About: regulation
Soft drink makers back product reformulation as ‘healthier’ than taxation
Governments can steer consumers towards healthier choices by supporting the reformulation of food ingredients, rather than imposing "discriminatory" taxes, according to the soft drinks industry.
TTIP: Chevron lobbied for controversial legal right as ‘environmental deterrent’
Chevron lobbied the EU to give foreign investors the legal right to challenge government decisions in a major US-EU trade deal because it would act as a deterrent against laws such as fracking bans, the Guardian can reveal.
Germany’s Schäuble wants to rebalance EU Commission’s role
Germany's finance minister wants to correct the balance between the European Commission's political role and its regulatory powers, reflecting concern in Berlin over the EU executive's neutrality as its political clout grows.
Commission fleshes out energy strategy for Southeast Europe
As energy ministers of eight countries from Southeast Europe meet in Sofia today (9 February) to discuss the countries’ needs and ambitions, a leaked paper has shed light on the European Commission’s plans to help the region overcome its various problems.
EU seeks to break barriers for qualified professionals
The European Commission yesterday (2 October) kicked off an evaluation of national regulations on access to qualified professions in an attempt to smooth out divisions between member states over the controversial issue.
Commission defends suspension of credit ratings
The Commission yesterday (25 October) defended proposals to suspend the activity of ratings agencies when necessary, attracting severe criticism from the industry over the issue.
Eurobarometer: support for stronger regulatory coordination
Europeans increasingly want stronger EU-wide cooperation to tackle the financial crisis according to the latest Eurobarometer – a snapshot of opinion across the continent gauged in May this year – although faith in the ability of institutions to combat the crisis is ebbing.
European anti-terror measures to follow Norway attacks
The EU is set to introduce stringent tests to regulate the manufacture and sale of fertilisers and other materials used to make home-made bombs in the wake of Anders Behring Breivik’s mass murder in Norway last week (22 July).
Anti-tobacco campaign heralds new regulations
The European Commission is set to widen the scope of cigarette-trading rules to cover potentially harmful electronic cigarettes, flavourings and even marketing strategies, as part of a wider campaign launched yesterday (16 June) to urge Europeans to quit.
Europe, US clash with Asia on commodities regulation
Sharp differences emerged between EU-US and Asian policymakers over whether to regulate commodities trading during a policy debate at a European Commission-hosted conference on raw materials, held on Tuesday (14 June) in Brussels.
EU pushes for standardised rail IT booking system
The European Commission unveiled new rules on Thursday (5 May) intended to make it as easy for rail passengers to buy tickets and coordinate their travel plans as it is for air travellers.
Commission’s nano policy lost in definition
The European Commission's hesitance to define nanotechnology underscores diverging opinions among stakeholders and is causing uncertainty in the sector, it emerged this week.
Carbon trading disruptions continue as spot markets close
Bulgaria, Ireland and Norway will reopen their national emissions registries today but security doubts have led two carbon spot markets – Climex and APX-ENDEX – to close their operations for good.
EU lets financial watchdogs off the leash
An array of new European financial supervisory bodies designed to monitor and avert future economic crises on the continent have opened their doors for business.
Barroso’s bid for ‘smart regulation’ yet to convince SMEs
The European Commission's latest attempt to take up the mantle of improving EU legislation was released in a paper last Friday (8 October), but critics say a failure to address flaws in impact assessment pinpointed by the European Court of Auditors shows that reforms are losing momentum.
British think-tank says EU rules cost too much
Complying with European Union rules cost each British household £4,912 (€5,537) over the past 11 years though it fell last year as a proportion of total regulation costs, a study showed this week (30 March).
EU officials offered hotline for ‘clear writing’
The European Commission is seeking to kill off excessive legal speak by setting up a hotline that will give officials advice on how to write more clearly, it emerged at a conference in Brussels yesterday (17 November).
Brussels piles pressure on EU countries to slash red tape
The EU executive is turning the spotlight on European countries in its drive to cut red tape, effectively claiming that Brussels has kept its end of the bargain in reducing the burden on businesses.
Parliament opens enquiry into financial crisis
As the European Parliament inaugurated its brand new special committee on the financial crisis, Wolf Klinz, the panel's chair, warned fellow lawmakers that "we must be prepared to have our own views on the degree of European regulation challenged". He spoke to EURACTIV in an interview.
Barroso seizes control of ‘Better Regulation’ agenda
Brussels' bid to slash red tape by 25% is to be controlled by the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, as part of a shakeup of commissioners' portfolios.
Pressure mounts over hedge funds directive
With pressure mounting over a European Commission proposal on hedge funds and private equity, French pro-regulation MEP Jean-Paul Gauzès has been nominated to steer the controversial draft through the European Parliament.
Small businesses ‘still grappling’ with EU regulatory maze
A growing number of small businesses are in danger of inadvertently breaking the law due to the proliferation of regulations, many of which are contradictory, Tina Sommer, president of the European Small Business Alliance, told EURACTIV in an interview.
EU assembly adopts rules to cut insurance risks
The European Parliament adopted new rules yesterday (22 April) to cut risk in the insurance sector and better protect policyholders.