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EU-US trade talks on hold, but risks remain — 07 October 2013, 17:31 CET

The delay to trade talks between the EU and US, which were due to start in Brussels today, must be used to address the risks a deal represents to people and the environment, says Friends of the Earth Europe.

Genetically engineered soybeans in EU Court of Justice: David and Goliath — 26 September 2013, 22:59 CET

Monsanto, the British Government, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the EU Commission are joining forces in EU Court proceedings to prevent risky genetically engineered soybeans from being withdrawn from the food market.

New EC de minimis aid proposal ignores the reality of SMEs, says UEAPME — 18 September 2013, 15:36 CET

Ahead of the multilateral meeting on the de minimis aid Regulation that the European Commission has with Member States on Friday 20th September, UEAPME – the European craft and SME employers' organisation – puts out a warning that the new Commission proposal is not in line with the reality of SMEs.

Will Europe's telecoms market overhaul benefit consumers? — 12 September 2013, 16:39 CET

The telecoms sector in Europe is to get a regulatory shake up under wide ranging plans launched by the European Commission.

CJEU: access to gambling market cannot be restricted for economic reasons — 12 September 2013, 16:32 CET

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) today confirmed once again the well-established principle that Member States cannot restrict the national gambling market to protect the commercial interest of incumbents or for other economic reasons. The Court adds that national laws which prohibit cross-border gambling, irrespective of the form in which that activity is undertaken, are in breach of EU law.

Limit on Europe's biofuel use not enough to prevent hunger and deforestation (Friends of the Earth Europe) — 11 September 2013, 20:29 CET

The burning of biofuels in Europe will continue to increase and cause food price hikes and climate emissions after the European Parliament today failed to vote for tougher restrictions on their use.

No home run for home loans (BEUC) — 11 September 2013, 20:29 CET

The European Parliament voted today to adopt first-time, Europe-wide laws protecting people taking home loans.

Europeans forced to drive with more rainforest-destroying biofuels — 09 September 2013, 12:08 CET

Europe’s drivers are being forced to fill their tanks with increasing amounts of rainforest-destroying palm oil, with reliance on the controversial biofuel set to rise even further, new figures released today (Monday September 9) show. According to the data, palm oil use has increased much more than predicted and is now at 20% of the biodiesel mix.

New code, old conduct in the European Parliament? — 18 July 2013, 11:31 CET

The new code of conduct for Members of the European Parliament is failing to prevent potential conflicts of interest in a number of specific cases, finds a new report released today.

UEAPME presents its main achievements for Crafts & SMEs — 17 July 2013, 23:01 CET

UEAPME, the European Craft and SME association, is the agenda setter for SME policy in Europe and defends the interests of Crafts and SMEs towards European Institutions and other European stakeholders. Today in Brussels, UEAPME President Gunilla Almgren presented UEAPME's most important achievements since the beginning of her Presidency in January 2012. "SMEs do not have the necessary resources to fight their battles alone neither at national level nor – of course – in a European context. Our role is therefore crucial to them and we try our best to improve the environment for Crafts and SMEs in the EU", President Gunilla Almgren introduced.

Greenpeace welcomes another step in action on bee-killing pesticide — 17 July 2013, 00:26 CET

But only long-term ban and ecological farming can really save bees

SMEs miss support measures in the Environmental Action Programme — 11 July 2013, 14:44 CET

UEAPME welcomes the specific references to SMEs but regrets that the set of SME measures in the Environmental programme fall short

MEPs propose measures to improve green credentials of biofuels but fail to solve food for fuel crisis — 11 July 2013, 15:24 CET

In the face of heavy lobbying from the biofuels industry, the European Parliament's environment committee has made encouraging recommendations to fix EU biofuels policy, but more will be required to end the food for fuel crisis, warned Greenpeace.

European Parliament supports temporary Emissions Trading Scheme fix — 04 July 2013, 12:23 CET

Greenpeace welcomes today’s vote in the European Parliament to support a stronger than expected fix to the EU’s ailing carbon market, but warns that the plan will have only a temporary effect. Without further structural changes, such as the removal of allowances from the scheme, the credibility and effectiveness of the carbon market cannot be restored.

Commission-funded report blames Europe for global forest destruction — 02 July 2013, 23:16 CET

Europe leads the industrialised world in driving global deforestation, according to an independent report released today by the European Commission. European consumption of goods led to a forest loss of at least nine million hectares between 1990 and 2008, an area the size of Ireland.

Industry publishes a joint statement on the proposed Directive on Collective Rights Management — 02 July 2013, 23:11 CET

The digital industry (represented by the European Digital Media Association (EDiMA), DIGITALEUROPE, BITKOM, EuroISPA, the European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA), the Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec), and Mixcloud) has collaborated to provide a collective voice on the proposed Directive on Collective Rights Management.

EU legislators give in to German bullying on car efficiency standards — 27 June 2013, 23:27 CET

German car-makers could secure a two or three-year delay in carbon emission standards for cars sold in Europe in 2020, warned Greenpeace. EU negotiators meeting in Brussels agreed to widen proposed loopholes to please makers of high-end brands such as BMW and Mercedes, following an intense lobbying campaign alongside German policymakers.

Renewables on track for 2020, but Member States must provide stability — 27 June 2013, 13:48 CET

On the last day of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), a consortium of actors in the renewable energy sector recommends that Member States provide regulatory stability through their renewable energy policies.

New EU roaming price caps from July 1 — 26 June 2013, 17:15 CET

Phone calls, SMS texts and data usage costs when roaming within the EU will be further axed from July 1.

CAP reform: Failure for the environment, developing countries and small farmers — 26 June 2013, 16:59 CET

The EU's new agriculture policy is a disaster for the environment, small farmers and developing countries, according to Friends of the Earth Europe. The criticism comes at the end of lengthy negotiations over the rules and support for European farmers until 2020.

Consumers urge Commission against scale down on excessive card fees — 20 June 2013, 23:19 CET

European Commission plans to curb consumer unfriendly card transaction fees are under attack from intense lobbying by card companies such as MasterCard. Such Multilateral Interchange Fees (MIFs) generate a steady stream of income for banks and card companies at the expense of consumers, retailers and SMEs.

New ETS plan puts burden on European taxpayers instead of polluting industry — 20 June 2013, 13:19 CET

A new plan to patch up Europe’s ailing carbon market endorsed by the European Parliament’s environment committee today will fall short of restoring an effective system to encourage clean investments and lower carbon emissions, warned Greenpeace.

New report shows urgent need to rescue EU's ineffective lobby register — 20 June 2013, 13:02 CET

The European Commission and European Parliament's joint lobby register turns two years old this week, and a new report by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) shows that the voluntary register is still failing to get a sufficient share of lobbyists to register and remains packed with unreliable and incomplete data.

State aid: Horserace betting levies must be fully compliant with EU state aid rules — 19 June 2013, 18:15 CET

The industry bodies representing the leading European online betting operators are concerned about today's European Commission decision that confirms a French levy to fund 'the improvement of the equine species and the promotion of horse breeding' is in line with EU state aid rules.

EU Treaties provide legal base for mandatory lobby register — 18 June 2013, 18:03 CET

Over the next months, the European Commission and Parliament will review their voluntary joint Transparency Register that entered into force June 2011.