News

Russia has announced the first transmission of the H5N8 bird flu strain to humans. The virus was detected in seven employees of a Russian poultry farm, where the outbreak was confirmed. There has been no evidence of human transmission of the strain to humans. Outbreaks of avian influenza have been reported in recent months in Russia, Europe, China, the Middle East, and North Africa, but only in poultry. Other strains of avian influenza, including H5N1, H7N9 and H9N2, have been previously transmitted to humans.
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The Commission has awarded a grant of several million euros under Horizon 2020 to the mEATquality project, which focuses on the link between animal welfare and meat quality. The research will deliberately examine only pork and broilers, not beef. The European Commission aims to obtain information on the elements in the environment where the animals move, and which affect the quality of the meat. The research will begin in August this year and last four years.
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A group of 140 scientists sent a letter to the European Commission expressing support for the End of the Cage Initiative and calling for an end to cage farming in the European Union. The end of the cage civic initiative last year received 1.4 million signatures from European citizens as an expression of support. According to scientists, animals are thinking creatures, suffering in closed cages.
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Energy Commissioner Kadri Simon announced on 18/02/2021 that renewable, low-carbon fuels and gases would be subject to a comprehensive EU certification scheme. The new regime will be part of the RED II Directive and will present an updated set of incentives to promote the use of these fuels in various sectors. It will also be presented in June 2021 for a revision of the EU Energy Taxation Directive in line with the EU's updated 2030 climate targets.
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On 18/02/2021, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Janusz Wojciechowski confirmed intention to reach an agreement on the shape of the future CAP by May 2021. According to the Commissioner, the negotiations are now in their final stages and should be completed during the Portuguese Presidency. However, despite the Commissioner's remarks, a dispute erupted last week between the European Parliament and the Council over one part of the CAP reform package - the Common Market Organization (CMO). The European Parliament has criticized the Council for being too slow in negotiating the CMO, and Portugal has responded to criticism by saying that the CAP package could only be partially closed under the Portuguese Presidency, without the conclusion of an agreement on the CMO. The topics of market measures and crisis management have still not been properly discussed within the CMO. However, according to unofficial information, there are also problems in the part devoted to the CAP Strategic Plans, not only on outstanding issues related to green architecture (setting up area for non-production elements or allocating a budget for eco-schemes), but minimal progress has also been made on defining permanent grassland and the real farmer definition, or on capping of direct payments.