation, a first implementing act, gathering the detailed technical aspects needed for certification, like for instance the requirements for the conduction of the tests to be performed at type-approval and during in service conformity, as well as a second implementing act on access to on-board diagnosis systems and repair and maintenance information, have been adopted during 2011. In parallel, a 06 series of amendments to UNECE Regulation 49, carrying over the European Euro VI legislation into the UNECE acquis, has been approved in the January 2012 session of the Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE). This will allow, in the near future, to accept type-approval certificates awarded according to UNECE Regulation 49, as equivalent to certificates based on the European legislation.

2013 sees cleaner trucks and buses across EU — 07 January 2013, 17:52 CET

Under new European Union rules to combat pollution, trucks and buses rolling off assembly lines this year will produce significantly less harmful exhaust fumes.

Poland bans cultivation of GM maize, potatoes — 02 January 2013, 18:57 CET

Poland on Wednesday imposed new bans on the cultivation of certain genetically modified strains of maize and potatoes, a day after an EU required green light for GM crops took effect.

Fishing nations, campaigners split on new EU quotas — 21 December 2012, 11:01 CET

European Union fisheries ministers Thursday struck a deal on 2013 quotas viewed as a "compromise" between efforts to protect endangered stocks while ensuring jobs for Europe's fishermen.

Disputed fish quota cuts lead to tough EU talks — 19 December 2012, 00:03 CET

EU fishery ministers began difficult talks Tuesday on the vexed question of 2013 quotas as they sought to balance conflicting demands from environmentalists and fishermen alike.

EU puts EUR 1.2 bn into pilot renewable energy projects — 20 December 2012, 23:06 CET

The European Commission announced Tuesday that it was putting 1.2 billion euros into renewable energy demonstration projects but had found no carbon capture ventures to back.

Agriculture, fishery and forestry statistics - Main results - 2010-11- 2012 edition — 18 December 2012, 13:11 CET

The pocketbook Agriculture, fishery and forestry statistics presents selected tables and graphs providing an overview on developments and the situation in the agriculture, fishery and forestry sectors of the European Union. The most recent data are presented here (reference years 2010-2011, mostly) showing the situation in the 27 Member States and at the European level (EU-27). The results of the last Agricultural Census held in 2010 are also presented.

European Commission Conference on the Management of Radioactive Waste (Vilnus, Lithuania, from 14 October 2013, 00:00 CET to 16 October 2013, 00:00 CET) —

The Eight European Commission Conference on the Management of Radioactive Waste will take place from 14 to 16 October 2013 in Vilnus, Lithuania.

EU carbon capture projects lost, says MEP — 06 December 2012, 17:56 CET

All European projects this year for the capture and storage of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas blamed for global warming, have fallen through, EU sources said on Thursday.

EU, US rule out climate funding pledges in Doha — 05 December 2012, 18:04 CET

The European Union and United States refused at UN talks in Doha on Wednesday to commit to concrete climate funding for poor nations as yet another report warned of dire global warming consequences within decades.

Final review of the Séralini et al. (2012a) publication on a 2-year rodent feeding study with glyphosate formulations and GM maize NK603 as published online on 19 September 2012 in Food and Chemical Toxicology — 28 November 2012, 16:58 CET

Serious defects in the design and methodology of a paper by Séralini et al. mean it does not meet acceptable scientific standards and there is no need to re-examine previous safety evaluations of genetically modified maize NK603. These are the conclusions of separate and independent assessments carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and six EU Member States following publication of the paper in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology on 19 September 2012.

Europe's snake skin fashions could threaten pythons — 27 November 2012, 14:03 CET

Europe's love of snake skin fashion items could threaten the very survival of pythons, according to a report published on Tuesday.

Kyoto battlelines drawn as climate talks dig into detail — 27 November 2012, 13:29 CET

Climate talks got down to the nitty-gritty in Doha on Tuesday as developing countries and the European Union staked out rival positions on the fate of the Kyoto Protocol.

EU finally ends shark finning — 23 November 2012, 14:01 CET

The European Parliament on Thursday called a definitive halt to shark finning, the long contested practice of fishermen slicing off fins and throwing the live body overboard to drown.

EU gives 'yellow card' to eight nations for illegal fishing — 15 November 2012, 15:43 CET

The European Commission warned eight developing countries Thursday of sanctions if they did not do more to stop "criminal" illegal fishing, saying it was taking the first step of its kind.

Blueprint to safeguard Europe's waters — 15 November 2012, 13:35 CET

The European Commission has launched a Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources, a strategy for ensuring that enough good quality water is available to meet the needs of people, the economy and the environment.

EU fight against illegal fishing — 15 November 2012, 13:30 CET

The European Commission has stepped up its action to fight illegal fishing worldwide by warning eight third countries that they risk being identified as countries it considers non-cooperative in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The countries in question are Belize, Cambodia, Fiji, Guinea, Panama, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vanuatu. Today's decision is the first of its kind and it highlights that these countries are not doing enough to fight illegal fishing. It identifies concrete shortcomings, such as lack of dialogue or lack of actions to address deficiencies in monitoring, controlling and surveillance of fisheries, and suggests corrective actions to resolve them. The decision will not, at this stage, entail any measures affecting trade. The eight countries have been notified and given a reasonable time to respond and take measures to rectify the situation. The Commission has also proposed an action plan for each country. Should the situation not improve, the EU could take further steps, which could entail trade measures such as a ban on selling fisheries products to the EU.

Options to reform the European carbon market — 14 November 2012, 19:05 CET

The European Commission is taking two important steps to address the growing supply-demand imbalance of emission allowances in the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS). As an immediate first step to address the rapid build-up of the surplus of emissions allowances, the Commission made a formal proposal to revise the auction time profile and delay ("back-load") the auctioning of 900 million allowances in the third phase of the EU ETS starting next year. The Commission also on 14 November adopted a report on the state of the European carbon market which sets out a range of possible structural measures that can be taken to tackle the surplus. The surplus of emission allowances has primarily built up because the economic crisis has reduced industrial emissions of greenhouse gases by more than anticipated, leading in turn to lower demand for allowances from businesses. The surplus is expected to continue in the third phase of the system, which will run from 2013 to 2020.

Brussels moots pollution credit cut to up carbon price — 14 November 2012, 19:09 CET

The European Commission has proposed cutting the pollution credits auctioned to firms in 2013-2015 in order to raise the price of carbon and make investment in clean technology worthwhile.

IATA hails EU move to suspend CO2 air travel tax — 12 November 2012, 21:38 CET

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) was quick to celebrate an EU announcement Monday offering to suspend a controversial carbon tax on air travel for flights to and from non-European nations.

EU freezes controversial aviation carbon tax — 13 November 2012, 16:50 CET

The European Commission caved in to critics of its contested carbon tax on air travel Monday, offering to "stop the clock" and freeze the measure for a year on flights to and from non-European nations.

Action plan for the EU automotive industry in 2020 — 08 November 2012, 14:25 CET

The action plan presented by the European Commission on 8 November aims to help strengthening the EU's automotive industry between now and 2020. It builds on the vision for industry competitiveness and sustainability in 2020 and recommendations how to achieve this vision contained in CARS 21 Final Report. The Commission is proposing concrete actions to be taken on issues of emissions, research financing, electro-mobility, road safety, new skills, smart regulation, trade negotiations and international harmonization. The action plan, which comes at a time when the automotive industry is facing particular pressure due to a strong decline of the EU market and structural over-capacity, includes concrete actions to help tackling these difficulties.

Commission proposal to reduce emissions of climate-warming fluorinated gases — 07 November 2012, 19:26 CET

The European Commission took an important step towards long-term climate objectives on 6 November by presenting a proposal to significantly reduce emissions of fluorinated gases (F-gases). Emissions of F-gases, which have a warming effect up to 23,000 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, have risen by 60% since 1990, while all other greenhouse gases have been reduced. The proposed Regulation aims to reduce F-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. It also bans the use of F-gases in some new equipment, such as household fridges, where viable more climate-friendly alternatives are readily available. F-gases are commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, as well as in electrical equipment, insulation foams, aerosol sprays and fire extinguishers. They leak into the atmosphere from production plants, from appliances they are used in, and when such appliances are thrown away.