News
US objects to EU-China quality food labelling pact
Trade agreement between Beijing and Brussels on geographical indications is likely to stumble on registered trademarks and US meddling. EURACTIV Italy reports.
Macron on course for clashes with unions over labour reform
The French government this week entered the home straight in its preparation for labour market reform. This flagship project of Emmanuel Macron’s young presidency will provide an explosive end to the summer holidays. EURACTIV’s partner La Tribune reports.
Poland seeks EU aid as deadly storm clean-up starts
Poland is seeking EU aid to help clean up the aftermath of powerful summer storms that killed six people in mid-August, damaged thousands of homes and destroyed large swathes of forests in the Eastern European country.
Spanish MEP wants ‘migration-style’ controls on food imports at the EU border
Spanish Partido Popular MEP Esther Herranz wants to harmonise the EU's border controls to protect food and plant products and prevent pests. EURACTIV’s partner EFEAgro reports.
France and Italy seek operator to manage trans-Alpine line
Italy and France are dusting off plans for a rolling highway that only carries 2% of trucks through the Alps. EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Carbon capture and storage: Norway still top of the class
Norway’s energy giant Statoil is developing a project to store imported industrial CO2 emissions under the sea. Companies in the UK would like to benefit from the technology. EURACTIV’s partner Journal de l’Environnement Reports.
Europe’s reliance on gas imports in spotlight as coal’s decline continues
Electricity produced from natural gas has matched power generated from coal in OECD countries. But Europe’s gas self-sufficiency dropped below 50% for the very first time as well.
Italy pushes for deeper European cooperation on terrorism
Italy's justice minister says Europe must deepen judicial cooperation in the face of growing terrorist threats. EURACTIV’s partner Milano Finanza reports.
12 European heads of state in 10 days: Macron’s diplomatic tour de force
The French president will meet 12 European heads of state in the coming 10 days during seven meetings. EURACTIV France reports.
Deadly quake on Ischia exposes inaction on Italy’s illegal homes
A small but deadly earthquake on the Italian holiday island of Ischia exposed a deep political fault line yesterday (22 August) over the country's proliferation of unsafe, illegal housing.
Researchers: Saudi-led coalition is responsible for Yemen’s health crisis
Severe food and medical shortages caused by two years of devastating war are having a major impact on everyday life in Yemen, where thousands of children starve to death, researchers have warned, pointing out the responsibility of Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine sees itself victim of Russian ‘provocation’ in North Korea missile row
Ukraine called allegations about the use of Ukrainian technology in the North Korean missile program a “Russian provocation” on Tuesday (22 August).
UK outlines plans to break free of European Court after Brexit
The British government will outline its plans on Wednesday (23 August) to escape the "direct jurisdiction" of the European Court of Justice after Brexit, one of Prime Minister Theresa May's main aims in talks to unravel 40 years of European Union membership.
Dangerous global warming unstoppable without geo-engineering, says study
The international community has already missed its chance to limit global warming to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius, according to a new study by Switzerland-based researchers. But a solution to the problem could lie in geo-engineering technologies.
Schäuble preparing EU bailout fund reform proposal
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is working on a proposal that would allow southern eurozone countries to tap into the single currency bloc's bailout fund to boost investments during recessions, a newspaper reported on Wednesday (23 August).
Commission launches in-depth probe of Bayer-Monsanto merger
The European Commission has launched an "in-depth" investigation into the proposed merger of global agriculture giants Monsanto and Bayer, amid concerns that it may create too high a concentration and disrupt competition in the areas of pesticides and seeds.
EU farmers demand action on unfair trading practices
Europe’s agri-cooperatives called on the Commission on Tuesday (22 August) to increase transparency in the food supply chain and enact EU legislation to protect food producers from the unfair trading practices of their economically stronger partners.
EU’s leftists accuse Estonian Presidency of playing political games
The Estonian Presidency is holding an informal ministerial conference in Tallinn on Wednesday (23 August) under the title “The Heritage in 21st Century Europe of the Crimes Committed by Communist Regimes".
Spain maintains terrorist alert level, heightens security
Spain has kept its current terrorist alert level unchanged but has moved to heighten security in tourist areas, following the terrorist attacks in Catalunya that killed 15 people and injured about 100 more. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Forest fires hit five-year record in Spain
Fires in Spain burnt 75,026 hectares of forest land in the current year, topping European charts for loss of land to fires. EURACTIV's partner EFEAgro reports.
British hepatitis outbreak linked to imported sausages
Thousands of shoppers may have caught the hepatitis E virus from pork products sold by a British supermarket, an investigation by Public Health England (PHE) has revealed.
Merkel hits out at predecessor in Russia row before election
German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised her predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, on Monday (21 August) for taking a new job at Russian oil producer Rosneft and said she did not intend to take any posts in industry once she leaves politics.
EFTA makes available its own court to solve disputes after Brexit
The court of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) could present a way-out for Britain as it seeks a new authority to arbitrate in disputes after it leaves the European Union, the president of the court said on Monday (21 August).
Czechs may seek observer seat at beefed-up Eurogroup
The Czech Republic may try to get an observer seat at the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers if its decision-making powers are boosted under plans to reshape the European Union, the foreign minister said on Monday (21 August).