About: Virginijus Sinkevičius
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
No needless overlap between F2F and circular economy plans, Sinkevicius says
EU environment chief Virginijus Sinkevičius insists there will be no unnecessary overlap between the new circular economy plan and the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F), as new EU food policy will be focused more on the agricultural and food production side.
EU unveils circular economy plan 2.0, drawing mixed reactions
The European Commission unveiled its new circular economy action plan on Wednesday (11 March), confirming the EU’s intention of halving municipal waste by 2030, and suggesting to offer consumers a new “right to repair” for computers and smartphones.
Sinkevicius: Dealing with PFAS chemicals in revised tap water rules was a ‘great move’
The inclusion of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) into the EU's Drinking Water Directive was a step forward that showed the EU's commitment to address these chemicals, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.
Sinkevicius: EU aims to ensure viable food packaging recycling by 2030
The Circular Economy Action Plan and the Farm to Fork strategy (F2F) have the same overarching objective of reducing unsustainable resource use by promoting sustainable production and consumption and reducing waste generation, Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius told EURACTIV.
Arctic countries puzzled about EU’s engagement in the region
Three years after the EU adopted its Arctic Policy, it is preparing work on a new strategy document. But countries in the region are confused about what the bloc really wants. Last December, the Council of Ministers under Finnish leadership,...
Vella: EU leadership on oceans governance is a priority for my successor
The EU's outgoing Fisheries Commissioner, Karmenu Vella, warned that climate change and biodiversity loss were putting the earth's ecosystems dangerously close to a tipping point, and pleaded for his successor to carry on the International Ocean Governance (IOG) put in place during his five-year mandate.
MEPs have high hopes for the EU’s new food policy
Lawmakers in the European Parliament expect an ambitious Commission's proposal on the new EU long-term and integrated food policy, that ensures safe, quality and affordable foodstuffs to all European citizens but without harming actors in the food supply chain.
SMEs could lead the change in new EU food policy, MEP said
Europe's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should have a role in delivering the new Farm to Fork strategy, a comprehensive EU food policy outlined by incoming Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl.