Sarantis Michalopoulos
Report finds serious East-West divide in cancer handling in Europe
A new survey conducted by the Central and Eastern European Cancer Action Group (CEECAG) has found severe shortcomings in managing cancer incidents in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), whose “young brains” increasingly move to the west.
The Brief – Don’t ‘protect’ the EU way of life. Improve it!
When European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen announced the portfolios of the new EU executive this week, one could have expected reactions related to hot potatoes such as energy or economy. Instead, something unexpected took the spotlight.
Netherlands mulls end to used cooking oil double-counting
An analysis of the “weak” points of the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), combined with the results of an ongoing criminal investigation, will determine whether it is possible to end double-counting of used cooking oil (UCO) in energy used in transport, a Dutch spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
EU farmers urge new Commission to lift barriers for innovative tools
The European Commission is in an important position to enable EU farmers to use modern technologies in the fight against climate change, Pekka Pesonen, Secretary-General of the EU farmers and cooperatives' association (Copa-Cogeca), told EURACTIV.com.
Greece’s Schinas in charge of ending fragmentation of critical EU policies
Greece’s nominee as its next European Commissioner, Margaritis Schinas, will get one of the vice-presidencies in the new EU executive and will be responsible for 'Protecting our European Way of Life, President-elect Ursula von der Leyen said on 10 September.
The Brief – How the outgoing Cypriot Commissioner got burnt
The moral of the following story is that, even in Brussels, you can get easily burnt if you stick your neck out and forget where you came from. The latest to find that out appears to have been Commissioner Christos Stylianides.
The Brief – Berlaymont’s rumour mill
As the moment edges closer for Ursula von der Leyen to unveil her new Commission on Tuesday (10 September), the Brussels rumour mill has shifted into overdrive. In this Brief, EURACTIV analyses some initial lists that have been circulating in Brussels.
EU Commission politics intensifies Greek row over competition post
Sensitive party politicking in the run-up to the appointment of the next European Commission has further escalated an already intense debate in Greece over a new law under which members of an independent competition authority have been ousted.
Greek government vows to push vaccination after measles shock
Greece's new conservative government plans to take action to increase vaccination rates, following fresh World Health Organisation data that suggests measles has re-appeared in the country.
EPP MEP: Eastern Germany puts grand coalition to the test
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Despite warnings, Europe still severely exposed to measles
Although awareness and EU coordination on vaccination has increased, Europe is still experiencing an embarrassingly severe measles’ outbreak.
Bulgaria mulls a simplified VAT system to boost local fruits and vegetables
The Bulgarian government is planning to boost production of local fruits and vegetable by introducing a new VAT reimbursement system, local media quoted Deputy Minister of Agriculture Chavdar Marinov as saying.
Europe on high alert as deadly pig disease sweeps through Asia
EU member states should apply strict biosecurity measures to combat African Swine Fever (ASF), a deadly pig disease which started spreading through Asia and Eastern Europe, an EU spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
Greece ends capital controls after 50 months
The Greek government fully lifted the capital controls introduced during the crisis in 2015 on Monday (26 August), in a sign of its growing economic confidence following the end of the bailout programme last year.
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.