European Union News - Environmnet

Among the projects launched under the FP7 2012 call for proposals, the European Commission has opened a call for open access to primary environmental data. The aim of this study is to explore in a comparative manner across environmental science disciplines, the main barriers and opportunities related to open access (free of charge online access) to primary environmental data, notably from EU-funded projects but also taking into account national and local data.

On 21 of July, new rules to ban heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals in electrical and electronic equipment in a wider range of products enters into force. The new Directive is now been extended to all electronic equipment, cables and spare parts in order to protect the consumers and the environment. Member States have now 18 months to transpose the new rules.

According to the European Commission the sustainability of biofuels needs to be checked by Member States or through voluntary schemes. The Commission recognised seven such voluntary schemes within the highest sustainability standards in the world. With these schemes, biofuels can represent an environmentally-friendly replacement of fossil fuels.

The unintentional release of ENMs used in products, including facade coatings for buildings, could play havoc on both the environment and human health. The NANOHOUSE EU funded project suggest that a product design can affect the unintentional release of ENMs and their risk assessment criteria should be used to assess and minimise potential risks.

The European Commission approved funding for 183 new projects under the LIFE+ programme, the European Union's environment fund. The projects cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, climate change, clean technology, environmental policy and information and communication on environmental issues. In total, they represent an investment of some €530 million, of which the EU will provide €244 million.

The European Commission proposes to reduce the sulphur content of shipping fuels in order to lower sulphur dioxide emissions by up to 90%, and fine particle emissions by up to 80%. According to the Commission, the benefits for public health will be between €15 and 34 billion, far exceeding the expected costs, which are in the range of €2.6 to 11 billion.

In a debate held with Commissioner Dacian Cioloş on the Commission's proposed multiannual EU budget for 2014-2020, EP Agriculture Committee asked for keeping the funding for European agriculture at 2013 levels in real terms.

GREEN EMOTION is an initiative which has as main goal to get electric vehicles onto the roads in all over Europe. This is a pan-European research effort that it is funded in part with €24 million from the European Commission.

The Committee of the Regions adopted an opinion in which calls for a multi-level, cross-border approach to the management of river basins in order to ensure the sustainable use of water. The Committee also proposed extending the Covenant of Mayors to include sustainable water use.