Friends of the Earth Europe
A green bailout must put Europe’s energy poor first
To weather the COVID-19 crisis, Europe’s energy poor urgently need a green bailout – providing decent, zero-carbon homes for all, writes Clémence Hutin.Last year the EU slashed single-use plastics. Now it needs to do the same for all other resources
Last year the EU passed ambitious new laws to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics. That same thinking now needs to be applied to the economy as a whole, argues Meadhbh Bolger, saying Europe can get started by setting targets in its upcoming Circular Economy Action Plan.EU protein plan: will the cure be worse than the disease?
On 17 December, EU agriculture ministers will discuss ideas published by the European Commission to reduce the amount of unsustainable overseas soy imported into the EU – by growing more here, writes Stanka Becheva.UN’s latest stark climate report is proof the EU must end fossil fuel age
On Saturday, as top climate scientists were putting the final touches to the latest shattering UN report on climate science, thousands of people were protesting against the expansion of one of Europe’s biggest, dirtiest coalmines, writes Jagoda Munic.The EU needs to speak up to avoid ‘backdoor’ GMOs on our plates
When is a genetically modified organism (GMO) not a GMO? This is the question that the ECJ will soon rule on after a complaint from a coalition of French agriculture groups reached the EU’s highest court, writes Mute Schimpf.There’s no escape from the ‘economics of enough’
If we want to reduce the use of natural resources and energy in absolute terms, a sufficiency strategy is needed to complement the eco-efficiency and circular economy approaches, write Riccardo Mastini and Leida Rijnhout.UN Treaty negotiations: A chance for the EU to champion human rights
Would people still stop for a red traffic light or respect the speed limit if everyone knew they would not be fined? The same applies to corporate accountability, writes Anne van Schaik.Multilateral Investment Court: an utterly flawed and unjust system
The European Commission's plans for a Multilateral Investment Court sanctions a biased and ineffective arbitration system, leaving people and the environment exposed to international investors' whims, writes Fabian Flues.Juncker’s secret 6th scenario already exists
In March, President Juncker outlined his five scenarios for the future of Europe, which boiled down to a simple question: more or less of the status quo? His recent admission of a mysterious “sixth scenario” must mean a radical, sustainable, people-focused rethink of the European project, write Leida Rijnhout and Paul de Clerck.Future of Europe debate lacks vision one year after Brexit
One year after the Brexit referendum, the Juncker Commission has refrained from talking about ‘what kind of Europe’ citizens need and focused on narrow, uninspiring questions about levels of integration, writes Magda Stoczkiewicz.Commission must double efforts towards a sustainable financial system
The European Commission is taking steps towards a more sustainable financial system in Europe, but must double its efforts to create a truly resilient system that Europe needs, writes Anne van Schaik.A healthy environment means healthy citizens and a more vibrant EU
Europeans have some of the highest rates of anxiety, depression and other non-infectious diseases in the world. Today, on World Health Day, nature is an overlooked remedy, argues Magda Stoczkiewicz.Bayer-Monsanto’s ugly offspring
As safety watchdogs battle over just how toxic and dangerous Monsanto’s controversial weed-killer glyphosate actually is, the even more toxic half-brother from Bayer, glufosinate, is making a timely return, warns Mute Schimpf.