(Brussels, 22 March 2012) On the occasion of the United Nation’s annual World Water Day on March 22, Europe’s food and drink operators have reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a more sustainable use of water throughout the supply chain for their products.  With a demand for water expected to rise 25% by 2025 worldwide, addressing water scarcity is a key global priority.

Accelerating Availability is Key Pillar of Industry’s Sustainable Growth Strategy

The ECAS/Democracy International conference ‘European Citizens’ Initiatives : On the Starting Line’ 20 March was attended by 200 people from civil society organisations. Opening speeches by Maroš Šefčovič Vice President of the European Commission and Meglena Kuneva Honorary President of ECAS can be found here.

Despite a ban by the Turkish authorities forbidding the Kurds to celebrate Newroz (Spring Festival), on March 18, thousands of people gathered on the streets in many cities including Istanbul. Over one million people celebrated in Diyarbakir alone.

The proposal of the European Commission to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) unfortunately left the problem of the European protein deficit totally unaddressed. Wervel therefore took the initiative to remind the European Parliament (EP) of their resolution of February 2011 in which they raised the problem. Together with a symbolic bag of local peas, a letter was handed over to the members and chairman of the agriculture committee in the EP.