About: Virginijus Sinkevičius
Austria leads pack in 2021 EU bathing water report, Poland lacks data
Austria, Germany, Malta, Greece, Denmark, Croatia and Cyprus can boast of 90% “excellent bathing water quality” as of the EU’s 2021 bathing water report. Overall, 84.8% of bathing sites across the bloc were rated excellent.
Industrial emissions proposal criticised by farming sector
Lawmakers and stakeholders close to the agriculture community accused the EU executive of being disconnected from reality and creating additional bureaucracy after presenting new rules to curb pollution in the industrial sector.
Commission to table green investment rules for gas and nuclear early next year
The European Commission plans to finish next year its long-awaited rules on whether to label gas and nuclear energy as climate-friendly investments under EU green finance rules, its environment policy chief said on Monday (20 December).
New German agri minister stresses forest protection at first EU meeting
During his first agriculture and fisheries council, new German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir presented himself as an advocate of climate protection and animal welfare as the ministers discussed measures against deforestation.
MEP Anna Fotyga: Dumped munitions pose threat to human health and blue economy
Europe’s destructive twentieth century conflicts resulted in thousands of tonnes of conventional and chemical munitions dumped into European waters. Now, more than ever, these dumped munitions must be cleared, says MEP Anna Fotyga.
Seabed activities raise risk of World War-era bombs detonating: Commissioner
Greater deep-sea economic activities have increased the risk of harm from munitions and chemical weapons dumped into European seas during the first and second world wars, EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius has said.
Europe proposes mandatory due diligence to stop deforestation in supply chains
The European Commission tabled its plan on Wednesday (17 November) to introduce mandatory due diligence for products sold on the EU market to make sure they are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation.
European cities must adapt to climate change, EU environment chief says
European cities need to adapt as global warming worsens, leading to more floods and fires on the continent, according to the European environment commissioner, speaking on Thursday (9 September).
Fisheries may hinder Europe’s offshore wind expansion
Europe’s offshore wind industry has reported high growth rates in 2020, but now that EU member states are putting the finishing touches on their maritime spatial plans, fisheries could put the brakes on the expansion. The offshore wind industry recorded...
Parliament signs off on EU fisheries fund, with lighter conditions for increasing fleet capacity
The European Parliament on Tuesday (6 July) gave the final green light to the post-2020 European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), the EU's main tool to support fishing communities, which will allow young fishermen to acquire their first fishing vessel.
Brussels in balancing act to gain EU support for battery regulation
The European Commission’s proposed battery regulation was alternatively branded too ambitious or too restricting at a meeting of EU environment ministers Thursday (11 June), highlighting the gap between the 27 member states on the issue.
A legal framework for soil protection is not in Commission’s pipeline
The European Commission on Wednesday (12 May) announced a set of measures to tackle soil pollution in the pipeline but without envisaging a dedicated and legally binding framework.
Commission’s ‘ambitious’ green battery proposal criticised during Council debate
EU countries expressed concern Thursday (18 March) that the European Commission’s sustainable battery proposal sets unworkable targets and deadlines and would increase bureaucratic costs for battery producers, raising the prospect that the legislation will require significant changes before entering into law.
Sinkevicius: ‘There can be no return to business as usual’ after the pandemic
There can be no return to business as usual after the pandemic and no amount of economic pressure should force us to compromise on people’s health and the health of our planet, Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said in an interview.
Sinkevicius: Batteries are essential to Green Deal ambitions
The European Union has ambitious plans to corner a significant chunk of the global battery market but how does a new strategy aimed at regulating chemicals management affect those objectives? Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius shared his views.
European air quality improves but still detrimental to health
Air quality has improved significantly across Europe over the past 10 years, but pollution still contributes to significant numbers of premature deaths, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
COVID-19 will not spell the end of EU’s cancer fight
The fight against cancer remains a cross-cutting priority for the EU although COVID-crisis has understandably diverted attention over the past few months.
Commission launches phase two of fight against hormone disruptors
After conducting a review of the current legislation on endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), the European Commission is now proposing a set of actions to step up its approach to these hazardous substances.
What’s in a name? Row over veg-meat name heats up in Europe
Welcome to EURACTIV's AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU.
Sinkevicius: COVID-19 cannot be an excuse to curb EU’s green ambition
Member states cannot use the COVID-crisis as an excuse to weaken the EU's environmentral and health protection efforts, European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV Italy in an exclusive interview.
From 10% to 30×30 – no time to waste for marine biodiversity
The EU's new Biodiversity Strategy will increase the EU’s network of marine protected areas, writes Virgilius Sinkevicius
Commission upholds highly ambitious targets to transform EU food system
After several delays, the EU's new flagship food policy was finally released on Wednesday (20 May), confirming the aspiration of the EU executive to transform the European way of producing, distributing and consuming food.
Sinkevicius: Commission’s measures bring relief to troubled EU fisheries
The new support mechanism for the temporary storage of fishery and aquaculture products for human consumption will foster greater market stability and reduce the risk of having such products wasted or redirected to non-human food purposes, Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.com