About: European Green Deal
Committee of the Regions welcomes Green group for the first time
For the first time, the EU's Committee of the Regions has enough Green members to form their own group. The group, who already met on Tuesday (11 February), is keen to have good relations with the other groups but also wants to "exert pressure". EURACTIV Germany reports.
Intensive farming, French court ruling and sugar tax
Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. Intensive farming and the Green Deal In a recent tweet, Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said that...
How the EU’s Green Deal could help trigger a historic EU-ASEAN trade deal
There has been much fanfare over the EU’s new Green Deal, a three-decade plan to make the EU climate neutral by 2050. Lauded as “revolutionary”, “visionary” and a “game-changer”, it has been applauded across the globe. Understandably so: the stated goals are nothing short of commendable, writes Teresa Kok.
New EU regions president: ‘Citizens feel left out from the European process’
Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EPP), the governor of Central Macedonia (Greece), has been elected as the new president of the European Committee of the Regions. He talked to EURACTIV about his main priorities, which include a bottom-up approach to shaping European policies as the only way to overcome the "democratic deficit".
Europe aims to make its food a global green standard, despite trade concerns
Ahead of a much-anticipated ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy to accompany the EU Green Deal, some EU policymakers say Europe’s food should be protected from American pressure.
Integrated pest management should be linked to CAP payments, say auditors
The European Commission has been unable to adequately measure and reduce either the effects or the risks from pesticides due to a lack of rigorous and suitable data, according to a new report from the European Court of Auditors, released on Wednesday (5 January).
Just Transition Fund to deepen Belgian debate over regional disparities
While 0.9% (€68 million) of the EU's Just Transition Fund is designated for Belgium, European Commission criteria for the fund could turn into a "financial hangover" for Flanders, Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) has warned, in a claim that threatens to deepen the debate about regional disparities in Belgium.
Renew Europe vows to break ‘taboos’ in EU agriculture
The centrist Renew Europe group in the European Parliament aims to “break taboos” in the agricultural sector, according to one of its Czech deputies, Martin Hlaváček.
Fighting fire with fire: pest control by playing nature at its own game
Biological pesticides are rapidly gaining attention as a sustainable and viable environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. However, they are currently hampered by maladapted regulation.
EU health chief wants more information on gene editing
The new EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides wants more information about the controversial issue of gene editing and for now, she seems less enthusiastic than her predecessor Vytenis Andriukaitis.
Industry’s pathway to more sustainable food systems
As the largest manufacturing sector in the EU, the food and drink industry will be a key stakeholder in the European Green Deal discussions, especially when it comes to the Farm to Fork Strategy. Hubert Weber, president of FoodDrinkEurope, outlines the food and drink sector’s route to more sustainable food systems.
Gene editing debate, perspectives on Green deal, avian flu
Welcome to EURACTIV's AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU.
France wants to ensure more young people benefit from CAP payments
Paris believes an age limit for receiving aid from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) would make room for young people in the farming sector. But Brussels does not see it that way, saying this would amount to age discrimination. EURACTIV France reports.
MEP: Green Deal should ensure EU food sector’s competitiveness
With the new European Green Deal, all actors across the food chain will need to adjust to new EU standards. But policymakers also have to make sure EU industry is protected against unfair competition, MEP Maria Spyraki told EURACTIV.com.
Germany launches ‘Green Central Asia’ initiative
A high-level ministerial conference in Berlin launched on Tuesday (28 January) the ‘Green Central Asia’ initiative, intended to support regional integration between the five Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who hosted the conference, stressed that...
EU farmers tread carefully on Green Deal, as balance with CAP is not easy stuff
Policymakers are being called to take up the challenge of finding a place for bloc’s farm aid provided under the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in the ambitious new environmental flagship policy of the European Commission.
Divided EU leaders to hammer out budget at February summit
European Union leaders meet next month in Brussels to try to agree a first post-Brexit longterm budget, with divisions over proposed cuts that could undermine defence and climate change ambitions.
Davos 2020 diary – day #4
Welcome to Davos where the 50th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is taking place on 21-25 January. Throughout the week, EURACTIV gives you a glimpse into one of the world’s most exclusive conferences where political and business leaders meet every year to discuss global economic trends.
Transforming society’s foundations in the green transition
Over the last century, the chemical, mining and metals, and energy industries have shaped the quality of our everyday lives. Now they will have to transform again as part of the green transition. Here's how, write Roberto Bocca and Roderick Weller.
Croatian farm minister: Getting transitional CAP done by mid-2020 on presidency’s radar
The Croatian EU presidency will focus its efforts on securing an agreement among member states on Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)'s transitional regulations that will extend the current rules for at least a year, Croatia's Agriculture Minister Marija Vučković told EURACTIV in an interview.
Von der Leyen vows a green, digital, geopolitical EU in Davos
Ursula von der Leyen made her international debut as the European Commission chief as she set out her political agenda before the global economic elite at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday (22 January).
Bioeconomy hype shouldn’t put biodiversity preservation at risk, experts say
While experts claim that Poland could become key for the EU’s bioeconomy, scientists are calling for the sustainable use of forest resources in energy production. EURACTIV Poland reports.
Towards a European Coking Coal and Steel Community?
When in the aftermath of the Second World War European leaders sought to build a common European future, the first thing they did was to pool the control over two of the most crucial building blocks of the European economy,...