Bruges shelters canal swans after bird flu outbreaks across Europe
The medieval Belgian city of Bruges has rounded up swans to shelter them from the spread of bird flu after an outbreak of the virus in France, Denmark and the Netherlands
EU adopts ‘life insurance’ biodiversity plan
EU environment ministers have adopted a biodiversity strategy aimed at protecting ecosystems, a move deemed essential to tackling climate change and reducing the risk of future pandemics
EU countries agree on agricultural reforms, eco-schemes
The EU's agricultural policies are to become more eco-friendly. After tough negotiations, the bloc's member states have agreed on a way forward.
80% of Europe’s natural habitats in poor shape: report
More than 80 percent of the EU's natural habitats are in poor or bad condition and more must be done to protect them, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned in a report
Farmers push ‘veggieburger’ label ban in Europe
Angry European farmers are pushing for a ban on calling vegetarian products a "burger" or a "sausage" that they say mislead consumers into thinking certain products contain meat
World lost 100 million hectares of forest in two decades: UN
The world has lost nearly 100 million hectares of forests in two decades, marking a steady decline though at a slower pace than before, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization
Climate change to bring longer droughts in Europe: study
Two-year droughts like the record-breaking one that gripped Central Europe from 2018 to 2019 could become much more frequent if the region fails to curb greenhouse gas emissions, researchers say
Virus highlights plight of Europe’s migrant farm hands
The coronavirus outbreak has thrown the plight of Europe's migrant farm workers into stark relief with the added risk of contagion in overcrowded, unsanitary living quarters
Fruit pickers sweat as virus flares in northeast Spain
Thousands of immigrant workers travel to a fertile valley in the Aragon region of northeastern Spain every year but a fresh outbreak of coronavirus infections has worried the authorities
EU executive defends itself against allegations of farm subsidy abuse
There were several accusations that EU agricultural subsidies end up in the pockets of politicians in power in several countries in Europe. The European Commission defended itself, however, from such allegations.