The European Parliament has approved €3 billion in loans to help EU neighbours and partner countries deal with the fallout of COVID-19. The loans, which will be given on highly favourable terms and disbursed over a year, will help the following ten countries whose economies have been pushed into recession by the pandemic. The are:…
Emily O’Reilly, Europe’s Ombudswoman The European Ombudswoman has published her recommendation on Adam Farkas’ move from the European Banking Authority (EBA) to a financial lobby. Emily O’Reilly, the Ombudswoman, who is responsible for ethical issues in the EU institutions, comes to a crystal clear conclusion: this move to the investment banking lobby AFME should not…
Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan continues to disregard harm reduction tools, such as e-cigarettes, which, it is claimed, potentially meet the Commission’s objectives of eradicating smoking-related cancer. That is one of the messages to emerge from public consultations on the plan. Another message is that the EU should not overlook the best practices on harm reduction…
Anyone living beneath the flight paths of Zaventem Airport will have noticed a massive decrease in air traffic last month. But whilst there was indeed a decrease of 99.3% in the number of passengers going through Brussels airport terminal in April, there was an increase of 52.1% in full cargo volume traffic. The Coronavirus crisis…
Under new rules adopted by the European Parliament, as already agreed with the Council of Ministers, tyre labelling will have to inform consumers about the tyre’s fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise. The aim is to increase consumer awareness, improve safety and decrease noise pollution. In the future, information on mileage, abrasion, retreaded…
To prevent water shortages in the EU, the European Parliament has approved a Water Reuse Regulation. The new law defines minimum requirements at European level for the first time for reclaimed water (i.e. urban wastewater that has been treated in a reclamation plant) to be used for agricultural purposes in a safe way, protecting people…
The Innovative Medicines Initiative has provisionally selected 8 projects for funding from its fast-track Call for proposals on coronavirus diagnostics and treatments. In addition, it has boosted the IMI funding pot from EUR 45 million to EUR 72 million. On top of this, EFPIA companies, IMI Associated Partners and other organisations will contribute over EUR…
The hospitality-tourism sector is one of the major players in the EU economy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector is facing an unprecedented crisis which is putting the viability of companies and employment at risk. Thousands of companies are struggling to survive or face insolvency. Many workers are on temporary unemployment and have lost…
Coronavirus response: let’s not forget civil society organisations and the role of communication Arno Metzler, the president of the Diversity Europe Group of the European Economic and Social Committee issued the following statement: “The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak will continue changing our lives. It’s up to us to see this as an opportunity to make positive…
Three independent British health and care charities have warned that it will take many more months before NHS and social care organisations are able to fully restart services following the Covid-19 outbreak. At a UK Parliament Health and Social Care Select Committee evidence session yesterday (14 May), the Health Foundation, The King’s Fund and Nuffield Trust…
