The EU and the US are currently negotiating a transatlantic trade agreement (known as TTIP) which has the potential to be the biggest bilateral free trade agreement in history. This paper outlines the risks the deal poses to crucial European social, health and environmental protection, including key food safety and pollution measures. Originally published in …
The European Parliament – what’s the point?
In May 2014 people in 28 countries across Europe will get the chance to vote for the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who will represent them in European Union decision making. This briefing explains what MEPs do, what powers they have, how the European Parliament works, and why anyone who cares about the local, national …
The EU Biofuel Policy and Palm Oil: Cutting subsidies or cutting rainforest?
This study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for Friends of the Earth Europe finds that Europe’s drivers are being forced to fill their tanks with increasing amounts of palm oil, with reliance on the controversial biofuel set to rise even further. According to the data, palm oil use has increased much more than …
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New code, old conduct?
This new report explores whether, a year before parliamentary elections, the risk of conflicts of interest (still) exists among those MEPs currently serving as elected representatives. The report examines the cases of individual MEPs who risk potential conflicts of interest. The findings suggest that clear risks of potential conflicts of interest remain, despite the introduction of a new ethics code …
Europe’s climate gap
This short briefing spells out the disconnect between climate science and EU action. The European Union has often repeated its commitment to limiting global warming to 2°C yet EU leaders are assuming a 50/50 chance of overshooting the 2°C limit. It includes recommendations for getting EU climate and energy policies to measure up to the scale of the problem. …
Glyphosate briefings: reason for concern
Glyphosate is the world’s best-selling weed killer and one of the most widely used herbicides in Europe. It is crucial for growing genetically modified (GM) crops, many of which are modified to withstand glyphosate. Concerns surround the safety of glyphosate particularly about its effect on human health, particularly on the hormone system, and its impact on the …
