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European Parliament calls for doubling for LIFE funding in next EU budget — 14 March 2018, 23:44 CET

Today, the European Parliament voted to double the funding of the LIFE Programme, the EU’s only funding instrument on nature conservation and climate, in the next EU budget post-2020. WWF has long called for LIFE financing to be more than trebled to reach 1% of the next budget, up from 0.3% currently.

'Why re-invent the wheel?' ParcelCompare questions EU decision to set up a parcel price comparison site — 14 March 2018, 23:55 CET

Under new international rules on e-commerce announced yesterday the European Commission will create a website to compare parcel delivery prices across EU borders. ParcelCompare says it’s a great idea… so great ParcelCompare already does it!

ESBA welcomes Cross-border Parcel Delivery Agreement — 13 March 2018, 16:43 CET

Today, on the 13 of March, the European Parliament Plenary ratified the agreement on the Cross-Border Parcel Delivery directive, reached in trilogue by the European Institutions in December 2017.

European spirits sector commits to provision of nutrition and ingredient information — 12 March 2018, 19:00 CET

Nutrition information and ingredients listing will be made available to consumers for all EU spirits, either on or off-label. spiritsEUROPE will support its members in their efforts to provide this information and will regularly assess, and report on, the use of both options over the next four years.

Dangerous consumer goods found in high numbers in EU — 12 March 2018, 15:52 CET

In 2017, more than 2,000 non-food products failing safety requirements were notified to the EU’s rapid alert system (RAPEX). This figure might however only show the tip of the iceberg because of insufficient market checks.

Latest data reveal drug-taking habits in close to 60 European cities — 09 March 2018, 00:49 CET

The latest findings from the largest European project in the emerging science of wastewater analysis are presented today by the Europe-wide SCORE group, in association with the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA).

Council of Europe takes world-leading step towards protecting online rights — 09 March 2018, 00:42 CET

On 7 March 2018, the Council of Europe (CoE), Europe's leading human rights organisation, adopted a Recommendation on the roles and responsibilities of internet intermediaries that will have a global impact.

Sustainable finance plan needs to be practical and flexible, says Invest Europe — 09 March 2018, 00:27 CET

Private equity is well-placed to support the European Commission’s sustainable finance plan announced today, but any further measures need to take into account the diversity of the industry, says Invest Europe.

EU Fintech Action Plan: first step towards a serious approach — 08 March 2018, 18:31 CET

The European Banking Federation notes the release today of the European Commission's Fintech Action Plan 'For a more competitive and innovative European financial sector', which recognises the transformative impact of financial innovations for users of financial services and for the banks that offer these.

EU breaks new ground on sustainable finance - but more needed — 08 March 2018, 14:12 CET

The EU has made clear its intent to become the world's leader in sustainable finance with its bold Action Plan published today. While the proposals would help more money go into sustainable sectors rather than fossil fuels, they are still not enough to align with the Paris Agreement on climate change.

SMEs say no to Commission approach for definitive VAT system — 06 March 2018, 15:21 CET

In a position paper, UEAPME presents quite a negative assessment of the European Commission's proposal for the first steps towards a Single EU VAT system.

EU can lead the world in sustainable finance — 06 March 2018, 13:59 CET

The EU has a chance to become a world-leader in sustainable finance with the European Commission’s upcoming Action Plan, expected on 7 March. This would mean more money going into ‘green’ sectors and less into fossil fuels and areas which damage the planet and people’s wellbeing.

EU-US automobile trade and production in context — 06 March 2018, 13:56 CET

In the margins of the Geneva motor show, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) reacts to recent discussions on possible tariffs on EU car imports to the United States by putting the trade relations between the two regions in context.

Greenpeace report calls for halving of meat and dairy production to protect climate, nature and health — 05 March 2018, 18:19 CET

Global meat and dairy production and consumption must be cut in half by 2050 to avoid dangerous climate change and keep the Paris climate agreement on track, says a new Greenpeace report.

Bremain in Spain comments on May's Road to Brexit: a Road to Nowhere — 05 March 2018, 19:16 CET

Bremain in Spain, a group campaigning for the rights of British citizens in Spain and the EU, points out that public reactions to Theresa May's speech on Friday have been as mixed as the PM's own messages.

European countries not yet delivering a healthy Baltic Sea — 05 March 2018, 18:11 CET

Ten years after the Baltic Sea Action Plan was adopted, the recovery of the Baltic Sea remains slow – and is even declining in some measures. Today, WWF released "The Baltic Sea Scorecard 2018", a report revealing that the Baltic Sea coastal countries are failing to deliver on their commitments for a healthy Baltic Sea by 2021 and show little indication that this will improve.

EuroCommerce: don’t disrupt trade across the Atlantic - or the Channel — 05 March 2018, 13:46 CET

EuroCommerce Director-General Christian Verschueren has warned of the severe consequences of any trade war arising from US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he was minded to impose significant tariffs on steel and aluminium imports.

Genome editing: Legal expert criticises opinion of Attorney General of the EuCJ — 02 March 2018, 00:08 CET

On 18 January, the Attorney General of the EU Court of Justice (EuCJ) published his position on whether or not so-called genome editing must be regulated under current EU GMO legislation. On behalf of Testbiotech, the well-known EU legal expert Professor Ludwig Kraemer has now analysed the position of the Attorney General (C-528/16).

EU Commission's Recommendation: Let's put internet giants in charge of censoring Europe — 02 March 2018, 01:01 CET

Today, on 1 March 2018, the European Commission proposed a "Recommendation" on the surveillance and filtering of the internet by online companies.

EFSA confirms pesticides danger to bees — 01 March 2018, 23:57 CET

Three widely used neonicotinoid pesticides are a danger to bees, according to a report released on 28 February by the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA.

New working conditions put too much red tape on SMEs — 28 February 2018, 23:39 CET

In its newly adopted position on the proposal for a directive on transparent and predictable working conditions, UEAPME expressed serious concerns about the red tape and complexity of the new directive. The aim of the directive is not only to inform workers of the conditions applicable to an employment relationship but also to ensure new rights (such as the predictability of work).

ACE welcomes the Public Procurement Package and reiterates its recommendations for quality-based public procurement — 28 February 2018, 00:19 CET

While the European Parliament is currently preparing an own-initiative report on the Public Procurement Strategy package that the Commission adopted in October 2017, the Architects' Council of Europe (ACE) reiterates its recommendations for quality-based public procurement.

Bremain in Spain Welcomes Progress in Restoring 'Votes for Life' to British Citizens Overseas — 27 February 2018, 16:33 CET

Bremain in Spain, a group campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union and to protect the rights of British migrants living in Spain, welcomes the progress made with the second reading of the 'Overseas Electors Bill 2017-19', which aims to restore 'Votes for Life' to Brits who have lived overseas for more than 15 years.

Digitalisation is crucial for SMEs' competitiveness — 27 February 2018, 15:27 CET

"Entrepreneurs need an enabling legal framework and an environment with adequate support structures to guide their company through digital transformation. Therefore, UEAPME calls for increasing measures on skills development, financial support, capacity building, an appropriate infrastructure and standardisation" stated UEAPME President Ulrike Rabmer-Koller during a meeting with Commissioner Bienkowska.

UEAPME puts focus on SMEs at Industry Day — 22 February 2018, 16:20 CET

Today, at the first meeting of the High-level Industrial Roundtable with Commission Vice-President Katainen and Commissioner Bieńkowska, UEAPME President Ulrike Rabmer-Koller put forward the need to have a specific focus on SMEs within a renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy.