15 July 201414 July 2014 Biorefineries present ‘historic opportunity’ to regenerate rural Europe The development of local biorefineries can 'completely reverse' the decline in rural EU communities, writes Rob Vierhout
8 July 20147 July 2014 Campaign highlights biodiversity cost of plastic bags The 3rd July marked the International Bag Free Day, but most of the world continues to use light-weight plastic bags, deemed the most harmful to the environment
7 July 20145 July 2014 Government issues a response to Plastic Bag Inquiry "UK industry to produce a genuinely biodegradable plastic bag that meets defined criteria and which can be reliably identified and separated in waste."
4 July 20143 July 2014 Government issues a response to Plastic Bag Inquiry With an estimated 100 billion plastic bags used in the EU every year, it is believed that plastic waste is one of the worst environmental problems faced by the region, contributing to 70% of marine pollution
1 July 201430 June 2014 Qualms over France’s move to ban plastic bags The French government wants to ban single-use plastic bags by 2016, years ahead of a European directive. But replacing them with biodegradable packaging makes it equally problematic, EurActiv France reports.
20 June 201418 June 2014 Biofuels debate continues, despite EU agreement EU energy ministers agreed to a 7% cap on the fuels for use in transport
10 June 20149 June 2014 Potočnik: ‘Subsidies to energy and water use raise barriers to a circular economy’ EU society still locked in old industrial patterns of production and consumption
3 June 201421 July 2014 Bioplastics evolve to gain wider recognition "Green Innovation" now impacting on the mainstream consumers with a multitude
21 May 201421 May 2014 The upcoming elections are crucial for the future of the bioeconomy in the European Union Next 5 years will be critical to set up a new model of economic and social development
23 April 201422 April 2014 Food – Fuel, Competition or Synergy? Parallel study to analyse opinions, agreements and differences in a long lasting debate
22 April 201422 April 2014 European Parliament vote on plastic bags confirms important contribution of compostable bags to enhanced biowaste collection European Bioplastics supports the outcome of the vote and the corresponding provisions for compostable plastic carrier bags
24 March 201423 March 2014 EU directive to reduce bags New directive aiming at reducing consumption of disposable plastic bags
Environment MEPs clamp down on wasteful plastic carrier bags EU legislation to deliver a significant and swift reduction in single-use plastic bags
13 March 201412 March 2014 European Parliament (ENVI Committee) vote on plastic bags paves the way for biodegradable and compostable plastic bags Member States to reduce landfilling by diverting biowaste from landfill to organic recycling
6 March 20146 March 2014 UN Global Compact: Consultation on the Food and Agriculture Business Principles, Brussels FAB Principles to articulate common understanding on resources, ecosystem services and socio-economic impacts
28 February 201427 February 2014 “Biodegradable plastic bags are a myth” So said Prof Richard Thomson, during a public hearing on plastic carrier bags organized by the by The Greens/European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament on February 19th
18 February 201417 February 2014 Outrage at Commission’s decision Greens threaten Commission with censure over GM crop
17 February 201417 February 2014 MEPs want binding 2030 goals for CO2 emissions, renewables and energy efficiency Mandatory targets by 2030: a 40% cut in CO2 emissions, a 30% target for renewable energy and a 40% target for energy efficiency
5 February 20144 February 2014 Food security hindered by seed market dominance, MEPs warn The EU seed market is dominated by a few large seed businesses rather than a diverse range of smaller companies, which has implications for the continent’s food security, says a report commissioned by European Parliament Green group
27 January 201426 January 2014 2030 climate and energy goals for a competitive, secure and low-carbon EU economy European Commission explains key points of the energy policy framework 2030
20 January 201417 January 2014 Plastic waste: Parliament sounds the alarm MEPs claiming ban of the most hazardous plastics, review of the current EU directive on packaging waste
17 January 201416 January 2014 EU-Strategie gegen Kunststoffabfälle in der Umwelt EU-Parlament verabschiedet Bericht zu Kunststoffabfällen
14 January 201413 January 2014 Parliament, Commission set for clash over 2030 clean energy goals The European Parliament voted for three binding energy and climate targets in 2030 audaciously backing a 40% energy savings improvement
6 January 20142 January 2014 Biofuels Mandates Around the World: 2014 Who mandates what in biofuels? 62 countries in all have targets or mandates — but what’s the frequency, Kenneth?
13 December 201312 December 2013 MEPs reject paper waste proposal over health concerns Proposed regulation could have a negative effect on the paper recycling rates in the EU
6 December 20136 December 2013 Cereal producers are the big losers of the CAP ‘à la française’ Arable crops farmers, who are relatively numerous in France, tend to lose out
4 December 201327 June 2024 AEBIOM, CEPF, COPA-COGECA, EIPS, ELO, EUSTAFOR: Joint Statement on cascade use of wood EU institutions should support positive actions at EU and national level that will improve, promote active forest management
25 November 201324 November 2013 MEPs back farm policy reforms MEPs insist that EU funds go only to active farmers and not to landowners
22 November 201322 November 2013 Horizon 2020: Experts wanted for biggest EU research programme yet European Parliament approves €80bn EU research budget
13 November 201313 November 2013 Germany’s CAP subsidies to favour small farmers, greening Small and medium-sized farms will get extra support, while larger producers will receive fewer funds
11 November 201311 November 2013 EU in new push to revive the carbon market EU diplomats today agreed to begin talks on a legal text to slash permit supply and prop up carbon prices in the bloc's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), marking a big step forward for the divisive proposal
8 November 20137 November 2013 Trade bodies pour cold water on EU bag plans European plastics industry trade bodies have expressed doubts about new proposals from Brussels to limit the number of plastic bags in use across the region
21 October 201320 October 2013 Lawmakers vote to block EU biofuels bill European People's Party and the far right defended first generation biofuels lobby well
25 September 2013 Farming deal ‘too flexible’ but caps largest direct payments Lack of common procedure governing the distribution of direct payments
9 September 2013 EU report: Brussels biofuels policy hikes food prices by up to 50% JRC study says any decrease in biodiesel production strongly affects the vegetable oil market
3 September 2013 How to kill off successful environmental schemes in Europe’s agriculture policy Many Parliamentarians see their job as bringing home the CAP bacon - with fewest possible environmental conditions stand in the way
2 September 2013 “The existing political framework is a hurdle for the bio-based economy in Europe” Exclusive interview with Michael Carus, nova-Institute
12 July 2013 MEPs deal a blow to crop-based biofuels Committee votes to more sustainable biofuels on substantial progress towards
11 July 2013 Environment Committee advocates promoting advanced biofuels Biofuels from food crops to be capped following MEPs' vote
ILUC factors could jeopardise how we measure the carbon footprint of a product More focus and resources should be directed towards proactive mitigation of ILUC effect
8 July 2013 New report: EU biofuel proposal a futile effort to curb productive land use in Asia ILUC reporting requirements to add new obstacles to imports from non-European biofuel producers
4 July 2013 CAP 2014-2020: A long road to reform Many policies won’t be implemented before 2015- thank to intense lobbying
5 June 2013 Dirk Carrez: The BRIDGE to a biobased economy in the EU BRIDGE - a proposed "Biobased Industries Public-Private Partnership"
8 May 2013 Second generation and advanced biofuels industry calls for solid biofuels regulation Advanced biofuels in the EU requires immediate action by creating a stable and reliable long term framework
2 May 2013 EuropaBio and Smithers Rapra unveil highly-anticipated agenda for the EFIB from 1-2 October 2013 taking place in the heart of Brussels at SQUARE Organisers have responded to the success of 2012's event by announcing plans to deliver the biggest and most ambitious congress in the sector to date
17 April 2013 Parliament report flags major changes to EU biofuels proposal Ethanol to benefit from the introduction of ILUC factors as they have lower values
22 March 2013 CAP reform: A promising start could end in disappointment Agricultural goals to support the realisation of human rights, especially the right to food in all its dimensions
13 March 2013 Reaction of EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Cioloş to today’s EP vote on CAP reform European Parliament has supported the main principles of the Commission proposals
