Brussels, 11 February, 2008 – Palm oil production for food and agrofuels is resulting in widespread human rights abuses in Indonesia according to a report released today by a coalition of international environmental groups [1]. Losing Ground exposes the huge social problems being fuelled by EU targets to increase the use of agrofuels (often called …
European Parliament votes for strong law to stop illegal timber trade
Strasbourg, 22 April – This afternoon, the European Parliament voted to support an improved illegal timber law when a majority voted in favour of significant strengthening of the weak draft proposed by the European Commission last year. The European Commission disappointingly continued to defend its weak position during the plenary debate on Tuesday evening. Milieudefensie/Friends …
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EU votes to test all US rice imports
Brussels, 24th October – Friends of the Earth Europe has welcomed the decision to test all rice imports from the United States for genetically modified material before allowing them to enter the EU. EU member states voted for the tougher controls in a meeting of national food experts yesterday. [1] Reacting to the decision, Adrian …
Map of projects shows destructive potential of EU billions
Brussels, 16 April – CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe today warned that environmentally destructive and economically unsound projects, at a total cost of 23 billion euro, in the ten new member states of central and eastern Europe, may receive an ‘un-smart’ green light as the European Union seeks to rapidly deploy …
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Shell Neighbours Demand Justice
Brussels, 29th June – Communities living next door to the oil giant Shell presented today the report ‘Lessons not Learned – the other Shell Report 2004’ in the European Parliament. MEPs Richard Howitt (PES) and Claude Turmes (Greens) call for a more stringent EU policy on CSR, in advance of a planned European Commission communication …
Biotech industry withdraws GM foods
Brussels, March 20th, 2007 – The European Union is today discussing the official withdrawal by the biotech industry of five genetically modified (GM) foods and crops, including the first GM crop that was ever grown in Europe. [1] Friends of the Earth Europe has highlighted this as further proof that GM crops are failing. [2] …
