Sarantis Michalopoulos
US ethanol producers: We are oil’s biggest competitor, cleaner too
Increasing ethanol use will help countries around the world meet their Paris Agreement climate goals in a cheaper way, US producers told EURACTIV.com, staking their claim to a higher role for the fuel, alongside electricity, in decarbonising transport.
Baltic farmers in Brussels to restore CAP’s ‘historical anomaly’
Farmers from the Baltic countries will gather on 13 December in Brussels to call for a fairer distribution of payments in the framework of the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
IEA chief: Ethanol ‘very important’ to reduce oil dependence
Ethanol will have a very important role in decarbonising the transport sector globally, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) told EURACTIV.com. Another energy expert said electrification will play a major role in transport but is not applicable to all sectors, which is where biofuels come in.
Biofuels and electromobility are key in Portugal’s transport decarbonisation
Portugal will use both electromobility and biofuels to decarbonise its transport sector by 2050, José Mendes, Portuguese First Secretary of State for Mobility - Environment and Energy Transition, told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
IPCC scientist: E-mobility not the only way to decarbonise transport
When it comes to decarbonisation of transport, switching to electric cars is just one option and there are a number of others, such as biofuels, that should not be discarded, a scientist from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), told EURACTIV.com on the sidelines of COP24 in Katowice.
COP24: Options to decarbonise transport
Transport is the only sector of the economy whose GHG emissions are increasing globally, scientists have warned.
EU’s renewable energy law not meant to support farmers, official admits
The updated renewable energy directive was not meant to support European farmers, but rather promote green energy in whatever form as long as it complies with sustainability criteria, a European Commission official has said.
BAT: Need for a ‘consistent’ science-based view on e-cigarettes
The public health community needs to adopt a consistent science-based view on new generation tobacco products in order to properly inform regulators around the world and thereby shape a stable framework, James Murphy, the head of Reduced Risk Substantiation at British American Tobacco (BAT) told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Mitsotakis calls on Greek parties to reject Macedonia name change deal
The leader of the main Greek opposition party, New Democracy (EPP), called on Wednesday (5 December) on Greek political parties to block the name change deal recently reached between Athens and Skopje after almost thirty years of dispute.
Commissioners urge for unity in closed-door discussion with top CEOs
Europeans must remain united ahead of the most crucial EU elections in history, high-ranking officials told top CEOs in a closed-door meeting held in Brussels last week, EURACTIV.com has learnt.
Romanian health minister: Prevention and innovative drugs to kill cancer
In order to face the rising cancer incidence across Europe, governments should prioritise prevention policies, as well as access to innovative medicines under an EU-wide plan, Romanian Health Minister Sorina Pintea told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Greek pharma boss: ‘We reached our limits, our sustainability is at stake’
The Greek pharmaceutical industry has reached its limits due to a number of “unreasonable” burdens imposed by the government during the crisis, Greek pharma chief Olympios Papadimitriou told EURACTIV.com in an interview. The sustainability of pharma companies is at stake, threatening 86,000 jobs, he said.
EU auditors insist the new CAP is unclear on climate goals measurement
The complementarity of the EU's post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy with climate change goals remains a big challenge because the objectives are vaguely defined and short on measurable details, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) told EURACTIV.com.
EPP’s Weber under pressure to break his silence over Macedonia name deal
Manfred Weber, the European People’s Party (EPP) Spitzenkandidat for the EU elections, has been silent over the name change deal reached this year between Athens and Skopje. The deal has been generally endorsed by the EPP but rejected by some of its members, including those from the two countries involved.
‘Progressive alliance’ moves a step closer ahead of EU elections
The leaders of the Social Democrats (S&D), Greens and leftist group (GUE/NGL) sat for the first time at the same table to discuss the possibility of a common strategy ahead of the EU elections in May to face down the rise of far-right and neoliberal forces.
EU official: Specific conditions will make agriculture spending more efficient
The new Common Agriculture Policy budget is moving towards a science-based approach, with most targets multidisciplinary in nature and requiring member states to come up with specific national approaches, a senior EU official told EURACTIV.com.
Expert: An ethanol plant is not just about ethanol
EU policymakers should recognise the multidimensional added value of ethanol plants, as they don’t produce only ethanol for fuel use but also proteins that are crucial for European agriculture, an expert told EURACTIV.com.
Greek law gives cleaner 10-year sentence for falsification
A cleaning lady in Greece has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for falsifying her primary school degree in order to find a job in the public sector, under a penal code article that has remained unchanged since 1950.
Stakeholders say digitisation key to optimise fertilisers’ use
The digitisation of Europe’s agricultural sector will play a crucial role in optimising the use of fertilisers in order to help feed a rising population and simultaneously to decrease their negative environmental footprint.
EU protein strategy: Commission working against Europe’s interest?
The European Commission’s recent report on the future of EU protein strategy is a “missed opportunity” as it ignores domestic biofuels production, the EU ethanol industry has said.
Greek minister: Refugees are the modern Jews, scapegoats of the crisis
Refugees and immigrants have become modern-day scapegoats for demagogues, who are turning a blind eye to the real causes of the crisis - rising inequalities, according to Greece's Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Georgios Katrougalos. EURACTIV.com reports from Athens.
The future of fertilisers in Europe
In light of the rising global population, the EU fertiliser industry has set a long-term vision by 2030. While fertilisers are essential in boosting plant growth and crop nutrition, there is also an environmental impact that needs to be addressed.
Can e-cigarettes help people quit smoking?
Electronic cigarettes and novel tobacco products have emerged as alternatives to traditional smoking, which is responsible for nearly 700,000 deaths every year in the EU.