EUROPA - Newsroom - Latest stories - Environment, consumers and health

Environment: Europe’s bathing waters continue to improve

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:06:00 +0200

Ninety-four per cent of bathing sites in the European Union meet minimum standards for water quality, according to the European Environment Agency's annual report on bathing water quality in Europe.

Stronger EU cooperation leads to higher consumer safety

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:01:00 +0200

In 2012, a total of 2,278 measures against dangerous non-food products, were taken by Member States and reported in the EU Rapid Information system (RAPEX). This indicates a 26% rise in alerts when compared to 2011 figures.

European Commission unveils maritime strategy for the Atlantic

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:19:00 +0200

The Action Plan follows from the Atlantic Strategy the Commission adopted in 2011. It aims to show how the EU's Atlantic Member States, their regions and the Commission can help create sustainable growth in coastal regions and drive forward the "blue economy", which has the potential to provide 7 million jobs in Europe by 2020.

Smarter rules for safer food: Commission proposes landmark package to modernise, simplify and strengthen the agri-food chain in Europe

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:18:00 +0200

The European Commission has adopted a package of measures to strengthen the enforcement of health and safety standards for the whole agri-food chain. Food safety is essential to ensure consumers' confidence and sustainability of food production.

Environment: Investing in green infrastructure will bring multiple returns to nature, society and people

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:40:00 +0200

The European Commission adopted a new strategy for encouraging the use of green infrastructure, and for ensuring that the enhancement of natural processes becomes a systematic part of spatial planning.

Internet on TV, TV on Internet: Commission seeks views on rapidly converging audiovisual world

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:42:00 +0200

The Commission wants to explore what this convergence of technology and content could mean for Europe's economic growth and innovation, cultural diversity, and consumers (especially those that may need protection, such as children.)

Commission publishes European test results on horse DNA and Phenylbutazone

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:36:00 +0200

Launched last month, the coordinated EU-wide testing for horsemeat DNA and phenylbutazone requested, and co-financed, by the European Commission in the wake of the horsemeat scandal has revealed that less than 5 % of the tested products had horse DNA.

Commission moves to enhance business transparency on social and environmental matters

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:21:00 +0200

Companies concerned will need to disclose information on policies, risks and results as regards environmental matters, social and employee-related aspects, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery issues, and diversity on the boards of directors.

Commission moves forward on climate and energy towards 2030

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:00:00 +0100

The European Commission today took the first step towards developing a 2030 framework for EU climate change and energy policies. It adopted a Green Paper which launches a public consultation on the content of the 2030 framework.

Main results of the Environment Council

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:26:00 +0100

The Council adopted a new venture capital framework aimed at facilitating access to finance for European companies. It also adopted an energy infrastructure regulation, which will help to modernise and expand Europe's energy infrastructure in order to allow the EU to meet its core policy objectives of competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply.

Commission seeks input on improving redress for consumers in cross-border claims

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 11:55:00 +0100

The European Commission has today launched a public consultation on how to improve access to justice for consumers and small businesses in small-scale cross-border disputes.

Commission takes initiative to support Blue Growth through sustainable management of marine and coastal areas

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:57:00 +0100

The proposal – which takes the form of a draft directive – aims to establish a common European framework for maritime spatial planning and integrated coastal management in EU Member States.

Full EU ban on animal testing for cosmetics enters into force

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:51:00 +0100

A Communication adopted by the Commission confirms the Commission's commitment to respect the deadline set by Council and Parliament in 2003 and outlines how it intends to further support research and innovation in this area while promoting animal welfare world-wide.

Health and Safety: Commission proposes to improve workers' protection against exposure to hazardous chemicals

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:20:00 +0100

The Commission has proposed to amend five existing EU health and safety Directives on protection of workers from exposure to harmful chemicals to align them with the latest rules on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals.

Tobacco in the EU : Exposure to second hand smoke reduced, but still too high, says Commission report

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:11:00 +0100

Protection from second hand smoke has improved considerably in the EU, according to a report published by the Commission. 28% of Europeans were exposed to second hand smoke in bars in 2012 – down from 46% in 2009.

Safer products and a level playing field in the internal market

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:45:00 +0100

The European Commission proposed new rules to improve the safety of consumer products circulating in the Single Market and to step-up market surveillance concerning all non-food products, including those imported from 3rd countries.

Parliament backs law to tone down harmful traffic noise

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:12:00 +0100

Noise limits for cars would be tightened to protect public health, under a draft law voted in Parliament. MEPs also recommended introducing labels to inform consumers about new cars' noise levels and adding sound to hybrid and electric vehicles to alert pedestrians.

EU launches clean fuel strategy

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:52:00 +0100

The European Commission announced an ambitious package of measures to ensure the build-up of alternative fuel stations across Europe with common standards for their design and use.

Europe for patients: Common rules on medical prescriptions when travelling to another EU country

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:30:00 +0100

The provisions for a common way to identify the patient, the prescriber and the prescribed product, are to be put into national law by the Member States by 25 October 2013.

Tobacco products: towards bigger health warnings and ban of strong flavourings

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:32:00 +0100

After years in the making, the European Commission has adopted its proposal to revise the Tobacco Products Directive. The proposed legislation consists of new and strengthened rules on how tobacco products can be manufactured, presented, and sold.

Alternative and Online Dispute Resolution soon to become a reality for European consumers

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 12:22:00 +0100

The rules on ADR will ensure that contractual disputes between consumers and traders are settled out of court through quality alternative dispute resolution entities.

Environment Council: Safer management of Europe's water resources

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 23:00:00 +0100

The EU's Environment Ministers adopted conclusions setting out key actions to improve governance by those involved in managing water resources, namely: improving land use, addressing water pollution, and increasing water efficiency and resilience.

Environment: New rules on cleaner fuels for shipping will deliver benefits for people's health

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:38:00 +0100

New environmental rules on marine fuels, entering into force on the 17 December 2012, will substantially reduce air pollution and its impacts on human health.

Putting patients in the driving seat: A digital future for healthcare

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:40:00 +0100

The European Commission has unveiled an Action Plan to address barriers to the full use of digital solutions in Europe's healthcare systems. The goal is to improve healthcare for the benefit of patients, give patients more control of their care and bring down costs.

EU Consumer Scoreboard says that markets for banking services and for second-hand cars keep failing consumers

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:24:00 +0100

EU consumers have once again expressed their dissatisfaction with the performance of some key services markets, according to the Commission’s 2012 Consumer Markets Scoreboard.

E-commerce: when purchasing games, books, videos or music on-line, look out for unfair terms, warns the EU

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 12:46:00 +0100

Just in time for the holidays and gifts shopping season, the European Commission publishes the results of an EU wide screening of websites selling games, books, videos and music which can be downloaded to a computer or mobile device.

Investing in HIV prevention

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:28:00 +0100

On the eve of World AIDS Day, European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe release their annual HIV/AIDS surveillance report.

Environment: Commission sets out Europe's path to prosperity within the planet's ecological limits

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:06:00 +0100

The European Commission put forward a proposal for an Environment Action Programme (EAP) to guide EU environment policy up to 2020.

Health spending in Europe in 2010 fell for the first time in decades

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:38:00 +0100

This is one of the many findings in the "Health at a Glance: Europe 2012", a new joint report by the OECD and the European Commission. From an annual average growth rate of 4.6% between 2000 and 2009, health spending per person fell to -0.6% in 2010.

Environment: EU aiming to be at the forefront of efforts to reduce marine litter

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:25:00 +0100

The European Commission is raising awareness about this global problem, in line with commitments made in Rio this summer to reduce the incidence and impacts of such pollution on marine ecosystems.

Environment: Commission presents Blueprint to safeguard Europe's waters

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:25:00 +0100

The Commission has launched a Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources, a strategy for ensuring that enough good quality water is available to meet the needs of people, the economy and the environment.

Commission proposes significant reduction in emissions of climate-warming fluorinated gases

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:18:00 +0100

The proposed Regulation aims to reduce F-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030. It also bans the use of F-gases in some new equipment, such as household fridges, where viable more climate-friendly alternatives are readily available.

Commission to streamline rules on environmental impact assessments of projects

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 22:00:00 +0200

The European Commission outlined new proposals to streamline legislation on environmental impact assessments. The proposals are intended to lighten administrative burdens and make it easier to assess the potential impacts of major projects, without weakening existing environmental safeguards.

Environment ministers set out EU position ahead of Doha Climate Conference

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 21:00:00 +0200

The Environment Council agreed on the EU stance for major international climate talks coming up in Doha, Qatar, in late November.

Commission sets out an action plan for online gambling

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:46:00 +0200

The Commission is unveiling an action plan, with a series of initiatives over the next two years aimed at clarifying the regulation of online gambling and encouraging cooperation between Member States.

New Commission proposal to minimise the climate impacts of biofuel production

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:44:00 +0200

The Commission published a proposal to limit global land conversion for biofuel production, and raise the climate benefits of biofuels used in the EU. The use of food-based biofuels to meet the 10% renewable energy target of the Renewable Energy Directive will be limited to 5%.

Commission proposes to update radio equipment rules

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 10:00:00 +0200

The proposal aims to make sure all market players comply with the rules regarding the avoidance of interference, so that consumers do not have problems when opening car doors, monitoring their babies or listening to radio.

Competitiveness Council: Green light for the European Consumer Agenda

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 23:00:00 +0200

The Agenda aims to ensure that consumers have safe products and services, better information and more effective protection of their rights and redress possibilities, especially when buying products in other countries and online.

Main results of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:11:00 +0200

The Council adopted several legal acts, notably on energy efficiency, better access to and improved digitisation of orphan works across the EU and minimum standards for the rights, support and protection of crime victims.

Nuclear stress tests: confirmation of high safety standards but need for further improvement

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:44:00 +0200

In addition to recommending numerous of plant specific technical improvements, the stress tests have shown that International standards and practices have not been applied everywhere.

Environment: many Europeans still exposed to harmful air pollutants

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:16:00 +0200

The EU has made progress over the past decades to reduce the air pollutants which cause acidification, but a new report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that many parts of Europe have persistent problems with outdoor concentrations of PM and ground level ozone.

EU Consumers: settling small cross-border disputes without any hassle

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:29:00 +0200

To avoid difficult, costly and time-consuming legal procedures, the European Union is facilitating access to justice for consumers in Europe, so that they can effectively enforce their rights.

Australia and European Commission agree on pathway towards fully linking Emissions Trading systems

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:19:00 +0200

This agreement should be adopted by the European Union and the Commonwealth of Australia by mid-2015 to facilitate the commencement of full linking no later than 1 July 2018.

Environment: new rules on e-waste to boost resource efficiency

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 12:37:00 +0200

The Directive entering into force today introduces a collection target of 45 % of electronic equipment sold that will apply from 2016 and, as a second step from 2019, a target of 65 % of equipment sold, or 85 % of electronic waste generated. Member States will be able to choose which one of these two equivalent ways to measure the target they wish to report.

Environment: a new medals table for waste management

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 12:58:00 +0200

A new report on how Member States manage their municipal waste shows startling differences across the EU. The report grades the 27 Member States against 18 criteria, using green, orange and red flags in areas such as total waste recycled, pricing of waste disposal, and infringements of European legislation.

Construction: unleashing the potential of low energy buildings to restore growth

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:30:00 +0200

To promote the construction sector as a driving force in the creation of jobs and for sustained growth for the economy in general, the European Commission tabled a strategy to boost the sector.

Food: Latest Report shows EU Controls ensure our food is safe

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:19:00 +0200

A European Commission report shows that thanks to the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) many food safety risks have been averted or mitigated and safety controls ensure our food is safe. RASFF plays a key role in ensuring safety from "farm to fork", by triggering a rapid reaction when a food safety risk is detected.

Air traffic: Commission approves national performance plans to reduce costs and increase capacity in the provision of air traffic management services

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:40:00 +0200

The Performance Scheme of the Single European Sky aims at setting and implementing binding targets for Member States to deliver better air navigation services, leading to cheaper flights, less delays, and the saving of unnecessary costs for airlines and passengers. In addition, the environmental impact of air traffic will be reduced due to more efficient and shorter flight paths.

Environment: Safer regulation for biocidal products

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 12:54:00 +0200

New rules on biocides enter into force today. They will bring a significant boost to the protection of human health and the environment. Biocidal products are necessary for the control of organisms that are harmful to human or animal health or that cause damage to materials. But as their properties can also pose risks to humans, animals and the environment, they need careful regulation.

Further CO2 emission reductions from cars and vans

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:54:00 +0200

The proposals will cut average emissions from new cars to 95 grams of CO2 per km (g CO2/km) in 2020 from 135.7g in 2011 and a mandatory target of 130g in 2015. Emissions from vans will be reduced to 147g CO2/km in 2020 from 181.4g in 2010 (the latest year for which figures are available) and a mandatory target of 175g in 2017.

How can we do more with less? Commission gathers high-level input on resource-efficient growth

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 15:35:00 +0200

Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik launched the European Resource Efficiency Platform to provide high-level guidance and advice on policy measures designed to transform the European economy towards a more sustainable growth path.

Consumer Scoreboard shows where consumer conditions are best in Europe

Tue, 29 May 2012 12:57:00 +0200

The spring Consumer Scoreboard published on the occasion of the European Consumer Summit 2012 shows that in 2011 for the second year running after the fall in 2009 there were improvements in many EU countries.

Clean water at majority of EU holiday destinations

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:35:00 +0200

92.1 % of bathing waters in the European Union now meet the minimum water quality standards set by the Bathing Water Directive. The results are from the latest annual Bathing Water Report of European Environment Agency and the European Commission, which describes water quality in more than 22,000 bathing sites at beaches, rivers and lakes across Europe last year.

A new European Consumer Agenda – Boosting confidence and growth by putting consumers at the heart of the Single Market

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:05:00 +0200

Consumer expenditure, amounting to 56% of EU GDP, reflects the enormous power of the consumer to drive forward the European economy. Only empowered and confident consumers can fully exploit the potential of the Single Market and enhance innovation and growth.

Emissions trading: annual compliance round-up shows declining emissions in 2011

Tue, 15 May 2012 13:41:00 +0200

Emissions of greenhouse gases from installations participating in the EU Emissions Trading System decreased by more than 2% last year, according to the information provided by Member State registries.

Report on safety of products shows fewer dangerous items reaching the EU market

Tue, 08 May 2012 12:21:00 +0200

Thanks to the increasing effectiveness of the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products ("RAPEX") dangerous products are detected earlier and more effectively and are more promptly removed from the EU market.

Environment: Getting gold from garbage – how some Member States are making waste a resource

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:22:00 +0200

How have the best performers turned waste from a problem into a resource? A new report from the European Commission explains that it is by combining economic instruments.

Environment: Commission proposes tighter laws on ship breaking

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:00:00 +0100

The European Commission proposed new rules to ensure that European ships are only recycled in facilities that are safe for workers and environmentally sound.

EU combines its environmental impact assessment laws

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The aim is to help EU countries and developers evaluate the environmental impacts of construction projects more easily. No changes have been made to the existing law, but it is currently under review.

Council adopts rules restricting phosphates in detergents

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

From 30 June 2013, phosphorus in laundry detergents will be limited to 0.5 grams per washing process. The limit for dishwasher detergents will be 0.3 grams from 1 January 2017. The aim is to improve water quality.

MEPs veto new food labelling rules

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Parliament believes the Commission’s proposal could confuse or mislead consumers. It would have allowed new “percentage less” claims on sugar, salt and fat content.

How can we produce and consume more sustainably?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Commission is revising the EU’s consumption and production policies. A consultation will run until 3 April on four key action areas, including product design and environmental performance.

Better management of e-waste

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

More of the EU’s broken fridges, phones and gadgets are set to be collected and recycled, following MEPs’ approval of new targets agreed with Council.

Stricter controls on pest control products

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

"Biocides" - ranging from rat poisons to disinfectants - will be subject to tougher safety checks, following a European Parliament vote.

Better waste management contributes to growth and job creation

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Improved implementation of EU waste legislation would save €72bn a year and create over 400 000 jobs by 2020, says study.

Consumer credit: 70% of websites in breach of EU rules

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Of the 562 consumer credit websites checked across the EU 393 were flagged for further investigation, mostly relating to bad consumer information or a misleading presentation of the costs.