Belgium

Green News

Brussels seeks to lower protection for Europe’s 20,000 wolves

The European Commission has proposed downgrading the protection status of wolves, potentially paving the way for hunting and localised culls.

20/12/2023

Belgium

Russia threatens Moldova and Baltics, warns Belgian army chief

The Chief of Defence used an interview to emphasise that Europe needs to be prepared and vigilant.

20/12/2023

Sport

Court ruling in Super League case puts sports status in play

Much-anticipated final verdicts from the EU’s highest court this week involving the abortive bid to establish a Super League are expected to shed light on the future of European football as well as the ‘constitutional’ position of sports in the EU Treaties.

20/12/2023

Green News

Electric cars targeted in update of vehicle pollution limits

Environmental groups blame auto industry lobbying for a freeze in limits on exhaust pollution, but electric cars are now targeted with restrictions on particulate matter from brakes and tyres.

19/12/2023

Green News

Commission dismisses ‘unfounded’ NGO request to review 2030 emissions targets

Efforts by climate NGOs to increase national ambitions shunned by EU executive.

18/12/2023

Green News

Governments agree response to surge in packaging waste

Environment ministers secured several concessions before agreeing a joint position on legislation designed to reduce the amount of packaging material discarded annually, prompting the Netherlands' Vivianne Heijnen to warn against any further “watering down".

18/12/2023

Green News

ROUNDUP: Key environment and energy votes in parliament

The European Parliament plenary of 2023 in Strasbourg from 11-14 December saw the legislature wave through a new law designed to reduce Europe’s geopolitically precarious dependence on China for essential raw materials, and a trio of resolutions on green themes.

18/12/2023

Belgium

Germany's Scholz gets Orbán to leave room for decision on Ukraine

As this month's European Summit draws to a close, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz admitted that it was him who convinced his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orbán to leave the Council room temporarily during discussions on Ukraine - but Scholz noted that this cannot be a "universal solution".

16/12/2023

Brussels, My Love?

Brussels, my love? Spanish presidency slams political right as it ends

In this edition, we head to Strasbourg to rate Spain's six-month presidency of the Council of the EU and break down the landmark deal reached on the rights of platform workers.

16/12/2023

Health news

Lawmakers stitch wounds over blood, plasma donations in human substances deal

MEPs and EU ministers have reached a political agreement on new rules to improve safety for donors and recipients of blood, tissue, and cells, updating quality standards set more than 20 years ago.

15/12/2023

Belgium

Belgian government announces incoming ban on laughing gas

The ban will impact the recreational use of nitrous oxide, which will still be available for medical and culinary purposes.

15/12/2023

Business

Plans to tax Airbnb, Uber stutter

The online holiday rental service has cut a deal with Italian authorities, but a wider reform of EU tax rules is stuck

15/12/2023

Green News

US gas imports set to spike amid Russia sanctions, new facilities

Former Energy Commissioner touts growing US role as energy supplier to EU

15/12/2023

Green News

Coal gets free pass under electricity market reform

Poland, backed by France and Bulgaria, won its lobbying campaign for a coal exemption.

14/12/2023

Healthcare

Lead legislator hails EU Parliament’s mental health resolve

The European Parliament has called for an EU strategy on mental health in its first such resolution, Euronews discussed the societal ‘paradigm shift’ required on the issue with the leading lawmaker on the file.

14/12/2023

Green News

Firms face sanctions over harmful impact of business partners

Firms operating in the EU will in future be held accountable for the environmental damage and human rights abuses caused by their suppliers and business partners, under a newly agreed law on corporate due diligence.

14/12/2023

Green News

Auditors question potential of biofuels to tackle transport emissions

A lack of production capacity and access to sufficient sustainable feedstock means policy makers should not depend too much on biofuels to slash greenhouse gas emissions from transport, EU auditors have warned.

13/12/2023

Economy

Euroviews. Macron’s climate hypocrisy will sink us all

Earlier this year, banks got a free pass from EU rules that would have helped stop them from investing in deforestation. Now it looks like they are about to pull off the same trick — largely thanks to pushback from the French government, Aurelie Skrobik writes.

13/12/2023

Green News

Finland and Italy seek to hinder restrictions on single-use packaging

Two EU nations threaten to weaken reuse and waste targets ahead of next week's gathering of EU ministers in Brussels

13/12/2023

Health news

West Nile virus on the rise in Europe, finds authority

While it is only the third most reported disease transmitted from animals to humans, infections by mosquitos carrying the West Nile virus are growing in the EU, according to the EU Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

12/12/2023

Europe News

Brussels rows back on plan to tax frozen Russian assets

Seizing the money in retaliation for the Ukraine war could breach international law, officials worry

12/12/2023

Economy

Euroviews. CSDDD is the make-or-break moment for the EU's sustainability pledges

How can we justify requiring companies to consider and mitigate sustainability-related risks and harms, but allow financial institutions to neglect them entirely? The question now lies in the hands of the EU negotiators, Isabella Ritter and Uku Lilleväli write.

12/12/2023

Economy

Thousands protest in Brussels for better wages and services

Critics of the EU's proposed Stability and Growth pact say the policy would lead to austerity, job losses and lower wages.

12/12/2023

Europe News

Euroviews. Ukraine's EU path matters for the credibility of European integration

What the European Summit says about Ukraine is not only vital for the credibility of the enlargement process but also for the future of the entire European integration project and its ability to secure the freedom, security and prosperity of us all, nine Trustees of Friends of Europe write.

12/12/2023

Green News

Agriculture ministers reject compromise over GM crop regulation reform

The EU Council has rejected a Spanish bid to forge a joint position on a proposed deregulation of genetically modified (GM) crops produced using new genomic techniques (NGTs), with governments voicing concerns over safety, labelling and social acceptance.

11/12/2023

Economy

Thousands expected to protest EU austerity measures in Brussels

Protesters fear a raft of new EU financial rules could push member states into austerity.

11/12/2023