EU bulletin 26th January 2016 Dutch EU Presidency to focus on environmental issues
The glib, repeated insistence [by Brexit supporters] that "all we want is to trade freely with the EU" betrays a wilful refusal to acknowledge that there is no such thing as a free lunch, according to the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/after-brexit-what-then-1.2506988
London could not remain Europe's financial centre if Britain left the European Union at an upcoming referendum, top European politicians said on Monday, warning that reaching a free trade agreement with Britain would not be the bloc's priority, Reuters reports: http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-exit-idUKKCN0V3292
The Dutch presidency of the EU will promote economic and environmental co-operation, Ed Kronenburg, Dutch ambassador to France, has told EurActiv France in an interview: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/dutch-diplomat-presidency-will-promote-economic-and-environmental-cooperation
Environmental campaigners plan to force changes in the reformed Common Agricultural Policy by using the European Commission's 'better regulation' procedures to call in the laws for renewed scrutiny, EurActiv reports. It could be the first time the REFIT programme is used to further environmental goals, rather than ensure burdens on business are lightened: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-and-climate-change-role-new-cap/cap-could-be-called-better-regulation-scrutiny
A new European Commission-led expert group on autonomous vehicles is meeting today (26 January) for the first time, marking the executive's latest push to develop driverless cars in the EU, EurActiv reports: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/digital/commission-gears-driverless-cars-new-push-compete-tech-giants-321296
Members of the German Bundestag and federal government representatives will have access to secret documents related to EU-US trade talks, reports Funke-Mediengruppe papers. Documents will be available in a special reading room from next Monday, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel announced following criticism of lack of scrutiny over the TTIP talks: https://euobserver.com/tickers/131990
Milan and Turin (as well as Oxford and Glasgow) are among the nine cities that have made it to the final stage of the competition to be named European Capital of Innovation, EurActiv Italy reports: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/innovation-industry/shortlist-european-capital-innovation-unveiled-321288
Food packaging can contribute to obesity, a German study has found, according to a report in EurActiv Germany: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/study-food-packaging-can-contribute-obesity-321275
Witht hanks to the European Movement for the content