Euractiv.com

European actions have had a clear positive impact on animal welfare, according to the European Commission, as part of its reaction to a European Court of Auditors (ECA) report, which questioned the implementation of the second EU Strategy for the Protection and Welfare of Animals.

Each year Europe wastes millions of tonnes of valuable metals by landfilling or exporting them. How can policy measures increase the recovery of these materials?

The new EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement will give an economic boost and help European firms access markets that are technology-rich and can pay for innovation. It is an agreement that can help overcome pessimism about trade and global cooperation, and show that countries can work constructively together, writes Fredrik Erixon.

With biodiversity in drastic decline, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh is a crucial moment. As the international community negotiates a new global biodiversity framework, the EU must become a leader for nature conservation, both globally and at home, argues Ester Asin.

EURACTIV and ZN Consulting have once again come together to create the list of the most influential people in the Brussels bubble TwitterSphere. The ranking was unveiled during an event in which the #EUinfluencers discussed the influence of social media on the upcoming European Parliament elections.

Pessimists in the EU say the Brexit saga couldn't get any messier. Optimists say: yes, it can.

After 17 months of negotiations, with less than 140 days before the UK is officially set to exit the EU, Brussels and London reached an agreement late Wednesday (14 November) on the terms of their divorce. However, the work is far from complete. Below is an overview of the next steps leading to the UK's withdrawal.

Spain will close the last of its nuclear reactors and coal power plants before 2030, according to State Secretary for Energy José Dominguez, who made the announcement shortly after Madrid pledged to work towards a completely renewable electricity system.

EU lawmakers stressed on Wednesday (14 November) the need for tougher checks on EU arms exports and demanded a sanction mechanism to be put in place on those countries that systematically fail to comply with common criteria.

A new government report detailing Germany’s failure to cut emissions increases pressure on the country’s coal commission to agree on a speedy phase-out plan. Its members enter a critical stage this week as they focus on tangible proposals. EURACTIV’s media partner Clean Energy Wire reports.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled on Thursday (15 November) that Russia’s repeated arrests and detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny were politically-motivated and breached his human rights, a decision certain to displease the Kremlin.

A group of 15 Western ambassadors in Beijing, spearheaded by Canada, are seeking a meeting with the top official in China’s restive, heavily Muslim Xinjiang region for an explanation of alleged rights abuses against ethnic Uighurs.

Prime Minister Theresa May battled on Thursday (15 November) to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest at an agreement they say will trap Britain in the bloc's orbit for years.

A marine turbine submerged 55 metres deep in the Fromveur passage, a strait off Western French coast known for its strong current, has produced 15% of the electricity needed by Ouessant Island since mid-October. EURACTIV France reports.

Europe’s fossil fuel-dependent regions could benefit from an additional €5 billion under the next EU budget, thanks to a proposal endorsed by the European Parliament. But it could complicate already complex talks with the Council, which is eager to cut future spending.

The tentative Brexit deal grudgingly approved by the British cabinet on Wednesday (14 November) could yet fall apart, but for one man it is already a personal victory.

There can be no wind or solar energy, no smart grids and no electric vehicles without copper, aluminium or steel, to name but a few. What Europe must do is enable advanced processing of materials in order to close the loop, writes Dr Katia Lacasse.

British Prime Minister Theresa May won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday (14 November), but getting parliament to approve the agreement is a much bigger challenge.

Protecting your health, eating good products and avoiding courgettes in winter… In street interviews at the Aligre market in Paris’ 12th arrondissement, Parisians showed their considerable concern for the food they eat.

Electricity prices regulated by the government are commonplace in Europe, chiefly out of concern for vulnerable consumers. But they also undermine the adoption of innovative demand-response technologies, which are key to integrate higher shares of renewables and electric cars.