Brussels, 29 February 2012: On the eve of major changes to Google’s privacy policies, data privacy experts told an event in Brussels that a lack of awareness of privacy policies is putting consumers’ personal information at risk of exploitation.

GUE/NGL President Lothar Bisky threw his support behind today's European Day of Action saying "the GUE/NGL group supports trade unions from all over Europe who are mobilising workers in different countries to protest against the austerity measures being forced on the people."

The European Parliament economic affairs committee (ECON) today voted on proposed EU legislation on energy taxation, which sets out minimum European rates, notably with a view to introducing EU-level carbon taxation. The Greens welcomed the outcome of the vote, which gives a clear political signal for closing some of the key loopholes in the current legislation, as well as for improving the proposals on carbon taxation (1). After the vote Green economic affairs spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said:

Brussels, Belgium, 29 February 2012 — Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) and the International Trademark Association (INTA) today released a study providing a practical analysis of the importance and benefits of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).  The study aims to contribute clarity to the  debate on ACTA in Europe by outlining how ACTA promotes EU trade and economic growth and protects consumers and EU companies of all sizes against the negative impacts of counterfeiting and piracy.

The Commission’s new European Innovation Partnership (EIP) published today, sets the focus on the Common Agricultural Policy’s Rural Development Pillar and on the bioeconomy for delivering productive and sustainable agriculture across Europe.