Sarantis Michalopoulos
Commission open to ‘biodiversity clause’ to end glyphosate deadlock
The European Commission stands ready to insert a clause referring to biodiversity in the glyphosate renewal proposal if requested by member states, a Commission Spokesperson told EURACTIV.
Greece backtracks on ‘ineffective’ excise tax on wine
The Greek government will soon table an amendment to abolish excise duty on wine as it has not brought the desired financial results, Greek Minister for Agricultural Development and Food Evangelos Apostolou said.
Greenpeace director: CAP’s two-pillar structure has failed, we need a new contract
The direct payments pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy has too often wiped out the environmental benefits provided by parts of the rural development pillar, therefore real reform is needed to move the EU away from industrial farming practices, Greenpeace’s Marco Contiero told EURACTIV.com in an interview. Marco Contiero is Greenpeace's food and agriculture director. He …
New study relaunches controversy about biofuels and food prices
A new study commissioned by environmental NGOs found that the production of first generation biofuels has driven up food prices in Europe, running counter to the European Commission’s own data which found the impact of ethanol “negligible”.
The Brief: What happens when the Commission ‘fully respects’ a referendum outcome
European Commission boss Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday that if Catalonians vote “yes” in an independence referendum, he will respect it.
Greek minister: EMA bid shows drugs are a social good
Athens’ decision to claim the European Medicine Agency's relocation from London sends a message that medicine is “not just a commodity but a social good”, Greece’s Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs, Georgios Katrougalos, told EURACTIV.com.
EU mulls incentives for space technologies in farm controls
The European Commission is considering new proposals to encourage the use of technologies to monitor farm parcels receiving subsidies from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), an EU official told EURACTIV.com.
Amsterdam wants to revive talks on new plant breeding techniques
The Netherlands believes the new plant breeding techniques should not come under the GMO legislation as they are as safe as traditional breeding. It also insists that a discussion on the issue should be launched soon, even before the EU Court rules on the issue.
Macron urges Europeans not to push Greece toward non-EU investors
French President Emmanuel Macron urged EU member states on Friday (8 September) to show trust and make “European” investments in Greece in order to avoid pushing the debt-ridden Mediterranean country towards financial options outside Europe.
France testing waters on glyphosate with other EU states
France has sent emails to several diplomatic services in Brussels trying to find out what stance they will take in an upcoming vote on the re-authorisation of the controversial glyphosate weed killer, an EU diplomat told EURACTIV.com
Greece to impose country of origin labelling on milk in 2018
Greece plans to make country of origin labelling on milk mandatory from 2018, joining the growing trend of more precise food labelling in EU countries, which has angered the food industry.
Greece and Bulgaria sign ‘Sea2Sea’ project, hoping for EU funding
Sofia and Athens signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday (6 September) for the construction of a high-speed railway, hoping to attract foreign investment and establish strong links in a region historically known for divisions and antagonism between neighbours.
Rainfall and thefts put Greek mastiha production at risk
Unexpected summer rainfall, combined with a growing number of thefts, is jeopardising the production of the main ingredient of Greece's famous Mastiha liqueur both in quality and quantity.
EPP says no ‘hasty’ CAP reform before 2024
EXCLUSIVE / The European People’s Party (EPP) believes Brussels must first settle the UK's departure from the European Union and set a stable post-Brexit financial framework “before triggering discussions on the future reform" of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
Moscovici: Greek bailout was a ‘scandal’ for democratic procedures
The Eurogroup’s handling of Greece’s bailout programme was a scandal in terms of democratic processes, Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici insisted in an interview with Italian media.
Glyphosate ban will kill ‘conservation agriculture’, French farmers warn
Farmers in France have reacted strongly to Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot's intention to block the reauthorisation of glyphosate, pointing out the negative effects the ban would have on conservation farming, as well as increased overhead costs.
Legislators push smallholders to the heart of smart farming talks
Several EU lawmakers from the European Parliament's agriculture committee expressed their concerns on Wednesday (30 August) about the introduction of new technologies in farming, claiming that it might put smallholders at risk.
Greek FM visits Skopje to build trust for ‘substantial’ talks on name dispute
Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias will meet on Thursday (31 August) with politicians in Skopje in order to build up further trust between the two countries. But it’s still “early” for a discussion about the name dispute, diplomatic sources told EURACTIV.com.
Commission: Plain tobacco packaging does not damage the economy
A European Commission spokesperson has told EURACTIV.com that any loss in the tobacco industry’s turnover arising from health warnings or plain packaging should be offset against the cost of treating people with smoking-related diseases.
EU health chief says all alcoholic beverages should be labelled
The European Commission wants the industry's expected alcohol labelling self-regulatory proposal to cover all alcoholic beverages in order to avoid confusion among consumers.
Bulk tobacco smuggling increases, worrying OLAF and Commission
Illegal sale of fine cut tobacco is on the rise in Eastern and Southeastern Europe, depriving state budgets of millions of euros in unpaid taxes and causing concern in the EU's anti-fraud office, OLAF, and the European Commission.
Yara boss: Africa has major potential in future food security
Europe will remain an important supplier of agricultural goods in the future but the greatest untapped potential lies in Africa, which could become the “bread basket” for the rest of the world, the president of Yara, a multinational fertiliser and crop nutrition company, told EURACTIV.
Food industry upset over obligatory labelling of origin of pasta and rice
Italy's decision to impose mandatory labelling on pasta and rice packaging has triggered protests from the food industry, which has called on the European Commission to cancel the measure.
EU member states to take China to court over fake geographical indications
Eight member states of the European Union will take legal action against China over 25 counterfeit trademarks on the Chinese market that mislead consumers on the origin of products protected by the EU's geographical indications.