Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash A new initiative has been launched to help promote protection from “plant pests.” EFSA, the European Commission (EC) and their partners in Member States of the European Union are launching the #PlantHealth4Life campaign. Among other things,the campaign promotes awareness of plant health and its link with our everyday life. Plants are…
Photo by Simon Hermans on Unsplash Greens and “progressives” say they have joined forces ahead of the snap elections in Spain on Sunday 23 July. They say they will “strive for a Green, social and feminist Spain.” Sumar’s leader Yolanda Díaz is known for her work as Minister of Labour, and she is now aiming to become Spain’s…
Photo by Charles Smart on Unsplash According to an official statement from the Royal Office of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the King has received a letter from the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. In this letter, the Israeli Prime Minister has announced the decision of the State of Israel to ‘recognise the sovereignty of Morocco…
Photo by Rafay Ansari on Unsplash The blueprint for a net-zero industry “lacks vision on how to ensure Europe’s industry stays competitive and attracts investment.” That is the view of the European Economic and Social Committee, the body that represents the various economic and social components of organised civil society. It is an institutional consultative body established by…
Photo by Matthew Smith on Unsplash The Swedish Forest Industries Federation (SFIF) has welcomed the EU Parliament’s approval of the proposed Nature Restoration Law. SFIF says this incorporated several important improvements, including deletion the non-deterioration requirement in particular. The Federation also welcomes the vote to approve the proposed draft of the law. This “includes substantial amendments to minimise…
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash Allowing Ukraine to join Nato could end the bitter war with Russia, according to a rights expert. Oleksandra Matviichuk, a human rights lawyer and Nobel Prize winner, was speaking amid the current debate about Ukraine’s possible Nato membership. The issue was discussed this week at a key Nato summit in Lithuania. Matviichuk, heads the non-profit organisation…
Photo by Amber Kipp on Unsplash MEPs have voted to drop proposed restrictions on pollution from factory farms. Campaigners says this “sabotages” the European Commission’s efforts to step up environmental and climate action. They also claim the vote follows “pressure by the big agribusiness lobby.” A statement by Compassion in World Farming EU said, “Parliamentarians decided to give all…
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash Operators have extended a special agreement that allows “affordable” phone calls to and from Ukraine. The EU Commission welcomed the twelve-month prolongation of the operators’ agreement allowing displaced refugees from Ukraine to stay connected across borders. The Commission has facilitated the agreement between 22 European and seven Ukrainian operators to prolong…
Photo by Beth Hope on Unsplash The European Union says it welcomes the final report by the UN Group of Experts mandated by the UN Sanctions Committee on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It also says it is “deeply troubled” by some of its findings and supports its recommendations. The EU also welcomes the extension of…
Photo by Joe on Unsplash A new deal between EU institutions could mean “more ammunition” being freed for Ukraine. This comes after negotiators from the European Parliament and the Member States agreed on the initiative to increase the ammunition production capacity of the European defence industry (the so-called ‘ASAP’ package), which will also be to the benefit of…
