MEPs in charge of negotiating the EU's next seven-year budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), came to Paris to seek France's support before the start of decisive talks on the future European budget. EURACTIV France reports.
In 2018 alone, the French government spent €400 million to reduce the use of pesticides, even though their use ended up increasing. France's public auditor is criticising the situation and calling on integrating agro-ecological transition objectives into the CAP. EURACTIV France reports.
French oil giant Total's failure to respect France's 'corporate vigilance' law has led to human rights violations in Uganda, according to a group of French and Ugandan NGOs who are suing the company. But the court procedure has taken an unexpected turn that did not please the plaintiffs. EURACTIV France reports.
Paris believes an age limit for receiving aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) would make room for young people in the farming sector. But Brussels does not see it that way, saying this would amount to age discrimination. EURACTIV France reports.
Having struggled to reduce the use of plant protection products, France intends to work twice as hard on the development of so-called 'biocontrol' methods. Besides, it is pushing to develop more favourable rules at the European level for the industry. EURACTIV France reports.
Once the UK leaves the EU on 31 January, new MEPs will be taking up seats in the European Parliament. Due to its growing population, France will obtain five of 27 new seats. EURACTIV France reports.
By using hemp, brewers grains and spelt husk, many French SMEs are starting to manufacture natural insulation materials based on bio-sourced materials and biowaste, which have not previously been 're-purposed'. In other words, they are using 'green' alternative to conventional insulation. EURACTIV France reports.
The wide-ranging European Green Deal provides for a European fund for a just transition, which is meant to support regions that are economically highly dependent on fossil fuels. But not all member states will benefit from it. EURACTIV France reports.
Despite France's campaign against glyphosate and a plan to ban it in a majority of agricultural practices by the end of 2020, the world's most commonly used weedkiller saw its sales volumes soar by 10% in the country in 2018.
Pesticide-free zones, implemented in France since 1 January 2020, have angered winegrowers, who are losing a great deal of surface area, while civil society still considers them insufficient. EURACTIV France reports.
The French National Assembly has voted to ban all disposable plastics by... 2040, which would be far too late for many environmental advocates. EURACTIV France reports.
France's first pick for the EU Commissioner post, Sylvie Goulard, has been indicted by the Court of Paris for embezzlement of funds in the employment of EU parliamentary assistants, raising questions about French President Emmanuel Macron defending her candidacy after MEPs rejected her on ethical grounds. EURACTIV France reports.
The French insurance company AXA has announced its own plan to help phase out coal production in Europe by 2030, under which it would no longer be insuring companies that are too dependent on fossil fuels. According to NGOs, this plan has "no blind spots". EURACTIV France reports.
Disagreement on the inclusion of nuclear power in the EU’s upcoming green finance taxonomy has revived long-standing divisions between France and Germany over the energy transition. EURACTIV France reports.
Between the challenge of accessing land and the cost of transferring ownership of farms, young French farmers are struggling to establish themselves as farmers. The question is, will the next generation of farmers be able to take up the baton in France? EURACTIV France reports.
France has been requested to review its proposed measure to label jars of honey marketed in France with the countries from which the different kinds of honey originate. However, this could slow down the implementation of this labelling measure, eagerly awaited by beekeepers. EURACTIV France reports.
Atos CEO Thierry Breton, the new candidate chosen by French President Emmanuel Macron, could risk being rejected by MEPs over potential conflicts of interest, which was the main reason the European Parliament ousted the president's first candidate, Sylvie Goulard. EURACTIV France reports.
In a report presented in Paris on 23 October, the government institution France Stratégie proposed to support employment in the agricultural sector rather than the amount of cultivated land. But for this to become reality, a complete overhaul of the EU's Common Agricultural Policy is needed. EURACTIV France reports.
After the scandal with the European Parliament's rejection of Sylvie Goulard as the French Commissioner, it is now the turn of Sandro Gozi, the EU adviser to France's prime minister, to be in the spotlight. The Italian had allegedly collaborated with the Maltese government while working for France. EURACTIV France reports.
The EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) penalises local farmers and harms the environment. It continues to contribute to the injection of palm oil in milk powder, exports of soft wheat to the detriment of local products, as well as to the over-consumption of Latin American soy. EURACTIV France reports.
French President Emmanuel Macron will only choose the new French candidate for the European Commission after an EU summit on 17-18 October, where he intends to secure political support from the European Parliament. EURACTIV France reports.
Since the June agreement on the eurozone budget, blockages have persisted between the 19 members of the euro area. But France is now taking an active role in persuading the others of the need to pin down practical details. EURACTIV France reports.
Since the 16th century, the Gosset family has been passing on vineyards from generation to generation in the Champagne region. Today, the incoming generation is starting to implement more environmentally friendly practices. EURACTIV France reports.
While the French people are consuming less wine, they are drinking more organic wine. However, the expense of going 'bio' proves to be an important risk for winegrowers. EURACTIV France reports.
