About: Julie Girling

Endocrine disruptors drop the curtain on this European Parliament

On Thursday (18 April), the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution asking the European Commission to ensure a higher level of protection against endocrine disruptors (EDCs) by making a legislative proposal on the matter no later than June 2020.

Post-Brexit Gibraltar border could become pawn between UK and Spain, says MEP Girling

Despite Theresa May's efforts to salvage her "more than imperfect Brexit deal", any serious business or government should now consider a no-deal exit as a real possibility and prepare for it, British MEP Julie Girling told EURACTIV.com.

EU ‘fully committed’ to ending animal testing, insists Commissioner

The EU remains “fully committed” to phasing out testing on animals, Internal Market and Industry Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska told delegates at the annual conference of the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to animal testing on 20 November.

Never mind ‘hard’ or ‘soft’, Brexit must not be brutal on youth

Never mind ‘hard’ or ‘soft’, an Italian MEP has warned against a ‘brutal’ Brexit.

EU’s carbon market update clears final hurdle

The Council of the EU has given the final stamp of approval to an update to the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), which hopes to help the bloc cut emissions by 40% by 2030.

Benefits of EU carbon market reform for UK clouded by Brexit ‘uncertainty’

A recent vote in favour of reforming the EU's carbon market is a "strong signal" that energy-intensive businesses should accelerate decarbonisation processes, although the European Parliament's rapporteur on the reform has warned that Brexit will act as high-profile distraction. EURACTIV’s partner edie.net reports.

Parliament rubber-stamps EU carbon market reform

European lawmakers voted in favour of a deal to reform the EU’s carbon market after 2020 on Tuesday (6 February), as well as bolstering prices in the bloc’s flagship tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Julie Girling MEP: ‘Most of us look for evidence that supports our own opinions’

When coming up with policy, EU officials and lawmakers have a variety of sources to call upon for scientific advice. But how useful is the information and how effective is the system in place? Julie Girling explained how she uses evidence in her day-to-day life as an MEP.

More transparency needed in science, as experts take fight to the ‘flat-earthers’

There have been big changes in the way the EU institutions receive and use scientific advice but concerns remain that there is still not enough transparency in the process.

Britain risks losing green protections after Brexit

A coalition of the UK's leading environmental groups says there is a “significant risk” that British environmental protections will be reduced after Brexit, despite the government’s positive rhetoric. EURACTIV's partner The Guardian reports.

MEPs give international flights respite from EU carbon fees until 2021

The European Parliament approved on Wednesday (11 September) a plan to keep commercial flights in and out of Europe exempt from the EU's carbon emission controls until 2021, in a move likely to be welcomed by the aviation industry.

MEPs fear exposure to radioactive ‘Fukusushi’ if EU relaxes Japan import controls

The European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) adopted on Thursday (7 September) a resolution condemning the Commission’s plans to relax controls on the radioactivity of Japanese food and feed imports following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

MEPs back pollution rules in bid to save 200,000 lives a year

The European Parliament today (23 November) voted in favour of new EU rules to cap air pollution, which will curb the single largest environmental cause of premature death in urban Europe.

UK MEPs warn Brexit will damage NHS

If the UK leaves the EU, there will undoubtedly be consequences for the National Health Service and public health ― and mostly for the worse, warn a cross-party selection of British MEPs.

EU emissions limits for agricultural gases face uncertain future

SPECIAL REPORT / Efforts to cap agricultural emissions harmful to both the environment and human health face fierce opposition and tough negotiations before they can finally become EU law.

MEPs clash over baby food

A split European Parliament on Wednesday (20 January) rejected the draft EU rules which allow baby foods to provide 30% of their energy from sugar.

Building towards a circular economy in construction

The European Commission's Circular Economy Package, ditched last year and due to be relaunched this week, has already been delayed too long, writes Julie Girling. The delay will only be worth it if the new proposal is strong enough on building waste.

Women still only earn 80p for every pound a man is paid

Wednesday (4 November) marks a sad day for working women across the United Kingdom, writes Julie Girling.

Farming lobby to MEPs: We will quit EU if emissions capped

EXCLUSIVE / Europe’s farming lobby has warned MEPs the industry will quit the European Union if they vote to cap agricultural gas emissions in a crunch vote this Wednesday (28 October) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Spectre of better regulation haunts air pollution bill

A British Conservative member of European Parliament yesterday (15 July) took the unusual step of voting against her own report, after MEPs in the Environment Committee backed stronger air pollution limits.

Let’s tackle air pollution at all levels, starting now with the NEC Directive

The European Parliament’s environment committee should be ambitious when it votes on the National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive next week, write Lot van Hooijdonk and Karen Vancluysen.

Environment ministers want flexible air pollution targets

Environment ministers on Monday (15 June) demanded flexibility in meeting EU air quality targets, after dropping a cap on methane emissions from draft pollution rules.

Governments ditch EU methane limits

National governments have axed methane emission caps to fight climate change and protect public health from draft European Union air pollution rules, ahead of a meeting of environment ministers on Monday (15 June).