EU: Pesticides in food: what is the European Parliament doing to help?

Europeans are concerned about pesticide residues in food and their
potential effect on health. Find out how MEPs are tackling the issue.

About 50% of the food tested by the European Food Safety Authority
(EFSA) in 2016 contained pesticide residues, with 3.8% exceeding legal
limits.

In the EU, pesticides and the active substances in them are
carefully monitored, but in recent years, concern has been raised over
the approval procedure, especially after controversy about the renewal
of glyphosate approval in 2017.

To better protect people’s health the European Parliament wants action to improve the management of pesticide use in the EU.

More transparent pesticide approval procedure

In February 2018, Parliament appointed a special committee to look into
the EU’s authorisation procedure for pesticides. On 16 January, MEPs
backed the committee’s final report pushing for more transparent
procedures to ensure political accountability.

MEPs recommend that:

*The public should be granted access to studies used in the authorisation procedure

*Manufacturers asking for substance approval should register all
regulatory studies in a public register to ensure all relevant
information is taken into account

*Scientific experts should review studies on carcinogenicity of
glyphosate and maximum residue levels for soils and surface water should
be set

*Pesticides and their active substances should be tested thoroughly,
taking into account cumulative effects and long-term toxicityPesticides
should no longer be used over a wide area near schools, childcare
facilities, playing fields, hospitals, maternity hospitals and care
homes

Better access to studies on food chain safety

In December 2018 Parliament voted in favour of an update of the general
food law regulation covering food safety in EU at all stages of the food
chain, including animal health, plant protection and production.

The proposed new rules aim to improve public access to studies used by
the European Food Safety Agency in the risk assessment of food products,
and to ensure the studies are reliable, objective and independent.

A common European registry would be set up for commissioned studies, so
the European Food Safety Agency can check whether companies are
suppressing any unfavourable studies. If there is reason to doubt the
evidence provided by the applicants, the agency could request additional
studies.

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EU: Pesticides in food: what is the European Parliament doing to help?

Britain- Brexit: For the poor, it’s not Europe that’s the problem. It’s austerity - by William Keegan

As the Brexit farce proceeds, it is worth remembering that before David Cameron made his catastrophic error of calling a referendum, the EU was way down the list of British people’s concerns in almost every opinion poll. Indeed, not even in the first 11.

The central point is that Brexit became the focus for all manner of discontents, many of them understandable. But leaving the EU would indubitably not be the answer to them, and would be guaranteed not to make the discontents into “glorious summer”.

Indeed, it would exacerbate the sources of this discontent. Why? Surely it is becoming increasingly obvious that growing swaths of British industry – much of it foreign-owned by conglomerates that enjoy the advantages of the single market – are cutting back their investment plans and in many cases planning to relocate to mainland Europe. The prospect of the diminution of the economic base of the country has dire implications not only for employment and living standards, but also for the tax base on which living standards depend.

We have spent 45 years becoming an integral region of Europe, creating an economic omelette that no one in their right mind would try to unscramble. Unfortunately there are a lot of not-so-right minds about, some of them in the cabinet, and we have the misfortune to have a prime minister who transmits but does not listen, and is fixated on a treacherous mission.

Read more: For the poor, it’s not Europe that’s the problem. It’s austerity | Business | The Guardian

Germany: Zero tolerance of anti-semitism says Qngela Merkel

Angela Merkel: 'Zero tolerance' of anti-semitism in Germany

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https://p.dw.com/p/3CFdO

CLIMATE CHANGE: doomsday looms - mcloimate change and nuclear Weapons threaten human excistence

Doomsday looms as misinformation, climate change and nuclear weapons threaten human existence

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https://www.euronews.com/2019/01/24/doomsday-looms-as-misinformation-climate-change-and-nuclear-weapons-threaten-human-existen

Brexit: Bye Bye Britain -The Netherlands here we come- More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

The Netherlands: Almere, -one of
 the most modern cities in Europe

Dutch officials are in contact with more than 250 companies about a possible post-Brexit move, the government said on Wednesday, after Sony revealed it would shift its base to the Netherlands.
 
The Dutch government will announce a final figure in February but “every new arrival of a business, big or small, is a success”, Michiel Bakhuizen, a spokesperson for the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, told AFP.

Japanese electronics giant Sony is following Panasonic in moving its European headquarters across the North Sea to the Netherlands ahead of Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU in March.

While Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a recent visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that he “doesn’t see Brexit as a business opportunity”, the Netherlands has still pushed hard to win post-Brexit investment.

Via the investment agency, the Dutch government is “in contact with more than 250 interested in an eventual move to the Netherlands because of Brexit”, Bakhuizen said. “The number of businesses we are in contact with for a possible arrival is growing. At the start of 2017 it was 80, at the start of 2018 150, and now it’s more than 250.

“This increase will continue and it’s not strange, because there is great uncertainty at the moment in Britain. And if there is one thing that’s bad for business, it’s uncertainty.”

The spokesperson said he would not comment on “individual” cases such as Sony, but added that the Netherlands welcomed any such decision. “In mid-February we will announce the number of companies that have left the UK for the Netherlands because of Brexit,” he said.

Asked whether Abe’s visit had helped with the Sony move, the spokesperson said that “it’s certain that these political and diplomatic moments help”.

However, Rutte warned in a press conference with Abe that any extra investments would be offset by the overall “negative impact” of Brexit, particularly if Britain crashes out without a deal with the EU.
Dutch officials said this week they are preparing for the “blue sea of uncertainty” that a no-deal Brexit would create.

Dutch foreign minister Stef Blok told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that “we have started early with our preparations but, of course, it has become more intensive because of a possible no-deal Brexit”.

There is a famous Dutch saying which goes as follows: "de een zijn dood, is de ander z'n brood". which in English would translate to :"their loss, your gain" - Yes indeed, if Brexit happens, the Netherlands could "laugh all the way to the bank". 

Read more at: More than 250 firms interested in Brexit move to The Netherlands

Venezuela: EU working on joint Venezuela statement - by Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

EU member states are consulting on a joint reaction to the latest developments in Venezuela, a statement from French president’s office said Wednesday.

“France is consulting with its European partners about the situation in Venezuela, the president's office said on Wednesday as the South American country's opposition leader declared himself interim president,” read a statement from Emmanuel Macron’s office.

Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrel said a joint statement from the EU on the situation is important amid demands of the government from the right-wing opposition to recognize Juan Guaido as president

.

Some Venezuelans living in the Spanish capital of Madrid who celebrated the developments in a main square were joined by the leader of main opposition party, the People’s Party.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass also said a joint response is being worked on with EU partners.

"We call on all actors Venezuela in prudence and to refrain from violence," he said. “ [We] Will coordinate a joint response with our EU partners,” he said.

Britain’s Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Alan Duncan said on Twitter he was “following the situation in Venezuela carefully’ and “Juan Guaido has widespread support among Venezuelans.”

He said: “The political crisis has gone on long enough. Now is the time to find a way forward that leads to a peaceful solution for all Venezuelans.”

Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen also took to the Twitter.

“New hope in Venezuela. Denmark will always support legitimate elected democratic institutions- not least the parliamentary assembly including Juan Guaido,” he said. “Working for a strong EU statement.”

Meanwhile, Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, urged the EU to recognize Guaido as president.

“The US, Canada & many crucial EU partners in Latin American have recognised @Jguaido as President of #Venezuela & the EU should do the same,” he said on Twitter.

“He is the only legitimately elected representative of the Venezuelan people & authorities must guarantee his fundamental rights & security,” Verhofstadt wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Washington would recognize opposition leader Guaido as interim president.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has slammed the decision and said his country was cutting off diplomatic relations with the U.S., giving American diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.

Maduro made the announcement while speaking to supporters who gathered at the Presidential Palace in the capital of Caracas.

EU-Digest

Germany: Merkel and Macron sign newTreaty of Aachen to revive EU

Merkel and Macron sign Treaty of Aachen to revive EU 

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https://p.dw.com/p/3Bvdi