EU Reporter
Published 1 week ago
The Commission has approved the inclusion of ‘Willamette Valley wines from the United States in the register of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). ‘Willamette Valley are still wines (red, rose and white) and sparkling wines produced in the north-western part of Oregon, bordered on the north by the Columbia River, on the west by the Coast Range Mountains, on the south by the Calapooya Mountains, and on the east by the Cascade Mountains. The unique organoleptic characteristics of the ‘Willamette Valley wines include brightness and fresh fruit aspects, with the acidity provided by the protected cool climate.
EU Reporter
Published 2 weeks ago
At the Cannes Film Festival, the Commission is launching an awareness campaign aimed at fostering diversity and inclusion in the film and news media industries and at highlighting gender equality and the role of women in the sector. The campaign, titled ‘CharactHer , is the first initiative with a clear focus on diversity and inclusion launched under the framework of the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan. Values and Transparency Vice President Věra Jourová, will participate in the launch event and join the panel discussion on obstacles women face along their careers.
Vice President Jourová said: “As we overcome the pandemic we have to make sure that women take a centre stage of our recovery efforts. With this campaign, we hope that we can inspire many women so that Europe can make the most of all its talents.” Her opening speech will be available here.
EU Reporter
Published 1 week ago
As of today, the EU Market Surveillance and Compliance Regulation becomes fully applicable. The new rules aims to ensure that products placed on the EU market comply with relevant EU legislation and meet public health and safety requirements. The legislation is key to ensuring a well-functioning Single Market and helps to put into place a better structure for checks on products exchanged on the EU market by improving cooperation among national authorities and customs officers.
Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said: “With growing online purchases and complexity of our supply chains, it is essential we ensure that all products on our Internal Market are safe and comply with EU legislation. This regulation will help to protect consumers and businesses from unsafe products and improve co-operation of national authorities and customs officers to prevent these from entering the Internal Market.”
EU Reporter
Published 16 hours ago
The Commission and Consumer Protection Co-operation authorities, under the lead of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets and the Belgian Directorate General for Economic Inspection, have sent a letter to Google asking them to be more transparent and comply with EU law. Consumers need to know how the results of their search in Google s online search engine are ranked and if payments may influence the ranking. The prices of flights and hotels showcased on Google should be final and include fees or taxes that can reasonably be calculated in advance.
In addition, Google should revise the standard terms of Google Store, because the Consumer Protection Cooperation network found that, in some cases, there is a significant imbalance of rights between the trader and the consumer to the detriment of the latter. Furthermore, when the Consumer Authorities report content in breach of consumer protection rules, Google should remove or disable a
EU Reporter
Published 3 months ago
France sent primary and nursery pupils back to school on Monday (26 April), the first phase of reopening after a three-week COVID-19 lockdown, even as daily new infections remained stubbornly high.
President Emmanuel Macron said a return to school would help fight social inequality, allowing parents who struggle to pay for childcare to get back to work, but trade unions warned that new infections would lead to a torrent of classroom closures.
In the upmarket Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine, pupils wore face masks and rubbed disinfectant gel on their hands as they filed through the front door of the Achille Peretti primary school. A poster reminded the youngsters to stay a metre apart.