Rapporteur Talks

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has forced the EU to radically revise its strategy - both internally and in the global arena. Similarly, Germany’s priorities for its EU Council Presidency have also changed. Although the main priority is overcoming the consequences of the crisis together with economic and social recovery, close international cooperation with Europe’s partners remains high on the agenda.Germany is conscious of the EU’s responsibility to help shape the global order in the spirit of stronger international coordination and cooperation, as well as greater sustainability and solidarity. Part of this overall objective will be an attempt to increase comprehensive and active cooperation between the EU and the United States, including broad-based political dialogue and a positive transatlantic trade agenda. Due to its politically steered system, economically modernised China has developed into an antipole to the United States. The EU must decide how to position itself in this situation.

The plant-based food market is booming in Europe and predicted to grow further in the coming years. The market is expected to increase to 2.4bn euros in 2025, from 1.5bn euros in 2018.In the EU, terms like “almond milk” or “vegan cheese” are already prohibited. In 2019, a report by the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee included an amendment that proposes to further restrict the naming of dairy alternatives by prohibiting terms, such as “yoghurt style”, “alternative to cheese” or “butter substitute,” along with legislation that prohibits plant-based foods from ‘imitation or evocation’ of their dairy counterparts. This is in parallel to another amendment which effectively seeks to ban plant-based alternatives to meat from using names like “vegan steak” or “plant-based chicken.” A key question is how these amendments may impact consumers.

The plant-based food market is booming in Europe and predicted to grow further in the coming years. The market is expected to increase to 2.4bn euros in 2025, from 1.5bn euros in 2018.In the EU, terms like “almond milk” or “vegan cheese” are already prohibited. In 2019, a report by the European Parliament’s AGRI Committee included an amendment that proposes to further restrict the naming of dairy alternatives by prohibiting terms, such as “yoghurt style”, “alternative to cheese” or “butter substitute,” along with legislation that prohibits plant-based foods from ‘imitation or evocation’ of their dairy counterparts. This is in parallel to another amendment which effectively seeks to ban plant-based alternatives to meat from using names like “vegan steak” or “plant-based chicken.” A key question is how these amendments may impact consumers.

The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the on-going threat of climate change, has put the spotlight on Europe's food and drink sector. Suppliers, distributors and retailers have a collective responsibility to ensure their produce remains safe, nutritious, affordable and plentiful....observing the best sustainable practices throughout the process.

To achieve this, stakeholders along the supply chain will need help to mitigate and adapt to current threats. Access to the best science and innovation will be key. Although much progress has already been achieved by the sector, the diverse number and type of breweries must continue to make improvements in areas such as the use of water, energy, transport and packaging.

The brewing sector is central to a circular European economy and progress goes hand-in hand with the aims of the new European Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy. Committing to reduce CO2 emissions, waste and providing the reuse of secondary products through innovative processes and solutions must become standard practice for the sector.

The Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the on-going threat of climate change, has put the spotlight on Europe's food and drink sector. Suppliers, distributors and retailers have a collective responsibility to ensure their produce remains safe, nutritious, affordable and plentiful....observing the best sustainable practices throughout the process.

To achieve this, stakeholders along the supply chain will need help to mitigate and adapt to current threats. Access to the best science and innovation will be key. Although much progress has already been achieved by the sector, the diverse number and type of breweries must continue to make improvements in areas such as the use of water, energy, transport and packaging.

The brewing sector is central to a circular European economy and progress goes hand-in hand with the aims of the new European Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy. Committing to reduce CO2 emissions, waste and providing the reuse of secondary products through innovative processes and solutions must become standard practice for the sector.

Since the publication of the Sustainable Finance Package in 2018, the European Commission has sent clear messages to investors in Europe that the financial sector must not harm the planet and its citizens, and must avoid green washing.The objectives of the Green Deal build on the ambition to make Europe's economy the most sustainable in the world. Sustainable finance is supporting the Green Deal in channeling investments into the transition towards a climate-neutral economy. This will not only affect the financial industry, but it will also change the real economy.The decision about which projects, technologies and industrial products can obtain financing implies opportunities for companies as well as risks. Industry argues that such top-down decisions, if not made carefully, can cause damage to Europe's industrial fabric. Policymakers have the task to create a framework that is also pursued by the financial sector, encouraging sustainable practices, instead of defining concrete technologies.

Since the publication of the Sustainable Finance Package in 2018, the European Commission has sent clear messages to investors in Europe that the financial sector must not harm the planet and its citizens, and must avoid green washing.The objectives of the Green Deal build on the ambition to make Europe's economy the most sustainable in the world. Sustainable finance is supporting the Green Deal in channeling investments into the transition towards a climate-neutral economy. This will not only affect the financial industry, but it will also change the real economy.The decision about which projects, technologies and industrial products can obtain financing implies opportunities for companies as well as risks. Industry argues that such top-down decisions, if not made carefully, can cause damage to Europe's industrial fabric. Policymakers have the task to create a framework that is also pursued by the financial sector, encouraging sustainable practices, instead of defining concrete technologies.

The world is drowning in plastic. About 60% of the more than 8,700 million metric tonnes of plastic ever made is no longer in use, instead sat mostly in landfill or released to the environment. That equals over 400kg of plastic waste for every one of the 7.6 billion people on the planet.

There are several legislative proposals trying to address the issue. The Circular Plastic Alliance aims at reaching 10 millions tonnes of recycled content on the EU market by 2025, the EU Single-Use Plastic Directive requires to integrate 25% recycled plastic by 2025 in PET bottles and 30% by 2030 in all types of beverage bottles, and the EU Plastic Strategy aims to make all plastic packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.

The Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan says it will support projects "exploring the potential of chemical recycling". Chemical recycling means recycling of plastics into feedstock for new chemicals. The chemical recycling technology serves a dual purpose – it reduces the amount of plastic waste, and improves resource efficiency.

Mechanical recycling still plays an important role. Currently, one-third of post-consumer plastic waste is collected for recycling in Europe, but less is actually recycled. The European target for plastic packaging is to recycle 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030. Therefore, mechanical recycling is not enough. Industry argues that a combination of both solutions can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste and improve the circularity of plastic.

Yet some civil society voices warn against placing too much faith in chemical recycling, since the technologies are young and under-analysed, especially on their environmental impact. They maintain that refusing as much plastic as possible in the first place is still the best solution.

The world is drowning in plastic. About 60% of the more than 8,700 million metric tonnes of plastic ever made is no longer in use, instead sat mostly in landfill or released to the environment. That equals over 400kg of plastic waste for every one of the 7.6 billion people on the planet.

There are several legislative proposals trying to address the issue. The Circular Plastic Alliance aims at reaching 10 millions tonnes of recycled content on the EU market by 2025, the EU Single-Use Plastic Directive requires to integrate 25% recycled plastic by 2025 in PET bottles and 30% by 2030 in all types of beverage bottles, and the EU Plastic Strategy aims to make all plastic packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.

The Commission’s Circular Economy Action Plan says it will support projects "exploring the potential of chemical recycling". Chemical recycling means recycling of plastics into feedstock for new chemicals. The chemical recycling technology serves a dual purpose – it reduces the amount of plastic waste, and improves resource efficiency.

Mechanical recycling still plays an important role. Currently, one-third of post-consumer plastic waste is collected for recycling in Europe, but less is actually recycled. The European target for plastic packaging is to recycle 50% by 2025 and 55% by 2030. Therefore, mechanical recycling is not enough. Industry argues that a combination of both solutions can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste and improve the circularity of plastic.

Yet some civil society voices warn against placing too much faith in chemical recycling, since the technologies are young and under-analysed, especially on their environmental impact. They maintain that refusing as much plastic as possible in the first place is still the best solution.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore the untapped potential for the deployment of digital health tools in Europe. Digital tools can empower citizens to manage their own health, allow healthcare workers to treat patients remotely, enable beneficial research efforts, and equip authorities to accurately track public health through data.A successful digital health transformation requires empowering citizens to access, understand and trust the benefits that new technologies can bring into their lives. Only through a wide uptake of digital tools can these solutions significantly improve both the quality of health services and citizens’ well-being. Citizens’ empowerment must be put at the centre of European digital policymaking.During this Roundtable event, the All Policies for a Healthy Europe coalition will discuss the work of its Digital Working Group, focusing on how the European Union can ensure that citizens are fully empowered and truly engaged in the development of digital health & well-being. The coalition is working on a Policy Paper tackling three key aspects of the digital transformation of healthcare and how they relate to the empowerment of EU citizens; Digital Skills & Literacy, the European Health Data Space and the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI).