Samuel White
Forest owners boss: ‘Sustainable forest management crucial to maintaining carbon cycle ‘
Sustainable forest management is vital to ensure that Europe meets its climate and energy goals. But over-regulating forest bioenergy would damage the sector’s economic performance and undermine its potential for climate change mitigation, Emma Berglund told EURACTIV in an interview.
Balancing emissions and removals from Europe’s forests
EU policymakers face a big challenge to maximise the economic potential of Europe’s forestry sector while balancing its carbon emissions and removals. But it's one they will have to rise to if the bloc is to meet its climate and energy targets.
Farmers renew calls for protection in Mercosur negotiations
European farmers have written to the European Commission to “reject any concessions” on the agricultural chapters of the EU’s free trade negotiations with South American trading bloc Mercosur, which they say would expose farmers to unfair competition.
Ecosystem services of EU forests
Forests cover 40% of Europe’s territory and provide a multitude of ecosystem services that contribute to the health of the environment and human wellbeing.
Environmental advocates slam ECHA for transparency shortfall
Environmental advocacy group ClientEarth has criticised the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for transparency failings that restrict public access to information and slow the adoption of safer chemicals.
Experts urge cautious approach as WHO classifies gaming addiction as illness
The World Health Organisation has classified addiction to video-gaming as an illness, in another sign that the condition is gaining recognition from medical professionals and mental health experts around the world.
Food and drink industry calls for ‘functioning’ single market, Brexit certainty
Europe’s food and drink industry relies heavily on the EU single market to underpin its steady growth rate, but it has warned that Brexit poses a real threat to the future of many businesses.
The Brief – Wanted: A job for Mr Farage
For Brexit aficionados, the year has started with a welcome twist. Today, Nigel Farage met Michel Barnier in Brussels in an attempt to balance out the “neverending stream of Remainers” the EU’s Brexit negotiator has met since talks on the UK’s withdrawal began in June.
EU unanimously backs UN World Bee Day
The United Nations declared 20 May to become World Bee Day, adopting a resolution proposed by Slovenia and supported by all EU member states, which aims to raise awareness of the insects' importance and warn about their dwindling numbers.
How can the CAP combat rural poverty and land abandonment?
Agriculture is a vital pillar of Europe’s rural economies, providing jobs and supporting rural communities.
World Bank agri boss: Investing in technology will help all farmers
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has strengthened Europe’s farming sector and reduced rural poverty, but the EU must now push for the adoption of technology and open source data to drive better outcomes for all farmers, Juergen Voegele told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
The Brief, powered by Eni – Habemus sufficient progress
Habemus sufficient progress. Theresa May and Jean-Claude Juncker spoke of “give and take” as they agreed the two sides had come close enough on the divorce bill, citizens’ rights and the Irish border to move talks on to the second phase.
Brexit breakthrough as Commission says ‘sufficient progress’ made
Theresa May rushed to Brussels in the early hours of Friday morning (8 December), after the European Commission said all-night divorce talks had made “sufficient progress” to move on to the second phase of Brexit negotiations.
EESC: EU needs a comprehensive food policy
Europe needs to revolutionise its approach to food, focusing on sustainability and health to tackle the many challenges of the future, said a report published on Wednesday (6 December).
Farmers welcome CAP simplification, wary of renationalisation
EU farmers have joined the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy by stressing the need to simplify common rules, but they have vigorously rejected any attempt to renationalise the bloc’s biggest common policy.
Scientists demand end to crop-based biofuels
A group of 177 Dutch scientist have signed a letter urging the Netherlands to back a complete phase-out of crop-based biofuels at European level, calling them a “false solution to climate problems”.
Parliament cautiously welcomes post-2020 CAP vision
The Commission’s communication on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy, which aims to give EU member states greater freedom in meeting the bloc’s common goals, received a broadly optimistic response in the European Parliament on Wednesday (29 November), although concerns remain over how it will be implemented.
CAP communication promotes ‘beggar-thy-neighbour’ policy, agri experts say
The European Commission has presented its long-awaited vision for the future of the Common Agricultural Policy after 2020. But agricultural experts fear the communication, which proposes a radical overhaul of the policy’s delivery, rather than its substance, will weaken environmental protection and create unfair competition between farmers.
The Brief: Merkel still wears the trousers in Berlin
Yesterday EU countries agreed to renew the licence for glyphosate, the controversial weed killer suspected of causing cancer and proven to cause headaches for lawmakers.
Excessive complexity hinders transparency of lawmaking
Understanding of EU lawmaking among lobbyists and journalists has declined as the processes themselves have become more complex, to the point of making Brussels "a land of incompetence", experts said at a seminar on Monday (27 November).
Commission’s biofuels proposal may kill future investment, industry warns
The biofuels industry has hit out at the European Commission’s proposal to reduce the cap on crop-based biofuels in the EU’s transport fuel mix, saying it would undermine the EU executive’s renewable energy policy and slash investment in advanced biofuels.
EU agricultural policy incoherent and outdated – report
The Common Agricultural Policy has done a good job of ensuring farm income and food security but it is incoherent, inefficient and outdated, and must be radically overhauled to ensure good value for money in the future, an independent report has found.
MEPs to vote on ‘strict minimum’ 35% renewables target
The European Parliament’s influential Committee on Industry, Research and Energy will vote on Tuesday (28 November) on a compromise deal that could set the bloc’s 2030 renewable energy target at 35%.