Belgium

Europe News

Final plenary and farmers: Newsletter

This week's key events presented by senior health and food reporter Gerardo Fortuna

22/04/2024

Green News

Launch of energy efficiency coalition seeks to fill investment gap

Implementation of EU laws to slash energy use and increase efficiency in the bloc’s building stock will require a great amount of financing, according to EU officials.

22/04/2024

Tech News

TikTok subject to DSA investigation over Lite app, faces suspension

The video sharing platform needs to provide a risk assessment by tomorrow.

22/04/2024

Green News

Belgium issues ultimatum over energy tax reform

A revision of a law setting minimum levies for fuels and electricity promised to bring an end to the era of tax-free energy for airlines and ship operators, but reform has been stalled for years, with EU governments unable to agree on how to update the 20-year-old Energy Taxation Directive.

22/04/2024

Europe News

ECB queries Apple’s promise to open up iPhone payments

Central bankers say pro-competition reforms still wouldn’t ensure seamless service for their new digital euro.

22/04/2024

Health news

Commission approves superbug-busting antibiotic

The European Commission today (22 April) authorised a new antibiotic designed to counter anti-bacterial resistance, one of the biggest health threats the EU is currently facing.

22/04/2024

Tech News

Chatbots providing 'unintentional' misinformation ahead of EU election

Google has introduced more restrictions after a new study showed Europe's most used AI chatbots were providing inaccurate election-related answers.

22/04/2024

Green News

How green are parties' manifestos vying in the European election?

Some political forces present concrete pledges while others offer general commitments to preserve the environment, keep up with the energy transition and tackle chemical and plastic pollution.

20/04/2024

Brussels, My Love?

Brussels, my love? The EU single market is not sexy enough for voters

In this edition, panellists reflect on the woes of the EU single market in the context of a shrinking European economy. They also zoom in on Europe's drinking culture and give their views on taxing the rich.

20/04/2024

Tech News

Meta, TikTok, X invited to stress-test DSA election guidelines

Companies will work through possible scenarios such as a disinformation campaign that aims to undermine the EU vote.

19/04/2024

Europe News

Shipping firms plead for UN help amid escalating Middle East conflict

The world's shipping industry has called on the United Nations to provide military protection for vessels operating in the Middle East after the latest seizure of a container ship by Iran, although much commercial traffic between Asia and Europe has already been re-routed around Africa.

19/04/2024

Green News

Watchdog urges caution on reducing Russian LNG imports to the bloc

Drop in domestic production and long-term contracts highlight the importance of keeping Russian gas, EU energy agency warns.

19/04/2024

Tech News

France requests legal opinion on cyber certificate, postponing deal

An agreement could come in the next expert meetings in May or June.

19/04/2024

Health news

Nestlé shareholders push for more healthy offerings fails

Shareholders called to increase the number of healthy foods in a resolution voted today (18 April) in the company's Annual General Meeting amid a scandal on high sugar baby foods.

18/04/2024

Healthcare

Letta report highlights need for stronger healthcare sector

Strengthening health resilience is one of the pillars of Enrico Letta’s report on the Single Market to be presented to EU leaders during the special European Council in Brussels today (18 April).

18/04/2024

Europe Decoded

If not Ursula, then who? Seven in the wings for Commission top job

The Commission chief post will be put up for grabs after the EU elections. Who might be the other options to Ursula von der Leyen?

18/04/2024

Europe News

How will the next European Parliament work differently?

New ‘super’ committees, more inquiry powers over Commissioners, and attempts to avoid apparently deserted meetings are novel features planned for the next Parliament.

18/04/2024

Europe News

EU leaders under pressure to bolster Ukraine’s struggling air defences

The EU’s 27 leaders face mounting pressure to step up efforts to protect Ukraine’s skies from Russian airstrikes, after President Zelenskyy took a jab at Western allies’ "flagging political will" over the weekend.

17/04/2024

Tech News

Paid ad-free platforms should not be default option, watchdogs say

Opinion comes after Meta introduced its consent or pay model last October.

17/04/2024

Green News

Use of harmful chemicals growing, agencies find

New joint-assessment puts the spotlight on chemical pollution while NGOs urge EU officials to tackle the issue in the upcoming mandate.

17/04/2024

Belgium

Call for release of Swedish prisoner on anniversary of Iran detention

Johan Floderus was arrested at Tehran airport in 2022, and has had limited family contact and consular access since being imprisoned.

17/04/2024

Green News

Critical raw materials: how the EU hopes to secure supplies

If Russia's war on Ukraine shocked Europe into realising the folly of its dependence on Moscow for gas suppplies, growing geopolitical uncertainty has forced the EU to consider where it sources the raw materials, from copper to rare earth metals, needed for the energy transition.

17/04/2024

Tech News

TikTok questioned over its Lite app launched in France and Spain

The European Commission opened a formal probe into the video sharing app under the DSA last February.

17/04/2024

Tech News

EU migrant pact ushering in 'deadly new era of digital surveillance'

The warning from a coalition of European digital rights groups comes after years-long deadlock was broken with the polarising new legislation.

17/04/2024

Belgium

Court allows nationalist gathering to proceed, organisers say

The first day of the NatCon meeting of hard-right European nationalists was disrupted when police moved in to try and shut it down.

17/04/2024

Culture news

And the LUX Audience Award goes to... 'The Teachers' Lounge'

German director Ilker Çatak was awarded the 2024 LUX European Audience Film during a ceremony at the EU Parliament.

16/04/2024