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Greenpeace calls on Italy to reconsider position on EU-Canada trade deal — 10 June 2016, 17:47 CET

Italy may be preparing to break ranks with other EU governments on the right for national parliaments to approve or reject a controversial trade deal between the EU and Canada (CETA). Greenpeace called on Italy to reconsider its position. A bid by the European Commission to bypass national parliaments is anti-democratic, said Greenpeace.

eHealth: Opportunity or threat to health equity for all? — 09 June 2016, 21:09 CET

Increasing inequality across Europe is a huge challenge to policy-makers in all areas, not least health policy. Income inequality in OECD countries is higher today than at any time in the last fifty years, which has profound impacts on the health and wellbeing of the poorest. 2016 eHealth week in Amsterdam should strive to ensure that the technological transition increases health and access to healthcare for everyone and excludes no-one, including refugees, migrants and other vulnerable people.

Poor air quality and climate change greatest threats to human health in pan-European region: UN report — 09 June 2016, 21:05 CET

Poor air quality, climate change, unhealthy lifestyles and the disconnection between people and the environment are increasingly affecting human health in the region, finds the latest Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6) assessment for the pan-European region, prepared by the UN Environment Programme and the UN Economic Commission for Europe with support from the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Public funding for energy efficiency picking up — 09 June 2016, 21:00 CET

New research by Ecofys reports that the total public funding for energy efficiency in the EU grew from about €6 billion in 2012 - when the Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU) was approved, to about EUR 7.1 billion in 2014. This trend, which can also be observed in Central and Eastern Europe, is encouraging, but a lot still needs to be done to break down barriers to energy efficiency investments.

Embarrassing failure by Juncker Commission leads Dutch Presidency to cancel high-level Nature Conference in Amsterdam — 09 June 2016, 00:06 CET

In a highly unusual move, the Dutch presidency today cancelled its much anticipated and politically charged Ministerial Conference on ‘Future-proof Nature Policy’, which was to be held at the end of June in Amsterdam to discuss the Fitness Check of the Birds and Habitats Directives. However, since the Working Document on outcomes of the REFIT exercise will not be published on time by the European Commission, it was decided to cancel the event.

Greenpeace comment: EU vote on glyphosate extension — 07 June 2016, 18:32 CET

The European Commission has failed to secure sufficient support from EU governments for its proposal to extend a licence for glyphosate by up to 18 months. The outcome shows that governments remain sceptical about the continued use of the controversial weedkiller, said Greenpeace.

WWF: Major international agreement to fight illegal fishing supports EU efforts — 05 June 2016, 16:03 CET

WWF welcomes the entry into force of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) today as a huge step in the global fight to eliminate illegal fishing. The Agreement is the first binding international treaty specifically aimed at preventing illegally caught fish from entering ports around the world, by reducing the number of ports where these products can be unloaded and making it harder for illegal fishing operations to do business. The more countries that join the Agreement and effectively implement it, the better the chances of keeping illegal products out of global markets.

A barbecue grill can kill: don’t use it indoors — 01 June 2016, 23:15 CET

On the occasion of today’s 6th Carbon Monoxide (CO) Round Table, hosted by MEPs Linda McAvan and Marian Harkin, ANEC - the European Consumer Voice in Standardisation - urges consumers never to take a charcoal barbecue inside because of the risk of lethal CO poisoning.

Automobile industry addresses challenges of decarbonisation — 01 June 2016, 23:10 CET

Ahead of the publication of the European Commission's Communication on the Decarbonisation of Transport next month, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) has outlined some key challenges that industry and policy makers must overcome to reduce CO2 emissions more effectively. ACEA's Board met today in Berlin on the occasion of the association's 25th anniversary General Assembly.

Greenpeace press comment: Commission seeks glyphosate approval by another name — 01 June 2016, 19:23 CET

The European Commission is seeking political backing to allow unrestricted use of controversial weedkiller glyphosate by labelling the decision as temporary, warned Greenpeace.

Ombudsman's ruling: Stoiber’s appointment process constituted 'maladministration' and was misleading — 31 May 2016, 12:39 CET

In a strongly worded decision, the appointment process of Edmund Stoiber as a high-level special advisor to the European Commission President Juncker has been labelled "misleading", and constituting maladministration.

European Parliament confirms inadequacy of "Privacy Shield" — 31 May 2016, 12:37 CET

The European Parliament has adopted a Resolution on the "Privacy Shield". This is the new agreement to permit data to be transferred from the EU to the USA. The previous agreement - "Safe Harbour" - was overturned by the European Court of Justice in October 2015.

Is TTIP prescribing more expensive medicines for Europe? — 26 May 2016, 23:40 CET

Today, the European Commission released its proposal for an annex to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement (TTIP) on medicinal products. The proposal fails to answer essential questions about affordability of medicines, trade secrets and clinical trials transparency:

European Patients' Forum welcomes the agreement, but more details are needed — 26 May 2016, 22:11 CET

The European Patients' Forum welcomes the deal reached yesterday between the Council and the European Parliament on medical devices. However, more information on reprocessing and patient involvement is required.

Council and European Parliament reached political agreement on the medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices regulations — 26 May 2016, 22:08 CET

Following the May 25th trilogue meeting, MedTech Europe, the alliance of Eucomed and EDMA, are pleased to hear that a political agreement has been reached on the new regulations.

Consumers to benefit from geo-blocking overhaul — 25 May 2016, 16:32 CET

Proposed new rules on geo-blocking will benefit consumers, BEUC said today, following an announcement from the European Commission on a package to boost the online market within the EU.

Obesity needs urgent action warns research organisation — 19 May 2016, 22:28 CET

The leading organisation responsible for research into obesity in Europe has warned that unless something is quickly done to tackle the region’s rising obesity epidemic, it is going to have a devastating effect on healthcare costs and productivity.

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.

AMR set to kill 10 million people per year by 2050: Cameron-commissioned report — 19 May 2016, 00:12 CET

No single country can solve the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) situation on its own, states the new report "Tackling drug-resistant infections globally" by the UK Review on AMR.

Industry ties raise questions about UN body assessing glyphosate cancer risk — 17 May 2016, 12:27 CET

The FAO /WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) released an assessment on 16 May, which concludes that the controversial weedkiller glyphosate is "unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to humans from exposure through the diet". The finding contradicts an earlier assessment by the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which stated that glyphosate was a probable cause of cancer. However, the industry ties of at least two experts involved in the JMPR's evaluation call into question whether the organisation has ensured the independence of its advice.

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.

Case against the authorisation of Monsanto genetically engineered Intacta soybeans to be heard at the EU Court of Justice — 13 May 2016, 00:21 CET

The Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) has scheduled a hearing for the 12 May on legal action brought against the import of the genetically engineered Monsanto soybeans (T-77/13). MON87701 x MON89788 soybeans were authorised in the EU for use in food and feed. They are grown predominantly in Brazil and sold under the brand name Intacta. These plants have a unique combination of two genetically engineered traits: They express a so-called insecticidal Bt toxin and are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, commonly known under trade names such as Roundup.

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.

European Court of Justice rejects all claims against the EU Tobacco Products Directive — 04 May 2016, 22:45 CET

The European Court of Justice has today delivered its judgement on the 2014 EU Tobacco Products Directive, which will fully enter into force on 20 May 2016.

TTIP leaks update: Greenpeace response to Commission statements — 03 May 2016, 00:50 CET

In response to the European Commission’s statements on the TTIP leaks and a blog post by EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem, Greenpeace EU director Jorgo Riss said: "Commissioner Malmström is being disingenuous. The leaked consolidated documents make no mention of the EU’s precautionary principle, which provides a higher level of environmental and consumer protection. The mention of the precautionary principle that Malmstroem refers to is contained in an EU position paper that is not part of the leaked consolidated chapters."