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The EU wine sector launches the "Wine Information Council"

As a key commitment to the “EU Alcohol & Health Forum”, the “Wine Information Council” aims at disseminating science based information on Health, Cultural and Social Aspects of Wine consumption, and on best practices to promote moderation and responsibility in the wine consumption across Europe.

Parliament will not act as rubber-stamp for unsatisfactory Council accounts

"It is nothing short of absurd that the Council is not present to listen to this debate" said GUE/NGL MEP Søren Søndergaard speaking during this afternoon's plenary on his report on the Parliamentary discharge for the Council's budget for 2007.

The general debate on the reports on the budget discharges for all the EU institutions was held yesterday (Tuesday 21 April) but the report on the Council discharge was scheduled exceptionally for today so that Council representatives could answer some outstanding questions.

Exclusive: key figures from ICSG’s annual report on copper usage and recycling

The copper industry supported by recycling in Europe Brussels, 27 April 2009 – In 2007 copper has been used in increasing quantities around the world, according to the latest report by the International Copper Study Group (ICSG). Total usage reached 23.7 tonnes in 2007, up 5% on 2006. The copper recycling rate stayed above the average of the last few years with a particularly successful performance in Europe where 41% of copper usage was from recycling.

GUE/NGL demands public control of the markets as well as radical action for jobs and workers

"The stability of the financial markets is a public good and should be publicly controlled," said Sahra Wagenknecht (GUE/NGL, Germany) during a debate on proposed measures to combat the financial crisis this morning in the European Parliament. "If left to the markets, we end up with speculation being driven to the limit and the community being called upon to pay for losses. Self-regulation has clearly failed."

Statement by Francis Wurtz, President of GUE/NGL, on the conclusions of the G20 summit in London

The evaluation of the results of the G20 that we have just heard - "success story"; "turning point in the crisis"; "huge success for the European Union" raises, in my opinion, two questions: the first involves the analysis of the current world financial system to which Europe, we have seen, is closely connected.

In two votes the European Parliament expresses its broad support for Smart Metering: Every household in the EU to be fitted with Smart Meters by 2022

Brussels The European Parliament has voted twice in the last week to support the rollout of Smart Metering in the European Union. The European Smart Metering Industry Group (ESMIG) applauds the European Parliament‟s decisions and welcomes the increasing momentum for Smart Metering in Europe as a result of EU support. On 22 April 2009, the European Parliament approved an agreement reached by the EU Institutions on a package of legislation to liberalise EU energy markets.

European Parliament votes in favour of impractical passenger rights rules

The IRU appeals to the Council and the next European Parliament to rectify the unacceptable situation created by yesterday's vote by MEPs and to adopt practical and adapted rules on passenger rights in EU bus and coach transport services, based on a sound impact assessment.

Brussels – At one of its last plenary votes before the European elections this summer, the Members of the European Parliament voted (in first reading) in favour of impractical and unbalanced rules on passenger rights in EU bus and coach transport services.

On 23 April 2009, the European Parliament ENVI Working Group on Health held a debate on “What is the Added Value of EU health policies for National Health Systems?” During the discussions, there was a special emphasis on the financial crisis and its implications on the Health Gap between "Old" and "New" Member States.

This event was hosted by MEP Georgs Andrejevs (speech attached) and organised in collaboration with the CPME, the Standing Committee for European Doctors. Commissioner Vassiliou opened the event with a powerful key note speech (see attached).

Dead animals back on the menu for vultures

New EU rules allow farmers to leave dead livestock in the field, helping starving vultures

Brussels, 24 April 2009 – BirdLife International [1] welcomed today’s vote in the European Parliament [2] to put dead meat, or carrion, back on the menu for Europe’s hungry vultures. Vultures, known as nature’s cleaners, are capable of stripping a dead cow or sheep carcass in a matter of hours. They have been starving since EU rules forced all dead livestock to be cleared right away in the countryside [3].

Eco-design Directive: A very small step towards more sustainable products

ANEC, the European Consumer Voice in Standardisation and BEUC, the European Consumers Organisation, have expressed their disappointment with today’s vote in the European Parliament on the revision of the Eco-design Directive (first reading agreement). The Eco-design Directive,
which currently covers energy-using products such as televisions and domestic appliances, will hardly be extended.

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