
Bad information increases contaminated eggs scare
Belgium's admission that it took more than a month to inform the EU about a pesticide in eggs has raised questions about the efficiency of the EU alert system.
Friday
25th Aug 2017

Belgium's admission that it took more than a month to inform the EU about a pesticide in eggs has raised questions about the efficiency of the EU alert system.

The rapid advancement of medical technology has contributed to people living longer, healthier lives but consumer and campaign groups say devices should come under more scrutiny before they are used on patients.

Perceptions of the EU have increased significantly in France, and Europeans generally feel more optimistic about the future of the bloc since last autumn - despite Brexit and a surge in populism.
Increasingly popular non-meat products are good for the environment, health, and animal welfare. But the EU still remains strangely negative about the prospect.
To stand up to the challenges of populism and closing societies, foundations need to step up quickly.
A long-standing conflict between the US and EU on growth hormones for cattle is back, and could put European standards at risk.

EU leaders were vocal in their criticism of the anti-gay campaign that took place in the Russian republic of Chechnya earlier this year. But only a few countries are willing to offer a refuge to the victims.

Boosted by money and legitimised by the country's president, pro-Russian and conspiracy websites are flourishing in the Czech Republic.

Some eastern EU member states worry they are being sold inferior food. The Slovak prime minister will speak to commission chief Juncker about it.

Once regarded as conservative, the catholic island of 440,000 becomes the latest EU country to allow same sex couples to marry.
French president Emmanuel Macron noted "a rise in illiberal democracies" all around the world. If civil society is not protected, we could see the same in Europe.
City partnerships and other new initiatives are good examples of how EU cohesion policy funds benefit European citizens.
British academics want to guarantee residency and work rights for their EU staff, as well as "enhanced mobility opportunities" for UK and EU students, mostly by keeping British participation in EU funding programs.
Trust is perhaps the most important resource and the key to building successes, but new Nordic research indicates that challenges may lie ahead in the digital age.
Taoiseach's sexual orientation has grabbed headlines, but history shows that gay politicians seldom promote LGBT rights.
Despite warnings from the UN, the EU and international rights organisations, Hungary's parliament passed a law that is seen as targeting NGOs partly funded by Hungarian-US billionaire George Soros.
The central idea of the social pillar is to move the design and management of member states’ social systems from national to the European level, writes Swedish centre-right MEP Gunnar Hoekmark.
A bid to make the controversial labour market reform more social was postponed on the request of the centre-right EPP group.
The European Commission proposes a €341-million budget to get unemployed people into volunteering activities or traineeships that “promote solidarity” in their own countries or abroad.

MEP Marita Ulvskog sets out why she thinks the European Commission's social initiative is an idea worth defending.

Prime ministers of the Nordic countries took the decision on Monday to launch a new initiative focused on Nordic solutions to global societal challenges.
Despite the expanding costs – and waistlines – caused by rising levels of European obesity, little is being done to remedy the epidemic.
The European Parliament said that future EU rules should put an end to unfair competition in the transport sector. But Eastern European MEPs fear this would undermine the single market.

The so-called European Pillar of Social Rights will not calm the malaise felt by EU citizens towards Brussels.

Intersex rights are the new boundary for toleration of sexual minorities in Europe, as EU institutions urged to show more "political courage" to stop hate.
Health campaigners would encourage kids to drink water instead of fizzy drinks. But the watering down of an EU directive to protect children from sugary food and drink ads was not what they had in mind.
Facing two years of uncertainty while Brexit negotiations are underway, EU and UK citizens caught up in the political battle want a separate agreement to secure their rights and future.

Orthodox Christian societies in Europe are more likely to endorse Putin’s revanchist vision of Russia than Catholic ones, according to a new survey.

Countries cannot automatically refuse residence to parents of EU children simply because the other parent could care for the minor, the EU's top court ruled on Wednesday.
EU leaders said there would be almost a million ICT vacancies by 2015, and made digital skills a priority, but in reality the number of vacancies was much lower.
Erna Solberg warned against "illiberal" powers that don't understand the need for an independent civil society.