New research sheds light on how much trust people have in different types of scientists. Trust in research goes hand in hand with those who carry it out. If the public trusts the research, then that is another way of saying it trusts the scientists behind it. And it’s this trust that helps scientists influence […]
EU Organic award 2024
The Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production adopted in March 2021 takes the approach that, in order to stimulate organic production, consumer demand for organic products should grow. This requires, amongst other things, increased public awareness of the characteristics and benefits of organic production. For this purpose, the Action Plan includes the launch […]
Eurostat: Spain recorded the highest life expectancy in the EU in 2023
According to preliminary 2023 data, life expectancy at birth in the EU was 81.5 years, up by 0.9 years from 2022, and 0.2 years compared with the pre-pandemic level in 2019. This information comes from the provisional data on life expectancy published by Eurostat. In 15 countries, life expectancy exceeded the EU average, with the highest life expectancy recorded for […]
EU-New Zealand trade agreement enters into force, opening up new opportunities for EU exporters
EU businesses, producers and farmers are now able to take advantage of a host of new export opportunities with the entry into force of the EU-New Zealand trade agreement today. The deal is expected to cut €140 million a year in duties for EU companies. Thanks to this deal, EU-New Zealand trade is expected to […]
EU-Central America agreement enters into force
The EU-Central America Association Agreement has entered into force. This agreement paves the way for the EU and the six countries of Central America (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama) to take their economic and political relationship to the next level. Under the trade agreement (provisionally applied since 2012), total trade between […]
Action against 20 airlines for misleading greenwashing practices
Following an alert from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the European Commission and EU consumer authorities (Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation – CPC – Authorities) sent letters to 20 airlines identifying several types of potentially misleading green claims and inviting them to bring their practices in line with EU consumer law within 30 days. The CPC […]
European Commission initiates formal proceedings against Facebook and Instagram under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has opened formal proceedings to assess whether Meta, the provider of Facebook and Instagram, may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA). Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared on 30 April: “This Commission has created means to protect European citizens from targeted disinformation and manipulation by third countries. If we suspect […]
Commission designates Apple’s iPadOS as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act
The European Commission has designated Apple with respect to iPadOS, its operating system for tablets, as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”). Apple now has six months to ensure full compliance of iPadOS with the DMA obligations. The investigation On 5 September 2023, the Commission designated Apple as a gatekeeper for its operating system iOS, its […]
EU economic governance review: Council adopts reform of fiscal rules
The Council adopted three pieces of legislation that will reform the EU’s economic and fiscal governance framework. The main objective of the reform is to ensure sound and sustainable public finances, while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in all member states through reforms and investment. “The new legislation will significantly improve the existing framework and provide effective and applicable […]