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LATEST NEWS

Organic pet food: EU Council adopts updated labelling rules

The Council today gave its final green light on a new EU law that will align the rules regarding the labelling of organic pet food to those governing the labelling of organic food intended for human consumption. The new regulation will make it easier for pet owners to purchase organic food for their pets. It also provides an opportunity for farmers engaged in organic production.

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09/10/2023
teacup, cup, can

EU Council approves geographical indications for craft and industrial products

The Council has today adopted a regulation on geographical indication protection for craft and industrial products. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. Once this regulation comes into force, the geographical indications (GI) of industrial products linked to the geographical area of production (such as Albacete cutlery, Bohemian glass, Limoges porcelain) will enjoy similar protection to regionally produced foods or beverages.

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09/10/2023

Wopke Hoekstra appointed as EU Commissioner

The Council today appointed Wopke Hoekstra (Netherlands) as new European Commissioner, by common accord with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The appointment follows the resignation of Frans Timmermans as Executive Vice-President of the Commission and is for the remainder of the term of office of the Commission, which runs until 31 October 2024.

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09/10/2023

Returns of irregular migrants up by 29% in Q2 2023 – Eurostat

In the second quarter of 2023, there were 105 865 non-EU citizens ordered to leave an EU country, and a total of 26 600 were returned to another country following an order to leave. Compared with the same quarter of 2022, the number of non-EU citizens ordered to leave the EU country rose by 9%, while the number of people returned to another country rose by 29%.

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07/10/2023

Mergers: EU Commission clears acquisition of CMI by EPCG, TYMON and JTCP

The transaction relates primarily to the audio-visual and media sectors in Czechia, France, Romania and Slovakia. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

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06/10/2023

EU Commission sets new reduced limits for nitrites and nitrates as food additives

Today, to ensure that the food on the market in the EU is as safe as possible for consumers and protect them from carcinogenic substances as part of the actions under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Commission is setting new limits for the use of nitrites and nitrates as food additives. These new significantly reduced limits protect against pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Listeria, Salmonella, Clostridia), as well as reduce the exposure

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06/10/2023

EU approves €2.5bn Czech plan for industrial decarbonization

The European Commission has approved a €2.5 billion (60 billion CZK) Czech scheme to help manufacturing companies to decarbonise their production processes and improve their energy efficiency to foster the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in industrial sectors

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06/10/2023

EU approves €1.2bn Polish support for energy-intensive firms amid Russia-Ukraine conflict

The European Commission has approved a €1.2 billion (PLN 5.5 billion) Polish scheme to support energy-intensive companies facing increased energy costs in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies.

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06/10/2023

EU clears €300m French scheme to promote solid fuel transition

The European Commission has approved a €300 million French scheme to support companies investing in the use of solid recovered fuels to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green

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06/10/2023

EU Commission welcomes new legislation to reduce emissions

The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached today by the European Parliament and the Council on strengthened rules to massively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fluorinated gases (F-gases) and ozone-depleting substances (ODS). Building on existing EU legislation which has already limited the use and emissions of these gases significantly, the Regulations agreed today will prevent almost 500 million tonnes of further emissions by 2050. It will contribute to the

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05/10/2023

Europol dismantles migrant smuggling cell in Bulgaria

On 4 October, Europol supported Bulgarian authorities in dismantling a migrant smuggling group active at the periphery of the so-called Balkan route. The criminal group is believed to have been acting as a logistical cell of a larger migrant smuggling network active across several European countries.

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05/10/2023

Free movement: Talks on reforming Schengen border rules can start

Today, the European Parliament voted to authorise interinstitutional negotiations on reforming the Schengen Borders Code. With 370 votes in favour, 163 against, and 31 abstaining, MEPs authorised the start of negotiations with the Council on the final form of revised border rules for the Schengen free-movement area. The EP negotiating team will be headed by rapporteur Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, France).

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05/10/2023

MEPs vote to roll over current rules on tariffs for developing countries

Parliament voted on Thursday with 561 in favour, 5 against and 2 abstention to extend current rules on the scheme of generalised tariff preferences (GSP) after talks with the Council on the new rules were paused in June. The draft report by rapporteur Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, FI) only amends the date of application of the regulation currently in place, extending it until 31 December 2027. The extension gives more time

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05/10/2023

EU Parliament calls for better reuse and treatment of urban wastewater

On Thursday, Parliament adopted its position on new rules for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater to better protect the environment and human health. The report was adopted with 420 votes in favour, 62 against and 84 abstentions. MEPs want treated wastewater from urban wastewater treatment plants to be used more widely, for example in industrial processes and district and cooling systems. They also want EU countries to

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05/10/2023

Enhanced consumer protection for distance financial contracts

MEPs sign off new rules to protect EU consumers from misleading online financial marketing practices and empower them to make informed decisions when concluding remote contracts. On Thursday, Parliament formally endorsed the new bill on financial services contracts concluded at a distance with 548 votes in favour, 4 votes against and 14 abstentions.

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05/10/2023

EU Council agrees on crisis law for migration

Yesterday, EU member states’ representatives reached an agreement on the final component of a common European asylum and migration policy. At a meeting of the Council’s permanent representatives committee, member states sealed their negotiating mandate on a regulation on crisis situations, including instrumentalisation of migration, and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum. This position will form the basis of negotiations between the Council presidency and the European

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05/10/2023

EU Commission amends rules on aid to fisheries

The European Commission has adopted today an amendment of the so-called ‘de minimis’ regulation for the fishery and aquaculture sector (‘Fishery de minimis Regulation’). The revised regulation, which exempts small aid amounts from State aid control since they are deemed to have no impact on competition and trade in the Single Market, will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal.

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04/10/2023

S&Ds secure EU law to put an end to greenwashing in the Green Bond market

The European Green Bond is a voluntary standard that companies can use to raise financing from investors. To be able to do so, they have to demonstrate that they are funding legitimate projects aligned with the EU’s taxonomy. The new rules create a gold standard, which will improve transparency and trust among investors and thereby reduce the risk of greenwashing.

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04/10/2023

EU Commission launches investigation on subsidised electric cars from China

The European Commission has formally launched today an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of battery electric vehicles (BEV) from China. The investigation will first determine whether BEV value chains in China benefit from illegal subsidisation and whether this subsidisation causes or threatens to cause economic injury to EU BEV producers. Should both prove true, the investigation will examine the likely consequences and impact of measures on importers, users and consumers

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04/10/2023
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