Steel and Metals Action Plan

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Photo by Mads Eneqvist on Unsplash The European Commission has presented its long awaited Steel and Metals Action Plan – the EU’s proposal to ensure the future of the European steel industry. The Commission says the plan will support the steel sector face current challenges in the short to medium term. The sector-specific priority measures are the result of an inclusive and collaborative process, which involved multiple…

Opposition to South H2 Corridor

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Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Unsplash Nearly 90 civil society organizations and networks have expressed their opposition to the South H2 Corridor. The construction of the 3, 300-kilometre hydrogen pipeline from North Africa to Germany via Italy was recently endorsed by governments in a joint declaration. The opposition to the plan follows a meeting of…

Business Revulsion at US Tariff Chaos

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Additional US tariffs on steel and aluminium are a lose-lose for both sides of the Atlantic, says Europe’s business community. So says BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer. His organisation is the representative body for the business community at the EU level. He was reacting to President Trump’s recent announcements on tariffs. Beyrer said, “It is…

All Out Trade War Between EU and USA

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Photo by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash The EU Commission says it regrets the US decision to impose tariffs against European companies. The EC has branded the move as unjustified, disruptive to transatlantic trade and harmful to businesses and consumers, often resulting in higher prices. The Commission says its response is carefully calibrated and based on…

End the EU’s Patchwork of Animal Welfare Laws

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Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash A new report reveals that animal welfare issues are treated very differently by each of the EU’s 27 Member States.  The authors, Eurogroup for Animals, say it shows that the EU must update and modernise the animal welfare legislation as soon as possible. This, it says, it needed to…

Commission Tables Omnibus Law Package

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Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash Some MEPs say the EU’s new Omnibus business simplification initiative is a crucial step and will push for its success with full force. This follows the European Commission tabling its first so-called Omnibus law package. The scheme aims to simplify obligations such as due diligence and sustainability reporting at …

New Sanctions Against Russia

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Photo by FlyD on Unsplash EU member states have adopted a wide-ranging new package of economic and individual restrictive measures against Russia. This comes with this week’s significant milestone in the war in Ukraine – the third anniversary since the conflict started. It also coincides with fresh attempts,including a meeting in the U.S on Friday…

Attack on Human Rights in Romania

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The Roma Foundation for Europe, a leading European advocate for Roma rights, say that it strongly condemns recent attacks said to target civil rights activists in Romania. It is alleged these include Ciprian Necula, Chair of the Roma Education Fund (REF) and a respected advocate for civil rights and education.  The claims come as Romania heads towards…

EP Pledges Support for Georgian Dissidents

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Photo by Max Kukurudziak on Unsplash MEPs have called on the international community to join the boycott of Georgia’s self-proclaimed authorities. Meeting in Strasbourg on Thursday they accused the Georgian authorities of eroding the country’s democracy and cracking down on dissent. In a resolution adopted at its plenary, Parliament refused to recognise the self-proclaimed authorities…