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Tobacco Companies' Legal Challenge to Standardised Tobacco Packaging Fails: Other Countries to Follow UK Lead — 19 May 2016, 22:22 CET

The tobacco industry’s High Court challenge to the Regulations on standardised ("plain") tobacco packaging met with a humiliating defeat today. The landmark judgement in the case will help other countries looking to introduce the policy: France and the Republic of Ireland have already passed legislation and other countries are expected to follow soon, including Canada, Hungary, Norway and Slovenia.

New EU rules on nicotine strength not a problem for most vapers — 16 May 2016, 23:55 CET

Use of electronic cigarettes continues to rise with 2.8 million current e-cigarette users in 2016, up from only 700,000 in 2012 when it was first measured by ASH. And new EU rules on electronic cigarettes need not cause problems for most vapers according to new research published by ASH today.

European industry applauds European Parliament vote against granting China Market Economy Status (MES) — 12 May 2016, 16:42 CET

With an 83% overwhelming majority, the European Parliament today passed a Resolution against dumping and the granting of MES to China. The Resolution is an important signal that the EU will not grant MES so long as China fails to meet its WTO obligations.

Animal welfare NGOs across Europe demand an end to cruel animal performances — 21 April 2016, 18:39 CET

Damning report findings state that 'wild animal performances have no place in a modern European society'

Adoption of new EU data protection rules a key milestone for the Digital Single Market — 14 April 2016, 18:36 CET

The adoption today of new EU data protection rules constitute a key milestone in the Digital Single Market strategy, according to the European Internet Service Providers Association (EuroISPA). After three years of intensive negotiations, the new rules balance innovative uses of data with the need for consumer protection and privacy.

Mobilisation for start of mass opposition against patent on tomatoes — 13 April 2016, 22:12 CET

This week, a European-wide coalition is starting a mass opposition against a patent held by the Swiss company Syngenta on tomatoes produced by conventional breeding. We will be mobilising thousands of people within the time period of the opposition lasting until 12 May. The organisations taking part in this action will also be raising the pressure on European politicians to take measures against patents on plants and animals.

Can you thrive without a business website? — 18 March 2016, 13:28 CET

 

In public WiFi case, European Court of Justice takes significant step forward for the information society — 16 March 2016, 20:18 CET

The European Court of Justice took a significant step forward on 16 March in strengthening the legislative infrastructure that underpins the European information society, according to EuroISPA, the European association of European Internet Services Providers Associations (ISPAs).

Brussels Declaration on ADPKD one year on: pioneering progress in the fight against a devastating kidney disease — 10 March 2016, 18:09 CET

Strides made as 30 organisations back Brussels Declaration on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) but MEPs urged to unite for better patient care

Privacy Shield: Draft Adequacy Decision an important step on road to restoring trust and certainty in data transfers — 01 March 2016, 19:38 CET

Today's publication of the draft Privacy Shield Adequacy Decision constitutes an important step on the road to restoring trust and legal certainty to transatlantic data transfers.

Privacy Shield is the same unsafe harbour — 29 February 2016, 19:23 CET

Today, the European Commission published the "Privacy Shield" documents, which confirm that no meaningful reforms have been made and that none are planned.

Commission's Heating & Cooling Strategy needs to do more on buildings — 18 February 2016, 19:43 CET

The European Commission unveiled on 16 February the much-awaited Heating & Cooling Strategy in the framework of the Sustainable Energy Security Package. EuroACE welcomes DG ENER’s efforts to gather more data in order to give a comprehensive picture of heating and cooling in the EU, as it represents around 70% of energy consumption in buildings. But EuroACE calls for more concrete action in the buildings sector.

European Commission holds key to the end of EU trade in illegal timber — 18 February 2016, 19:27 CET

WWF welcomed the report published by the European Commission today, showing that 2 ½ years after it entered into force, the EU Timber Regulation is still not being implemented and enforced effectively in most EU countries.

Eurogas on EU energy package: Sound on security of supply but missing opportunities in heating — 17 February 2016, 17:49 CET

Speaking today on the publication of the European Commission's energy package, Beate Raabe, Secretary General of Eurogas, expressed her support in large part for the market-driven emphasis and overall approach to security of supply in the package but questioned the Commission’s selective approach and disregard for the large benefits linked to gas in heating.

France to benefit on and off the pitch during Euro 2016 — 12 February 2016, 19:20 CET

Hosting a major international sporting tournament is valued as a huge honour, but it comes with the insurmountable pressure on the winning nature to provide the infrastructure and level of organisation to ensure that everything runs smoothly. France will once again grab the attention of a worldwide audience as they host Euro 2016, eighteen years after they last hosted a major tournament, which they won in front of a partisan crowd at the newly-build Stade de France against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup.

Industry rallies Europe to respond to new EU consultation on market economy status of China — 11 February 2016, 23:19 CET

Today, 30 European industries represented by AEGIS Europe called on European unions, businesses and NGOs to respond urgently to the European Commission’s new public consultation into the Market Economy Status (MES) of China.

Serbia - the first EU candidate country to produce a Gender Equality Index — 04 February 2016, 18:59 CET

Serbia launched on 2 February the results of its Gender Equality Index making it the first non-EU country to produce an assessment of how equal women and men are in the various fields of society by applying a broad scale of indicators. Compared with the EU Member States Serbia’s overall score places it in 22nd position. With a score of 40.6 points out of 100 Serbia is almost half way towards gender equality. In comparison, the EU average is 52.9.

EuroISPA: Privacy Shield political agreement is a step in the right direction — 03 February 2016, 23:36 CET

EuroISPA has been supportive of the efforts of the European Commission, the US Department of Commerce, and the Article 29 Working Group to realise a data transfer mechanism that supports transatlantic trade and maintains consumer trust in the Information Society.

European Patent Office revokes Monsanto patent on melons — 20 January 2016, 18:22 CET

The European Patent Office (EPO) has revoked a patent held by Monsanto on melons (EP1962578) for technical reasons.

WWF: The Mediterranean Sea won't sustain our economy if we don’t turn the tide now — 19 January 2016, 13:10 CET

The Mediterranean region is currently facing impressive growth, a real “blue Gold Rush”. Without a long-term vision for sustainable development, the Mediterranean Sea will not be able to sustain our economy and our well-being, says WWF.

European Parliament calling for patents on plants derived from conventional breeding to be stopped — 17 December 2015, 23:15 CET

In a resolution backed by a large majority of its members, the European Parliament has taken a clear position against granting patents on plants derived from conventional ("essentially biological") breeding.

The human cost of cheap bananas — 12 November 2015, 14:02 CET

New report shows how increasing market power and Unfair Trading Practices of European supermarkets affect banana small farmers and plantation workers

Why Do Tech Shares Thrive In Q4? — 08 October 2015, 21:52 CET

 

Consumers and industry want tighter EU rules to tackle illegal timber — 24 September 2015, 18:31 CET

A survey of consumers across Europe shows high support (85 per cent) for better laws that ensure the legality of wood products on the market.

European Patent Office boosts its business with Patents on Life — 26 August 2015, 23:46 CET

A monopoly on specific tomatoes with a higher content of healthy compounds known as flavonols was granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) to the Swiss company Syngenta. The patent covers the plants, the seeds and the fruits. Patent EP1515600 describes the crossing of wild tomatoes with domesticated varieties. The plants are not genetically engineered but derived from classical breeding.