"The Central and Eastern Europe energy sector should speak with one voice today

In these difficult times when the Russian aggression against Ukraine forces EU member states to redefine the energy sector and changes the way of thinking about energy security, the strong voice of the Central and Easter"

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"n Europe countries will be an added value during the discussions about the future of the EU energy market. Only joint European-wide effort will allow us to overcome the crisis and emerge stronger from it.

Wojciech Dąbrowski is the President of the Management Board of Polish Electricity Association (PKEE) and PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna.

Time for reunion

Europe is in a serious crisis that has affected not only the entire continent but also a large part of the world. Just when it seemed to us that we were recovering from the perturbations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine started. The effects of this invasion are visible in many areas. Therefore, in the face of the collapse of the existing security architecture and cooperation systems, it is particularly important that we build strong and stable relationships with appropriate, trusted partners. With this in mind, on the initiative of the Polish Electricity Association, the Central and Eastern European Energy Forum was held in Warsaw on November 7-8. During the conference, representatives of the largest energy groups from the region and industry experts discussed issues such as energy security and the future of the EU energy sector.

Central and Eastern Europe – many countries, one spirit

The countries of Central and Eastern Europe share a common history. It combines comprehension and understanding of certain phenomena. We have emerged from behind the Iron Curtain, we are part of the European Union and we are implementing many projects aimed at increasing the energy security of our region.

Investments such as the Polish gas terminal in Świnoujście or the Lithuanian LNG terminal in Klaipeda, the Baltic Pipe, Poland-Lithuania interconnector, Poland-Slovakia interconnector and the Poland-Czech Republic gas pipeline confirm that diversifying sources is an effective method of minimizing the negative effects of dependence on supplies from only one direction. In addition, created in cooperation with Polish Transmission System Operator – Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne and Lithuanian Litgrid the LitPol Link grid connection has been operating since 2015. The synchronization of the Baltic republics with the European energy network will be completed by a second connection – the Harmony Link submarine cable. The cooperation of the Baltic states may also be extend to the development of offshore wind energy. Both Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are planning investments in this area.

Cooperation can only be born of dialogue. Only a constructive debate prepares a gradual change that takes into account all stakeholders. And only in such conditions

"Enforcement and scope subjects of EU Council’s text on political ads

Details on enforcement jurisdiction and a formalised list of what does not count as political advertising are among the changes included in the Czech Council Presidency’s latest compromise text on the political advertising regulat"

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Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

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END AD---"

"ion.

The text, dated Tuesday (15 November) and obtained by Contexte, was circulated ahead of the Council’s General Affairs Working Group meeting for this Friday.

The original proposal was put forward by the Commission in 2020 as a key component of the EU Executive’s Democracy Action Plan, intended to bolster transparency in political advertising and tackle disinformation in election campaigns.

The plan is for the legislation to take effect ahead of the next round of European Parliament elections in spring 2024, although the slow progress on the file is now putting that timeline into question.

EU Commission presents new rules for political ads

The European Commission launched a proposal to regulate political advertising, introducing transparency obligations for marketers and strict limits to the use of sensitive personal information.

The proposal was published on Thursday (25 November) to protect the electoral process and democratic debate …

Enforcement

Amongst the subjects amended in the new text is enforcement. Under the compromise, responsibility for ensuring compliance with the regulation will lie with authorities in the member state where the ad service provider is established.

Where providers are established in multiple states, enforcement will be in the hands of the country’s government in which its main establishment is located.

The text also proposes further detail to the requirement that service providers without an establishment in the EU nominate a legal representative to be registered in a member state.

Previous texts required member states to maintain a publicly-available register of these legal representatives. The compromise text amends this to specify that each government must designate a competent authority responsible for publishing and updating a website containing information on these representatives.

The Commission will then be required to establish a central portal linking to all respective member state sites.

MEPs seek to streamline enforcement in EU's political ads rulebook

The MEPs from the leading parliamentary committee have tabled a series of amendments on the upcoming rules for political advertising, notably on the implementation, sanction regime, definition and public ad repositories.

Definitions

The new text also includes a clarified and formalised list of what is not included in the definition of “political advertising”. Previous texts stipulated that this would not encompass political opinions expressed editorially by media or messages from official sources related to the organisation of or participation in elections.

In the new text, the list of exemptions has been formalised to also inclu

"Treaty against plastic pollution: for the integration of the Extended Producer Responsibility model at the international level

On March 2, the United Nations Environment Assembly agreed on a resolution to end plastic pollution with a legally binding international agreement by 2024. The negotiations"

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END AD---"

" to come over the next two years will therefore open up a number of perspectives.

Among them, the question of producer responsibility for the life cycle of their products. Even before the negotiations begin, one thing is certain: all the solutions and tools that will be included in the final text will depend on the concerted action of all the players. In this context, we defend the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model as an essential tool in the fight against plastic pollution.

Extended producer responsibility: a catalyst for solutions

Based on the polluter pays principle, Extended Producer Responsibility makes producers and industrials responsible, including financially, for the end-of-life of the products they put on the market. The first EPR schemes were created to meet this obligation. EPR has several advantages in the specific management of plastic products. On the one hand, it encourages companies to enter a circular economy logic in the design of their products thanks to an eco-contribution that can be modulated according to bonuses/malus, thus encouraging the use of fair packaging and recyclable materials. On the other hand, based on a partnership between companies and local authorities under the aegis of the State, it allows the sustainable financing of the public service of waste management, while reinforcing its efficiency. Finally, it can encourage citizens to sort their waste and to turn to more responsible consumption patterns. Each actor of the value chain is thus invested in the good circularity of products and the reduction of their pollution.

A favorable international dynamic

Building on its success in France and Germany – two pioneering countries in this field – EPR has been widely deployed around the world, particularly over the past decade. In Asia, for example, Japan and South Korea have well-established models, while China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam are developing similar systems. The same is true for Latin America, where Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia have legislative frameworks in place to allow for the deployment of EPR systems. While they differ significantly from country to country, properly and effectively designed models function as solution gas pedals.

At the international level, in addition to making companies responsible for environmental and resource protection, EPR strengthens the traceability and control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes in accordance with the Basel Convention. EPR could also play a key social role in integrating semi-formal and informal workers in the waste sector, thereby improving their working conditions and livelihoods.

For the integration

"Consumers should not foot the bill for bad financial advice

The European Commission should ban sales commissions that financial advisers receive when they sell financial products as this distorts incentives and leaves retail investors worse off, argues Monique Goyens.

Monique Goyens is the directo"

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Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

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END AD---"

"r general of the European Consumer Organisation BEUC.

Consumers rely on financial advice at many different stages in their lives. Whether it’s about making a retirement plan decision, buying or renovating a home, or saving to cope with the uncertainties the future might bring. That’s why retail investing is not a luxury pastime for a lucky few, but a mass market that needs to work for people.

However, this market is currently failing consumers massively. That’s because the financial advice model in Europe is broken. Financial advisers often receive commissions (also known as ‘kickbacks’) for recommending financial products to consumers, whether they are in their best interests or not.

This has led to countless mis-selling scandals across Europe, with consumers left picking up the pieces for bad-quality advice.

This winter the European Commission is set to review the performance of retail investment markets, with its Retail Investment Strategy.

It’s a major opportunity to finally fix financial advice in Europe and improve the financial well-being of consumers which, with the rising cost of living, is under increasing pressure.

Why does it matter to consumers?

Consumers are paying a heavy price for the state of the retail investment market. Being sold the wrong financial products can mean significant harm. This is not collateral damage, but real people suffering real financial harm because of a malfunctioning market.

Take the example of Emiliano from Spain. He invested on his bank’s advice with a “guaranteed” interest rate of 7%. When that turned out not to be the case, he really struggled to get his money back.

Or take a look at Ramūnas from Lithuania, who was recommended a supposedly attractive investment by his bank. This turned out to be a risky loan and he ended up facing endless court proceedings.

But it is not just consumers ending up in court. Imagine saving €100 per month for your retirement in a savings account offering a generous 7% interest per year. After 40 years, you would have saved up €257,531 to enjoy during retirement.

Now imagine you have to pay 2% in costs for the product, reducing the interest to 5%. The result would be just €153,408 – a 40% reduction! For many people, this can be the difference between a decent retirement and poverty in old age.

Mis-selling also affects consumers in less perceptible ways too: People who could – and should – invest but do not because the lacklustre performance of financial products discourages market participation, leaving an even greater gap in European pension systems.

Why is this happening?

European consumer financial markets are organised in a dysfunctional way. The core is

"Empowering consumers to make healthy food choices

As part of the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy, at the end of the year the European Commission will propose a harmonised mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling system. This is designed to help consumers make informed, sustainable and health-consciou"

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"s food choices across Member States. The Commission’s proposal will also include setting up nutrient profiles to restrict the promotion of foods high in fat, sugars and/or salt with the aim of facilitating a shift to healthier diets and to drive food reformulation.

There is a lot at stake for consumer choice. According to the wider food and beverage industry, the upcoming proposal should be easy to interpret and, based on dietary guidelines, ensure that consumers are well informed about the nutritional benefits of food and drink products. But some industry stakeholders are concerned that the focus of EU policymakers on specific nutrients risks entrenching negative perceptions around certain food products, despite scientific evidence that supports their positive contribution to European diets.

Rewatch this EURACTIV Hybrid Conference to find out the importance of a balanced approach in assessing the nutritional benefits of beverages and food products. What are the potential implications of a new, mandatory front-of-pack labelling system to help inform consumer choices? Taking the example of the fruit juice sector, the debate discussed the latest policy developments, industry perspectives and scientific research in this area and look ahead at what to expect in 2023

>> Click here for more information about the event.

>> Click here to check out our upcoming events.

https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/video/empowering-consumers-to-make-healthy-food-choices/?utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9715&pnespid=sbx9VnwcO65Fy6Od_SjqAcuMrg6iRJd1KLemnPltp01mPyZbuGJ3LMXoBxp5OCpzyH.kPfoJag

"

"Mélenchon’s party to propose non-vaccinated health staff be reinstated in France

Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s radical left-wing group La France Insoumise (LFI) will present a bill to lawmakers next week aimed at reinstating health workers who did not get the COVID-19 vaccine, though it remains uncertain wh"

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"ether other left-wing parties will back it.

Read the original French article here.

The bill, which aims to reinstate non-vaccinated health workers who have been out of work since June of last year, echoes a decision made by Giorgia Meloni’s new government in Italy just last week.

“It’s been a year that these staff have been suspended, that they demand to come back to work,” Caroline Fiat, the party’s vice-president in the Assembly and the bill’s first signatory, told a press conference on Tuesday (15 November).

There are “between 5,000 and 10,000 people who want to work and to whom it is prohibited,” Fiat said, referring to the current shortage of health and nursing shortage in the country for which Health Minister François Braun’s entourage told EURACTIV it “only concerns a few hundred carers”.

The bill may be transitional, according to Fiat, meaning that it would expire at the point France’s High Health Authority (HAS) lifts the vaccination obligation. However, this has yet to be confirmed by HAS.

The bill will be presented and voted on on Thursday (24 November).

Negative test needed

To respect a “specific health protocol”, the bill proposes to reinstate staff as long as they are subjected “to the daily presentation of a negative screening test.”

To avoid non-vaccinated staff footing the bill, the radical-left group wants the state to cover the costs, via an increase in the real estate wealth tax.

The Green Party, which like LFI is part of the left-wing alliance NUPES, would have “freedom to vote because there are two lines on this text”, a source from the Green group told EURACTIV.

The Socialist and Communist groups, also in NUPES, did not yet respond to EURACTIV’s questions at the time of writing.

French elections: what does the left-wing bloc have in store for health?

As French President Emmanuel Macron recently promised to overhaul the functioning of hospitals, EURACTIV France takes a closer look at what the new left-wing alliance formed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon is proposing for the ailing health sector.

Government majority worried

Braun already expressed concern about the “surprising” proposal in front of deputies last week.

“It is misleading to believe that the reintegration of these non-vaccinated carers would be a miracle answer to the difficulties of the hospital and our health system in general,” the health ministry’s entourage said.

The matter was referred this summer to the High Health Authority and the Scientific Committee – now the National Consultative Ethics Committee (CCNE) – though the two gave converging opinions, the minister’s entourage explained.

The High Authority is expected to deliver a new opinion on t

"Responsible marketing can prevent young people from vaping, says industry

This article is part of our special report Vaping advertising in the EU.

Ahead of the European Commission’s revision of the European tobacco framework, the vaping industry has set itself new rules to better regulate advertis"

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"ing around the e-cigarette and reduce the attractiveness of these products to minors.

In Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the Commission announced a revision of the 2014 Tobacco products directive which also includes provisions for restricting the advertising and promotion of electronic cigarettes and refill containers.

However, around four in ten (39%) respondents in a Eurobarometer published in February 2021 said they have seen advertisements or promotions for e-cigarettes, liquids or refill cartridges.

In particular, those aged 15 to 17 were more likely to be exposed to online promotion in social networks or blogs (60% compared to 33% of those aged 18-24), but less likely to mention sales points (19% compared with 40%).

In a recent interview, Italian MEP Alessandra Moretti told EURACTIV it has been “amply demonstrated” that new tobacco products can act as a gateway for a new generation of smokers, and that “the US Food and Drugs Administration has officially declared the dramatic spread of these devices among the young and very young to be an ‘epidemic'”.

“Unfortunately, they are the means of hooking the new generations into nicotine addiction, since the old cigarette is no longer attractive to young people,” she said adding that this worrying attractiveness for young people and non-smokers needs an update of both European and Italian legislation.

In its report on the application of the directive, the Commission underlined that the application of the advertising restriction “continues to be challenging, especially in information society services and on social media where young people are particularly exposed/targeted’.

Protecting minors from vaping was one of the priorities included in the latest version of a responsible marketing code for the electronic cigarette presented by the industry association Independent European Vape Alliance (IEVA) in October. The Code was established by IEVA and other national associations.

“Youth protection is the main objective of this code,” IEVA’s president, Dustin Dahlmann, explained in a webinar to present the code.

In other words, advertising should never be aimed at minors. “E-cigarette marketing is focused exclusively on adult smokers, no child or teenager should ever use an electronic cigarette,” Dahlmann stressed.

Protecting youth

While at the moment the number of minors smoking electronic cigarettes is quite low, in recent months, international studies have shown the rise of vaping among young people, webinar participants warned.

Dahlmann stressed a certain tendency to ‘talk’ in the media about electronic cigarettes without alerting to the fact that young teenagers smoke them, and that this

"Vaping advertising in the EU

Advertisement of e-cigarettes is expected to come under increased scrutiny by policymakers in the much-awaited revision of the EU’s tobacco products framework.

Despite existing restrictions on advertisements or promotions for e-cigarettes, liquids or refill cartridges,"

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" youngsters still seem particularly exposed or targeted.

In this series of articles, EURACTIV looks into the recent developments related to the responsible marketing of vaping products.

Responsible marketing can prevent young people from vaping, says industry

News | Health Nov 16, 2022

Ahead of the European Commission’s revision of the European tobacco framework, the vaping industry has set itself new rules to better regulate advertising around the e-cigarette and reduce the attractiveness of these products to minors.

https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/special_report/vaping-advertising-in-the-eu/?utm_source=piano&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=9715&pnespid=qeR7UidIbqQUiuLdq2ruGs6HtgjwTZ4oc_y3zrJ1sBZmHSyIzigcSv4u4nSThxhxu8WzulfmwA

"

"EU health data space impossible without trust, Commissioner says

As the EU executive’s proposal for an EU health data space moves forward, experts and Commissioners emphasised that it will not be workable without a significant degree of trust from citizens.

“Health data is the blood running throug"

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Smooth Radio Malta is Malta’s number one digital radio station, playing Your Relaxing Favourites - Smooth provides a ‘clutter free’ mix, appealing to a core 35-59 audience offering soft adult contemporary classics. We operate a playlist of popular tracks which is updated on a regular basis. https://smooth.com.mt/listen/

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END AD---"

"h the veins of our healthcare systems,” said Fulvia Raffaelli, Head of the Digital Health unit at European Commission’s DG SANTE during a discussion at the European Public Health Conference in Berlin on Thursday (10 November).

The European Health Data Space (EHDS), presented by the Commission this May, aims to regulate the transmission and sharing of health data across the EU for both private individuals and researchers or policymakers.

The proposal is expected to save over €10 billion over a decade, the Commission’s Raffaelli said. Over 10 years, expanded use of primary health data – that of individuals – should reduce the number of unnecessary tests and result in financial benefits of at least €5.5 billion while better efficiency of the secondary use health data – that for use by researchers and policymakers – is expected to bring benefits of at least €5.4 billion.

The Commissioner is hopeful that the EHDS, one of the central building blocks of the European Health Union, will be finalised by June 2024.

The aim is to have the EHDS up and running in 2025, though Iveta Nagyova, president of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) described this as “quite ambitious”.

Making data fair, findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable across the EU is not an easy task, when Europe’s health information systems are diverse and countries are at different stages of digitalisation, not forgetting loopholes in digital literacy.

But this is not only about technology – it is about trust.

“EHDS will also have to be transparent to ensure the privacy of personal information included in EHDS,” Nagyova said.

“And is there enough trust among citizens, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, where we are experiencing a loss of trust in authorities?” she asked.

Doctors concerned about medical ethics in European health data space

European doctors have raised concerns about medical ethics, the burden on doctors, and the national competence of member states in the European Commission’s proposal for the European Health Data Space (EHDS), currently being discussed in the European Council and Parliament.

Trust is the key

Based on a survey by the European Patients’ Forum (EPF) in 2020, more than 50% of respondents were happy to share their data for research and public health purposes even without consent, or with very broad consent. Around 35% wanted stricter consent provisions.

But this is possible only if citizens trust EHDS, said Kaisa Immonen, director of policy at the EPF.

The main concern for the patient community is that data might get into ”the wrong hands”, such as insurance providers, employers or non-medical companies, Immonen said. If

"How the EU plans to win the global race for Critical Raw Materials

This article is part of our special report The EU’s critical raw materials act.

Metals like lithium and rare earths are considered crucial to the green and digital transition. Amid a global scramble to access these resources, the E"

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"U is aiming to secure its piece of the cake by enacting new legislation – the Critical Raw Materials Act.

According to the World Bank, global demand for critical raw materials is expected to skyrocket 500% by 2050, causing sharp price rises and increased supply risks in the near future.

“We are experiencing a global race for the supply and recycling of critical raw materials,” European internal market commissioner Thierry Breton said in a statement.

In such a competitive environment, the EU’s objective is to secure stable supplies, boost its strategic autonomy and decrease its dependency on imports.

These will be the main objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act, which is scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2023.

Building on recent experience in the area of batteries and semiconductors, the EU aims to boost its domestic production, diversify its supply chain and ramp up recycling efforts.

No green and digital transition without raw materials, EU warns

Europe’s transition to a sustainable and digital society is only possible with a strategic approach to the raw materials needed to manufacture chips, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies, the EU’s internal market Commissioner Thierry Breton said on Monday (25 April).

Growing demand

The EU has so far classified 30 raw materials as critical, depending on their supply risk and economic importance. With its Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU aims to update this list and take a more targeted approach in securing related supply chains.

Demand for lithium for instance is expected to skyrocket 20 times by 2050, while demand for graphite and rare earths are expected to jump 14 and 5 times respectively already by 2030.

Given that all of these critical raw materials are essential parts for most batteries, the success of the green transition depends on their steady supply.

Some raw materials have already seen unprecedented price surges. Lithium prices, for example, have already risen by 400% between May 2021 and May 2022.

Given the sharp increase in demand across the board, identifying the most critical raw materials is no easy task.

“With the recent energy crisis, it’s difficult to prioritise because all critical raw materials are becoming super critical now,” Bernd Schäfer, CEO and Managing Director of EIT RawMaterials told EURACTIV.

Diversification

When it comes to the mining, refining and processing of raw materials, China stands out as the dominant global player.

Out of the 30 critical raw materials, 19 are predominantly imported from China. The EU is, for instance, currently importing 93% of its magnesium and 86% of its rare earth metals from China