About: Janez Poto?nik
Biostimulants take centre stage in EU push for green fertilisers
The review of the European Union's Fertilisers Regulation will promote innovative products such as biostimulants, in an effort to help agriculture take the turn of the circular economy.
Potocnik: Farmers and consumers ‘equally responsible’ for agricultural transformation
Every food producer should help make agriculture sustainable, Janez Potočnik told EURACTIV.com.
Report says EU was warned of vehicle emissions rigging in 2013
The European Union's top environmental official warned his colleagues that automakers were rigging European emissions tests in 2013, long before the scam was uncovered last month, the Financial Times reported on Sunday (25 October).
Old Commissioners, new revolving doors
Only three months after the Barroso II Commission left office, some prominent members have already made moves in their professional careers which are putting to test the EU executive’s policy on revolving doors, writes Vicky Cann.
If Bulc is nominated, the next Dan Brown novel should be about the Brussels bubble
Some Europeans are deeply respectful of European institutions and serious about the jobs of the persons that lead it. It is a valuable project that brought peace, prosperity and democracy to the continent. It deserves full support. On the other hand, the Slovenian centre-left was cheering to the song that refrains “Europe is a gang of thieves” [see related EURACTIV article].
Poto?nik may get fourth term
Current Slovenian Commissioner Janez Poto?nik could be the choice of Prime Minister Miro Cerar, replacing Alenka Bratušek, the only Juncker Commissioner-designate that MEPs rejected.
EU Commission drags its feet on food waste
High-level decision makers at the European Commission are blocking its very own action plan to address food waste and to promote a sustainable food policy for Europe. Saying sorry will surely not be enough, writes MEP Bart Staes.![Jason Anderson [SCORPIX - Patrick Mascart]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/07/jason_anderson_wwf_credit-p-mascart.jpeg)
DG Emissions Trading on its deathbed?
The future of the directorate-general for climate hangs on the line. What will the next European Commission do on emissions trading? They'll surely need to think outside the box, argues Jason Anderson.![An e-Waste collection centre in South America [Photo: Curtis Palmer, Flickr]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/10/e-waste.jpeg)
EU tables ‘circular economy’ package with zero-landfill goal
The European Commission issued proposals yesterday (2 July) to increase recycling and phase out landfilling, with a series of legally-binding measures aimed at nudging the EU towards a lean "circular economy".![A panel at this year's Green Week event in Brussels [Photo: Aline Robert]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/green_week.jpeg)
EU seeks common framework for Circular Economy
SPECIAL REPORT / Changing business models and throw-away habits may take time. The European Commission wants to speed up the process with binding targets for recycling and public procurement in a Circular Economy package expected in July.
Poto?nik: ‘Subsidies to energy and water use raise barriers to a circular economy’
SPECIAL REPORT / EU environment commissioner Janez Poto?nik contends that a circular economy model is not just a realistic goal for the EU, but is “inevitable”. Reducing Europe’s waste using “tried and tested” methods is going to be a key issue for the next Parliament's mandate.![An ecologic building in London, UK. [Giancarlo Liguori/Shutterstock].](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/eco_building_london._shutterstock.jpeg)
EU tables proposals to tackle ‘intertwined’ challenges in Europe, developing world
The European Commission tabled proposals on Monday (2 June) for tackling the “intertwined challenges of eliminating poverty” and “ensuring progress is sustainable”, in the EU's contribution to the post-2015 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).![The market in Brixton, London. [Flickr/firefightersdaughter].](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/05/brixton_market_flickr.jpeg)
Citizens not to blame for rising consumption, scholars say
Academics say there are limits to blaming European citizens for their high levels of consumption, arguing that a societal shift is necessary for the continent to achieve a sustainable ecological footprint.
Plastics industry ‘on right track’ to eliminate landfilling, EU says
SPECIAL REPORT / As the European Commission prepares to review the EU’s waste targets, the plastics industry, a symbol of the EU’s ‘throw-away society’, is one of the focal points in discussions on resource efficiency.
EU predicts ‘waste tsunami’ if world fails to cut down trash
The European Commission is preparing new policy proposals to reduce waste and reach greater recycling rates, in order to move towards a zero-refuse economy.Resource efficiency work must start now, not in 10 years
This spring the European Commission will publish a package on resource efficiency and the circular economy. This must include strong indicators on the EU’s use of resources and set a clear path to reduce the overconsumption of water, land, raw materials and carbon, writes Magda Stoczkiewicz. VideoPromoted content
MEPs want tougher sanctions over food fraud after horse meat scandal
One year after the horse meat scandal broke across Europe, the European Parliament on Tuesday called for more inspections of food production chains and tougher penalties for companies that commit food fraud. The controversy began last year when DNA tests revealed that some products sold across Europe were labeled as beef but in fact contained up to 100% horsemeat. VideoPromoted content
Commission unveils draft law to tackle Europe’s lethal air
The European Commission on Wednesday (18 December) unveiled a draft law to tackle air pollution, which every year is linked to 400,000 premature deaths in Europe and costs of tens of billions of euros.Circular economy calls on the EU to think globally, act locally
Poto?nik’s main legacy as European environment commissioner was to put resource efficiency and the circular economy on the EU agenda. But the EU is a big ship and turning it around is slow: whoever is next at the helm would be wise to anchor the circular economy in local action and proximity, writes Jori Ringman-Beck.
EU adopts seven-year environment strategy
EU ministers and MEPs have signed into law the seventh environment action programme, setting out the bloc’s long-term policy direction for the environment and climate.Ecolabels are part of the drive for a more resource-efficient Europe
The message that the EU is facing a resource crisis must finally be getting through, if the extensive media coverage of the Commission's adoption of Ecolabel criteria for toilets and urinals is to be believed. Sadly not, as many media simply saw a stick with which they could try to bash the EU with erroneous headlines about regulating toilet flushing or standardising toilets, writes Janez Poto?nik. VideoPromoted content
Commission seeks to cut plastic bag use
Nearly 100 billion plastic bags were used in the European Union in 2010. Over 8 billion were thrown away afterwards. Many of them end up in the sea posing a huge threat for marine life. In an attempt to tackle the plastic waste produced across the continent and its impact on sealife, Brussels presented proposals on Monday to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags. Under the new plan, member states will be encouraged to tax or even completely ban their use.![Plastic bag next to the A140 motorway in Suffolk, United Kingdom [Geograph Project]](https://www.euractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/04/plastic_bag.jpeg)
Brussels looks to cut plastic bag use
The European Commission has released a series of measures to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags in the European Union and limit the negative impacts on the environment.