Whether product placement should be allowed in TV shows or not. Hmm, difficult question. …ministers are consulting on whether to implement part of a European directive, which would allow product placement in the UK from as early as 2010. Under the proposals advertisers would be able to pay to have products

MEPs yesterday (17 February) backed European Commission proposals to extend the scope of the Eco-design Directive and the Ecolabel, but rejected proposals to include food products in the plans.

The democratic ideal is equal representation: One citizen, one vote. The European Union is based more on its member states than on its citizens. Voting weight (when any votes can be taken) in the Council and representation in the European Parliament have been fixed through political negotiations by treaty level provisions, far from giving each EU citizen equal weight. Julien Frisch’s blog po...

Dr Caroline Lucas MEP, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament intergroup on animal protection and co-sponsor of the original Written Declaration (2) against the trade in seal products in 2006, said:  "As one of the co-sponsors of the original Declaration which, almost 3 years ago, called for a ban on the import of seal products, I am delighted that Parliament has finally voted in favour o...

Prominent Eastern European MEPs feel their countries are under-represented on European Parliament committee executives, EurActiv has learned. Meanwhile, as horsetrading drew to a close, it emerged that France had punched below its weight, according to experts.

European lawmakers have approved measures that will force institutions to retain at least 5% of the securitised products they originate and sell to give them a direct interest in assessing the products' riskiness

The European Parliament last Friday (24 April) approved the extension of the Ecodesign Directive to cover products that have an indirect impact on energy use. Consumer groups nevertheless criticised the compromise for failing to address all relevant environmental impacts.

From: Meglena Kuneva is European Commissioner for Consumer Affairs We get this: Indeed, non-sustainable products should be phased out gradually. Research has shown that many consumers believe that environmentally non-friendly products should not even be on sale. So when does the legal ban on non-green products get handed down from Brussels?

The European Parliament yesterday (14 December) overwhelming approved measures to restrict the phosphate content of household cleaning products. More »

Labour MPs who are considered not to be pulling their weight in Parliament are to be sent a letter detailing the minimum amount of work that is expected of them.