The Commission is proposing rules to make producers responsible for the full lifecycle of textile products and to support the sustainable management of textile waste across the EU. This initiative will accelerate the development of the separate collection, sorting, reuse and recycling sector for textiles in the EU, in line with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. Increasing the […]
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The EU wants to introduce minimum standards to make nearly all products on its market sustainable
Ecodesign entails the integration of environmental considerations into product development, aiming to create goods with the lowest possible environmental impact throughout their life cycle. EU manufacturers already have to align with ecodesign rules for energy-related products, such as heaters, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners or computers, reducing energy consumption and negative environmental effects in the design stage. […]
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According to the European Court of Auditors, Europe is in danger of losing the battery race
The EU risks falling behind in its bid to become a global battery powerhouse, according to a report published by the European Court of Auditors. It is true that the EU’s industrial policy on batteries has been promoted effectively in recent years. But access to raw materials remains a major roadblock, along with rising costs and […]
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Council reaches agreement on parts of electricity market reform
The Council has agreed its stance (general approach) on a proposal for regulation on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency (REMIT). The proposal aims to support an open and fair competition in the European wholesale energy markets, by banning trading based on inside information and deterring market manipulation. The proposal on REMIT is part […]
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European Commission approves €680M in aid for the deployment of 5G mobile networks in Spanish rural areas
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €680 million Spanish scheme made available through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (‘RRF’) to roll out equipment and infrastructure for high-performing 5G standalone networks in underserved rural areas. The measure is part of Spain’s strategy to address the needs of citizens and businesses in […]
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New unitary patent system launched to make it easier for companies to protect their innovations in Europe
The Commission welcomes the launch of the Unitary Patent system today, which will make it simpler and easier for companies to protect their innovations in Europe and capitalise on their intellectual property. The Unitary Patent system will strengthen the EU’s innovation and competitiveness and complete the Single Market for patents. It will initially cover 17 […]
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European Blue Economy report 2023: economic crisis takes a toll but doesn’t stop the growth
The European Blue Economy report is a compass to help decision-makers and stakeholders navigate the waters of the European blue economy. The 2023 edition of the report highlights the evolution of the blue economy sectors since 2010. It shows that despite the negative impact of the COVID19 pandemic and the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, most […]
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Council adopts position on ecodesign requirements
The Council has adopted its position (‘general approach’) on the proposed regulation establishing a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for sustainable products. The new regulation will replace the existing 2009 directive and enlarge the scope to set environmental sustainability requirements for almost all kind of goods placed on the EU market. It establishes a Digital […]
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Commission launches pilot system to monitor semiconductor supply chain
The European Commission has launched the Semiconductor Alert System, a new pilot system to monitor the semiconductor supply chain. The pilot allows stakeholders to raise awareness on any critical disruption along the semiconductors’ value chain and helps the Commission to gather information needed to establish a precise assessment of risks and to quickly react to any potential crisis situation via the European […]
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