News

Less plastic provides nothing but benefits

17 January 2018

Europe demonstrates enterprise in the fight against plastic waste. The European Commission wants all plastic in the EU to be recyclable or reusable by 2030. MEP Mark Demesmaeker fully supports those plans: “Currently, tonnes of plastic still ends up in our environment or such waste is found …

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Is Europe making energy unaffordable?

17 January 2018

The European Parliament wants our energy consumption to be 35% lower in 2035. By the same date, 35% of the energy has to be renewable. With these goals, the Parliament is ignoring the advice of the European Commission and opting for extremely costly measures. “As a result of these rules, the costs …

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New EU regulations are intended to protect Flemish fishermen

16 January 2018

New European fishing regulations are on their way. Not only are they intended to create more transparency and clarity, they also give Flanders more of a say in how fishing is organised here. “That’s a great move,” MEP Sander Loones says. “The new regulations make fishing that is tailored to the …

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You pay € 532 a year to Europe - but there’s room for more efficiency

16 January 2018

Calculations by the Politico news site show that every Belgian citizen pays € 1.46 a day to the European Union. This puts us in second place in Europe. By way of comparison, the Bulgarians put just € 0.18 a day each into the EU’s coffers. And that’s the signal for MEP Anneleen Van Bossuyt to demand …

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New prospects for the Iron Rhine

16 January 2018

An alternative “third route” for the Iron Rhine results in fees and benefits identical to the historical route, but for just half the price. A joint study by the authorities involved in the file in Flanders, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and North Rhine-Westphalia appears to confirm this. “I …

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European Car-Pass is intended to reduce odometer fraud

12 January 2018

People buying a second-hand car in the European Union are being hoodwinked on a massive scale. A new study reveals that between 30 and 50% of kilometre readings are being tampered with. The risk of fraud is particularly pronounced when a car is being traded between two different Member States. MEP …

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