Sarantis Michalopoulos
Greece and North Macedonia agree to end roaming charges
Athens and Skopje have signed an agreement to gradually decrease roaming charges and remove them completely by 2021.
EU Commission accused of ignoring science on e-cigarettes
The European Commission’s recent statement comparing electronic cigarettes to “poison” has prompted a strong reaction from stakeholders, who accused the EU executive of disregarding scientific evidence.
EU pharma stakeholders take action to tackle fake medicines
A number of pharma stakeholders announced on 9 February the official launch of the European Medicines Verification System (EMVS), which will make use of new technologies to improve safety in the medicines’ supply chain against fake products.
Young farmers call for strong CAP budget to ensure generational renewal
EU member states will have to deal with the generational renewal of the EU farming sector “whether they like it or not,” young farmers say. And to do so, they first need to support a strong budget for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), they argue.
Young people and women in EU farming
The EU farming sector is faced with an ageing population. In 2016 only 11% of farm managers in the EU were young farmers under the age of 40 years, according to Eurostat.
S&D chief urges EPP’s Weber to refresh his memory of Greek economy
It’s getting increasingly clearer in the circles of Brussels that Manfred Weber is a pre-election “front man” Spitzenkandidat of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), Syriza MEP and Vice-President of the EU Parliament Dimitris Papadimoulis said.
European Commission compares e-cigarettes to ‘poison’
The European Commission is "reluctant" to sit with the tobacco industry at the same table to discuss novel tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, a high-ranking EU official has said.
Biofuel sustainability criteria ‘blocked’ in EU Commission
A delegated act determining the sustainability criteria of biofuels under the new renewable energy directive (RED II) has been blocked in the European Commission as some Commissioners found the criteria “too light”, EURACTIV has learnt.
Symbolically, Greece to be first to open NATO doors for North Macedonia
In a symbolic gesture, the Greek government will most probably be the first country to ratify North Macedonia’s NATO accession protocol, as it aims to do it by 8 February, sources close to the issue told EURACTIV.com.
Pharma industry raises the alarm about stockpiling of generic drugs
The industry of innovative medicines is concerned with a recent vote in the European Parliament on the stockpiling of generic drugs, saying that it causes uncertainty over innovation in the pharmaceutical field.
Tsipras: Portugal, Spain and Greece are left-wing ‘oases in a political desert’
Socialist, green and leftist political parties should learn from governments in Southern Europe and unite against rising right-wing anti-European populism ahead of the EU elections, leftist Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said.
North Macedonia name deal: EU says ‘mission impossible’ accomplished
European Union leaders warmly welcomed the historic ratification by the Greek parliament on Friday (25 January) of the North Macedonia name change deal, the so-called Prespa Agreement, putting an end to a 27-year conflict in the Balkans.
EU agriculture Commissioner ‘surprised’ by gene editing court ruling
The European governments have to decide whether science or politics are applied when it comes to issues such as new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs), EU's Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan said.
Greek Commissioner breaks with EU line on North Macedonia name deal
Dimitris Avramopoulos, the EU's migration Commissioner, made a statement on 23 January opposing the historic name change deal between Athens and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the so-called Prespa Agreement, due to be ratified this week in the Greek parliament.
New anti-microbial resistance business models are off the table, Romanian health minister says
Romania's EU Presidency will not look into new business models to tackle anti-microbial resistance (AMR), Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Discussion heats up over stockpiling of generic drugs under patent protection
The Commission has announced its intention to add a manufacturing waiver to supplementary protection certificates (SPC), as part of its upgraded 2015 Single Market Strategy.
Time is running out for biofuels sustainability criteria
The European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) of Energy will only give two days to other DGs to express their opinion about its much-awaited proposal on the sustainability criteria of biofuels, which will determine the future of palm oil in Europe.
Scientists call for radical change of diet to transform global food system
The global food system needs urgent reform, less meat consumption and more legumes, as three billion people worldwide are malnourished and food production is exceeding planetary boundaries, scientists have warned in a new report.
Tsipras goes against all in Greek parliament on North Macedonia name deal
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is likely to survive a confidence vote on Wednesday (16 January). But his party Syriza is alone defending the historic name change deal reached between Athens and Skopje.
Europe’s food safety system ‘overstretched’, auditors say
The European Union’s food safety system is respected across the globe but it’s now “overstretched”, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) said in a report published on Tuesday (15 January), urging policymakers to bolster implementation capacity.
‘North Macedonia’ deal shakes Greek government, Tsipras calls vote of confidence
Skopje's ratification of the so-called name-change deal has triggered a government crisis in Greece, when the leader of the conservative junior coalition partner, Independent Greeks, stepped down on Sunday (13 January).
EPP’s Weber comes out on Macedonia name change deal
Manfred Weber, the Spitzenkandidat of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), ended months of silence on the ongoing efforts to resolve the Greece-Macedonia name row with a couple of pithy comments on Tuesday (9 January) that appear to support the deal.
Former Greek PM teases fresh bailout, Commission says Greece is ‘secured’
Greece’s position at the heart of the eurozone and the European Union is "secured", according to the European Commission, following remarks made by a former Greek prime minister who claimed the country will soon seek fresh EU aid.