Sarantis Michalopoulos
Greek government accused of meddling in competition authority
The Greek opposition has accused New Democracy’s conservative government of attempting to control the country’s independent competition commission. The newly elected Greek government is due to pass a law on Monday (5 August) providing for the dismissal of members and...
Huawei official: 5G is a ‘historic’ opportunity for Greece and Cyprus
There is a “historic” opportunity for Greece and Cyprus to take the lead in the rollout of 5G technology in southeastern Europe, a Huawei official has told EURACTIV.com.
Organic farmers oppose separate framework for new plant breeding techniques
Any attempt to exclude the so-called new plant breeding techniques from the GMO legislation would deal a severe blow to consumers, farmers and processors, according to the EU organic farmers’ movement (IFOAM).
Eyeing US trade deal, new UK PM whets biotech industry appetite on GMOs
Eyeing a quick trade deal with the United States after Brexit, UK's new Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tried to revive discussions over Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).
EU close to fining Germany over nitrate pollution
The European Commission will tomorrow adopt (25 July) an infringement decisions package against Germany for continuously breaching the EU’s nitrates directive, an EU spokesperson has told EURACTIV.com.
Industry mulls system to verify used cooking oil composition
The waste-based biofuels industry is “actively working” to develop a system to identify the composition of used cooking oil, Angel Alberdi, secretary-general of the European Waste-to-Advanced Biofuels Association (EWABA), told EURACTIV in an interview.
Mitsotakis pledges to finally implement smoking ban in Greece
The newly elected center-right government (New Democracy-EPP) in Greece has vowed to implement a smoking ban in enclosed public places, which has existed since 2008 but never took effect.
Greek government picks Margaritis Schinas for EU Commissioner
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has picked the current European Commission chief spokesperson as Greece's next EU Commissioner, Greek media reported. EURACTIV predicted this nomination on 16 July.
Ukraine vows to enhance customs collaboration with EU to tackle smuggling
The Ukrainian government has adopted new legislation to strengthen customs cooperation with the European Union in order to better combat corruption and smuggling, including tobacco products, the Mission of Ukraine to the EU has told EURACTIV.
German arms exports to Ankara continue despite escalating Greek-Turkish crisis
Tensions have escalated between Turkey and two EU member states – Greece and Cyprus. But that hasn't stopped another EU country, Germany, to continue exporting arms to Ankara, according to official government data.
Czech drug policy shifts toward patients with rare diseases
The Czech government has launched a legislative initiative to improve access to most modern medications and rare disease drugs, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch told EURACTIV in an interview, adding that patients are involved in the decision-making process at a very early stage, including in drafting the law.
Farmers hope EU Commission will block Austria’s glyphosate ban
Austrian farmers hope that the European Commission will not approve a ban on weedkiller glyphosate, recently pushed forward by the government in Vienna.
Conservatives sweep Greek vote, oust leftist Syriza
The conservative New Democracy party triumphed in the Greek national elections on Sunday (7 July), ousting leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras from government.
Civil society abandons EU Commission’s anti-obesity forum
A number of public health NGOs have decided to leave the European Commission-led EU Platform for Diet, Physical Activity and Health, in protest at the lack of progress in combatting obesity and related diseases.
Electronic cigarettes still bitterly divide stakeholders
There is general agreement that smoking is one of the worst things one can do for one's health. But when it comes to alternatives like electronic cigarettes, the debate continues to divide stakeholders and policymakers.
EU farmers boss: ‘Devastating’ Mercosur trade pact exposes Europe’s double standards
The trade deal recently reached between the EU and Mercosur countries is devastating for European farmers and exposes the bloc’s double standards, Pekka Pesonen, Secretary-General of the EU farmers and cooperatives’ association (Copa-Cogeca), told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
New pharma boss: Next EU Commission should be clear on how to protect innovation
The next EU Commission should take a stronger position on innovation in the pharma sector, the new leader of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
EPP source: Georgieva is backed by Orban, cannot be next EU Commission chief
The debate within the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) over the next European Commission boss has heated up following the last EU Council, in which EPP Spitzenkandidat Manfred Weber did not ensure a majority.
Industry source: one third of used cooking oil in Europe is fraudulent
One-third of the used cooking oil (UCO) used in Europe’s biofuels market is more than likely fraudulent, a source from the biofuel industry has told EURACTIV.com and urged Brussels to "think again" about how the entire supply chain is monitored.
Health expert: Need for a new partnership with pharma industry under WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) could provide a platform for a new partnership between the public health sector and the industry, from pharma to alcohol, Clemens Martin Auer, a candidate for the post of WHO Regional Director Europe, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Tsipras: Unlike Weber, Timmermans and Vestager had wide support
The EPP’s “party choice” of Manfred Weber killed the Spitzenkandidaten process as two other candidates, socialist Frans Timmermans and liberal Margrethe Vestager, also had to be dropped despite actually enjoying wider support in the EU Council, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Friday (21 June).
Socialists and liberals kick EPP’s Weber out of EU Commission race
The heads of S&D and the centrist Renew Europe have told the EPP's lead candidate, Manfred Weber, that there is no majority to support him for the position of president of the Commission, sources have told EURACTIV.com.
Farming innovation debate heats up as Greens grow in Europe
The rise of Green parties in the last EU elections has raised eyebrows in Brussels, where agriculture stakeholders try to find out what is next in the debate about the future of EU farming.