Brussels, March 20 – Today marks the first anniversary of the ‘cash-for-amendments’ scandal, in which several Members of the European Parliament were exposed tabling legislative amendments in exchange for money [1]. Ethics campaigners warn that the new code introduced since the scandal does not include all the safeguards necessary to prevent another ‘lobbygate’. The Alliance …
Poland blocks EU climate progress
Brussels, March 9 – Targets for cutting climate-changing emissions by 2050 were discussed by Europe’s environment ministers in Brussels today but no agreement was reached after Poland rejected a compromise deal. The failure means Europe will be less likely to be able to prevent catastrophic climate change, according to Friends of the Earth Europe. The …
New threat of GM crops
Brussels, March 9 – The European Union could face a barrage of new genetically modified (GM) crops following the failure today by environment ministers to reach an agreement on new rights for countries to ban GM cultivation, claims Friends of the Earth Europe. With six applications [1] to grow new GM crops in the pipeline, …
Climate action must not be postponed, ministers told
Brussels, March 8, 2012 – Proposals for how Europe might tackle climate change over the next 40 years are on the agenda of a meeting of Europe’s environment ministers tomorrow (March 9) in Brussels. Environment group, Friends of the Earth Europe, is warning ministers not to postpone the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets – …
Climate action must not be postponed, ministers toldRead more
Parliament confirms support for energy savings
Brussels, February 28 – The European Parliament’s Energy Committee (ITRE) voted today in favour of binding legislation to deliver Europe’s target of 20% energy savings by 2020. MEPs from all major parties reached an agreement to strengthen plans to reduce Europe’s energy use [1] by supporting a binding 20% target and recommending tougher measures to …
Fifty years of the European agricultural policy
Brussels, 23 January 2012 –The European Commission launches its 50th anniversary of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) campaign today [1]. However, with farmers and biodiversity disappearing, hunger and social inequalities increasing and food safety compromised, civil society groups are calling on the European Institutions to use the ongoing CAP reform to undertake a radical overhaul …
