Increase use of recycled materials to produce fertilisers, reducing waste and energy consumption Limits for contaminants to protect health and environment Farmers and consumers to have a wider choice Innovative fertilisers produced from organic or recycled materials will have easier access to the EU single market, under draft rules put to the vote on Thursday. Existing EU rules on fertilisers cover mainly conventional fertilisers, typically extracted from mines or produced chemically, with high energy-consumption and CO2 production. Diverging national rules make...

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This year's edition confirms positive labour market and social trends and continued economic growth. With over 234 million people having a job, employment has never been as high as today in the EU and unemployment is at its lowest level since December 2008. Since 2013, 10 million jobs have been created in the EU. But looking beyond the overall social and economic progress, evidence shows that there is a particularly heavy burden on younger generations: they tend to have...

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Traditional finance focuses solely on financial return and risk. By contrast, sustainable finance considers financial, social and environmental returns in combination. This essay provides a new framework for sustainable finance highlighting the move from the narrow shareholder model to the broader stakeholder model, aimed at long-term value creation for the wider community. Major obstacles to sustainable finance are short-termism and insufficient private efforts. To overcome these obstacles, this essay develops guidelines for governing sustainable finance. The issue of sustainable development...

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Dear Colleagues,  Europe's role in the World and our responsibility at the international level in these turbulent times are growing. More than ever the EU has become a global point of reference for all those who value the principles of liberal democracy and human rights, free and fair trade or concrete actions in facing global challenges, such as climate change, poverty, terrorism and illegal migration. A strong and determined Union is the best way to promote our values and interests,...

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Preamble We, the Leaders of the G20, met in Hamburg, Germany on 7-8 July 2017 to address major global economic challenges and to contribute to prosperity and well-being. Mastering the challenges of our age and shaping an interconnected world is the common goal of the G20 as our premier forum for international economic cooperation. The G20 revealed its strength during the global economic and financial crisis some ten years ago when it played a crucial role in stabilising economies and...

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President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Council Donald Tusk represented the European Union at this year's G20 summit on 7-8 July. The Summit was hosted by Germany, which holds the rotating G20 presidency for 2017. Countering terrorism remains a major priority for the G20. In a clear sign of solidarity, G20 leaders signed a statement on countering terrorism - a tangible sign of their will to stand united in implementing international commitments, fighting terrorism...

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The G20's meeting in Hamburg Germany has set forth a path for mutual responsibility and cooperation in a globalised and inter-connected world. The leaders have released a plan, along with concrete steps forward: Preamble: We, the Leaders of the G20, met in Hamburg, Germany on 7-8 July 2017 to address major global economic challenges and to contribute to prosperity and well-being. Mastering the challenges of our age and shaping an interconnected world is the common goal of the G20 as...

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