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EU Environment Policy

Latest news on the environment policies of the European Union.

Power emissions in the EU fell by 4.5 pct in 2016: report 26 January 2017, 23:05 CET
EU power emissions fell 4.5 per cent in 2016, according to a new report out on Wednesday, primarily as a result of a huge switch from coal generation to gas generation.

Recycling target should be 70 pct, say Euro-MPs 26 January 2017, 22:12 CET
70 per cent of waste should be recycled by 2030 - from 44% today - a European Parliament committee said Tuesday, with landfill, which has a big environmental impact, being limited to 5 per cent.

Europe at increasing risk from climate change: report 27 January 2017, 17:26 CET
Rising sea levels, extreme weather such as intense heat waves, flooding, droughts and storms pose increasingly severe risks to Europe's ecosystems, human health and economy, says a new report.

Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2016 26 January 2017, 13:55 CET
This report is an indicator-based assessment of past and projected climate change and its impacts on ecosystems and society. It also looks at society’s vulnerability to these impacts and at the development of adaptation policies and the underlying knowledge base. This is the fourth ‘Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe’ report, which is published every four years. This edition aims to support the implementation and review process of the 2013 EU Adaptation Strategy, which is foreseen for 2018, and the development of national and transnational adaptation strategies and plans.

Essen is European Green Capital for 2017 23 January 2017, 17:58 CET
From coal and steel industry to the greenest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, the town of Essen in Germany officially became the 2017 European Green Capital on 21 January.

Beehives in the EU on the increase: beekeeping sector report 13 January 2017, 00:17 CET
The European Commission published Thursday a report on the implementation of national beekeeping programmes, which benefit from EUR 33 million annually from the EU budget.

EU efforts for bee health 13 January 2017, 00:06 CET
Bee health depends on many factors. This is why EU actions cover several policy areas including: beekeeping and agriculture, environment, research, pesticides, veterinary issues and surveillance measures. There are around 630.000 beekeepers and 16 millions of hives in the EU, producing 234.000 tons of honey per year.

MEPs present dieselgate first findings 20 December 2016, 11:57 CET
Evidence from the first draft report from the European Parliament's committee into dieselgate, published Monday, reports shortcomings in Member State enforcement of EU car emissions legislation.

National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive - new rules to cut air pollution 15 December 2016, 23:35 CET
The European Parliament and the EU Council signed into law on 14 December the new National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive, based on a Commission proposal that sets stricter limits on the five main pollutants in Europe. It enters into force on 31 December 2016.

Member states agree EU fishing quotas for next year 15 December 2016, 00:41 CET
EU fisheries ministers reached agreement Wednesday on 2017 catch limits for the main commercial fish stocks in the Atlantic, the North Sea and international fisheries in which EU vessels participate.

Global Surface Water Explorer 14 December 2016, 15:39 CET
The Global Surface Water Explorer is a new online interactive mapping tool that will be accessible to everyone and serve to improve European and global policies for example on climate change and water management.

EU takes action against UK and Germany over dieselgate 09 December 2016, 00:24 CET
The European Commission announced Thursday that it is to open infringement procedures against the 7 EU Member States for their handling of the dieselgate scandal.

Reprieve for EU nature protection laws 08 December 2016, 00:03 CET
The EU ended uncertainty over the future of its flagship nature laws - the Birds and Habitats Directives - Wednesday by confirming these would be saved, and neither rewritten nor weakened.

EU nature and biodiversity law 20 February 2018, 20:52 CET
At EU level, nature and biodiversity are protected by several laws. The EU has been committed to the protection of nature since the adoption of the Birds Directive in April 1979. It provides comprehensive protection to all wild bird species naturally occurring in the Union. The Habitats Directive was adopted in 1992 to help maintain biodiversity. It protects over 1000 animals and plant species and over 200 types of habitat. It also established the EU-wide Natura 2000 network of protected areas. More recently, new legislation has been developed. In 1999, the EU reinforced the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity and, in the wake of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, committed to protect native biodiversity and ecosystem services against invasive alien species. We also have legislation regulating certain aspects of wildlife trade.

Winter package to reform EU's energy system 01 December 2016, 17:44 CET
The European Commission outlined Wednesday an extensive set of reforms to the EU's energy system, with a view to maintaining competitivity in a global transition to clean energy.

Euro-MPs urge bolder action to end illegal wildlife trade 24 November 2016, 20:28 CET
The European Parliament called Thursday for a full and immediate EU-wide ban on ivory and rhinoceros horn trade, and common sanctions at EU level against wildlife trafficking.

Public has a right to information on pesticide dangers, rules EU Court 24 November 2016, 20:27 CET
Safety tests conducted by the chemical industry and used by regulators to assess the dangers of pesticides must be disclosed, the EU's top court ruled on Wednesday.

Commission sets out plan for sustainable Europe 23 November 2016, 18:24 CET
The European Commission set out a framework for development cooperation for the EU and its Member States Tuesday, with plans for implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

MEPs end time-at-sea limits for North Sea fishing 22 November 2016, 19:03 CET
North Sea cod fishermen will be able to land every catch – not just cod – more easily following MEPs' s green light Tuesday to remove limits on the number of days a vessel can spend in a fishing area.

Climate conference: EU promises to deliver 'whatever happens' 22 November 2016, 16:55 CET
The shadow of Donald Trump loomed over the Marrakesh climate conference, which concluded last week with promises to put the Paris climate change agreement into action.

EU development cooperation links with climate action 18 November 2016, 00:25 CET
Factsheet on the links between the European Union's initiatives on development cooperation and climate action

EU agrees deep-sea fish quotas for 2017-18 14 November 2016, 23:44 CET
The EU Council agreed Monday on total allowable catches and quotas for deep-sea stocks in the EU and international waters in the North-East Atlantic for 2017 and 2018.

EU sets out vision for world's oceans 10 November 2016, 23:09 CET
The European Union set out its vision for better ocean governance Thursday, with a joint agenda of actions to secure the effective conservation and sustainable use of the global seas and oceans.

EU on course to reach 2020 target: EEA report 09 November 2016, 13:16 CET
Emissions across the European Union in 2015 were 22 per cent lower than 1990 levels, despite a slight increase compared to 2014, according to new reports from the European Environment Agency.

Trends and projections in Europe 2016 - Tracking progress towards Europe's climate and energy targets 08 November 2016, 23:18 CET
The 2016 edition of the annual report from the European Environment Agency, Trends and projections in Europe, provides an updated assessment of the progress of the EU and European countries towards their climate mitigation and energy targets.