DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 3 March 2023
Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: Arsenic levels lowered in food products to increase food safety and fight cancer
Today, the Commission adopted new rules to lower the presence of arsenic in food products. The adoption of lower maximum levels (MLs) marks another important step in delivering on the objectives of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to limit or remove the carcinogenic risk associated to chemicals in food. This decision, based on a 2021 scientific report from EFSA, comes after Member States were called upon to monitor the presence of arsenic in foods.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “We are today taking additional measures to further reduce the exposure risk of a carcinogenic contaminant from our food chain. Our citizens want the reassurance that the food they eat is safe, and these new rules are yet another proof that food safety standards in the EU remain the highest in the world.”
This measure will lower the allowed concentration of inorganic arsenic in white rice, while it also sets new limits for arsenic in many everyday rice-based food items, infant formula, baby foods, fruit juices and salt. The existing maximum levels for arsenic in food products were established in 2015 based on an EFSA opinion that stated that inorganic arsenic may cause cancer of the skin, bladder, and lungs. Arsenic is present at low concentrations in rocks, soil, and natural ground water, with food and drinking water being the principal routes of human exposure to it. Industrial emissions such as mining and burning of fossil fuels can contribute to higher levels of arsenic in the environment, as well as the use of fertilisers, wood preservatives, insecticides or herbicides that contain the contaminant.
More information is available here.
(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Célia Dejond – Tel.: +32 2 298 81 99)
Chemical testing: New safety animal-free test methods approved
Today, the Commission adopted some 100 new and updated test methods for the regulatory safety testing of chemicals under REACH, the Regulation for the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. The majority of the newly approved toxicity test methods are New Approach Methods (NAMs) which do not involve animals.
In its various policies, the Commission is committed to animal welfare and strives to reduce and ultimately replace the use of animals for testing. Under REACH, animal testing must be avoided in favour of alternative methods, and tests involving the use of animals can only be carried out as a last resort, and after obtaining approval by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
Under the new rules adopted today, internationally approved test methods are referred to directly in REACH, cutting thus on lengthy procedures. With this faster procedure, the Commission is responding to calls to speed up regulatory uptake of non-animal alternatives. It will also contribute to achieving the EU policy objective of ultimately phasing out the use of animals for regulatory testing.
More information is in the news item.
(For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: +32 2 295 31 56; Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 2 295 36 64)
Transatlantic partnership: President von der Leyen to visit Canada and the US next week
President von der Leyen will meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and President Joe Biden next week as she visits Canada and the US to discuss transatlantic relations, trade, strategic sectoral partnerships and cooperation in support of Ukraine.
The transatlantic visit will start in Ottawa, Canada, where the President will arrive on 6 March in the evening. On 7 March in the morning, the President will travel to the Canadian Forces Base Kingston, from where many Canadian troops have departed to Poland to support humanitarian efforts for Ukrainian refugees.
Here, the President will meet Prime Minister Trudeau and hold a joint press conference (+/-17:00 CET, live on EbS). They will then exchange with Canadian Armed Forces Personnel. After this, President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Trudeau will visit a Canadian clean technology company. This visit emphasises the potential of the EU-Canada Critical Raw Materials Partnership, which they intend to take forward. The President will then travel back to Ottawa to deliver an address to a joint session of the Canadian Parliament (+/- 23:00 CET, live on EbS). In the evening, the President will attend a reception with the business community, including European businesses present in Canada, hosted by Prime Minister Trudeau. On 8 March in the morning, the President will meet Mary Simon, the Governor General of Canada.
On 8 March in the afternoon, the President will travel to Washington DC, where she will meet President Biden at the White House on Friday, 10 March. EU-US cooperation on global and geostrategic priorities will be at the centre of their discussions. In this context, both sides will also discuss ways to maintain transatlantic leadership in clean tech and ensure collaboration between the EU and US on innovation and secure supply chains for clean tech while rallying the world behind a global net zero emissions goal. Press activities of President von der Leyen during her visit to Washington DC will be communicated at a later stage.
(For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 2 299 40 73)
New generation of European Citizens' Panels: Commission hosts panel on learning mobility
Today, the Commission is opening a new Citizens' Panel, during which citizens from the 27 Member States will discuss how learning mobility can be made available to everyone in the EU. The Citizens' Panel on learning mobility will meet three times between March and April 2023. This is part of a new generation of Citizens' Panels, following-up on the Conference on the Future of Europe, to foster citizens' participation in the Commission's policy-making process on certain key policy areas.
The Citizens' Panel is part of the consultation strategy ahead of the Commission's proposal later this year. Citizens will contribute to the public debate in sharing their thoughts and providing recommendations on learning mobility, including the need to open possibilities to people with fewer opportunities and less mobile groups, or the need to keep mobility as environmentally friendly as possible, as well as the opportunities digitisation might offer in this context.
The first session is taking place on 3-5 March in Brussels, and will be opened by Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel. The second meeting of the panel will take place online on 24-26 March. The final session will be held on 28-30 April in Brussels, and Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, will take part in the closing session.
The panel is composed of about 150 randomly selected citizens. They are representative of the EU's diversity in terms of geography (national and urban/rural origin), gender, age, socio-economic background and level of education. Moreover, one third of the participants in the Panel are under 25 years old. The inclusion of young people and their priorities in policymaking has been a clear request made in the framework of the Conference of the Future of Europe and was a key objective of the European Year of Youth. The Commission shall ensure that all Citizens' Panels will include at least a third of young participants.
Learning mobility is already a reality for many thanks to Erasmus+ and its predecessor programmes, which have offer mobility opportunities in school education for pupils and teachers, in vocational education and training, higher education and adult education, as well as projects for apprentices, young people, youth workers, and sport coaches for many years. Despite this and although interest in learning mobility is high, citizens in Europe face a range of obstacles in accessing and participating in learning mobility opportunities. Identifying and tackling these obstacles is vital in order to make learning mobility opportunities accessible for everyone.
Learning periods abroad for everyone should become a norm, regardless of age, level of education, background and financial means. Consequently, the Commission announced an update of the Learning Mobility Framework in its Work Programme for 2023. In addition to this Citizens' Panel, the Commission opened a public consultation for citizens and stakeholders to share their thoughts on the matter. Contributions can be made on the Have your say portal, from 8 February to 3 May.
Background
Citizens' Panel
President von der Leyen called for a Conference on the Future of Europe in her Political Guidelines of July 2019, as part of a new push for European democracy – and committed to following up on its results.
Building on the success of the Conference, the Commission is embedding participatory and deliberative practices in its policy-making toolbox, and Citizens' Panels are now part of the Commission's policymaking in certain key areas. Besides the Panel on learning mobility, two other Citizens' Panels have been set up, a first Citizens' Panel on Food Waste has concluded in Mid-February 2023, and one on Virtual worlds is currently ongoing.
Learning Mobility
The European Union has a record of accomplishment over 35 years in fostering programmes and strategies to enhance the mobility of citizens, and promote cross-border exchanges and cooperation on learning. Programmes like Erasmus+ were created because the learning mobility of pupils, students, and educators is a way to increase mutual understanding and cultural exchange among European citizens, and helps them acquire the skills and competences they need in a globalised world.
Learning mobility is a key factor to achieving the European Education Area, the EU's shared vision for the education and training sector. It will promote the employability of EU citizens and competitiveness of the economy. It is also closely linked to the EU's broader goal of fostering a more inclusive European Union.
Through even greater mobility within the EU, all learners, educators and staff in all sectors (school education, vocational education and training, higher education, adult education, youth and sport) and at all levels of learning, could be enabled to move between education and training systems in different countries.
Learning mobility experiences develop employability, skills and knowledge for people all over Europe. And travelling across borders to learn and gain unique experiences is an important aspect of a borderless and interconnected Europe.
Under Erasmus+ alone, nearly 13 million people have studied, trained, worked and volunteered abroad since the programmes creation in 1987. 95% of the participants reported to be either satisfied or very satisfied about their mobility, and 99% recommended the experience. 78% have improved their foreign language competences, 75% have gained better career opportunities and 76% have developed a better idea about their future career.
The Commission and EU Member States are working together to achieve their shared vision of establishing a European Education Area by 2025, increasing quality of education and training, inclusion and gender equality, boosting the green and digital transitions, improving the situation of teachers, strengthening the higher education sector, and continuing to promote the EU as a partner in education for countries and regions around the world.
For More Information
The discussions of the Citizens' Panel can be followed live:
Citizens' Panel on Learning Mobility
Learning Mobility in the European Education Area
About the European Education Area
Erasmus+
Conference on the Future of Europe
Factsheet on the final outcome of the Conference
European Citizens' Panels: a new phase of citizens' engagement
Commission Work Programme 2023
Quote(s)
The direct participation of citizens in the elaboration of European public policies is becoming a regular feature of the EU’s democratic life where citizens have a direct say on EU policy-making. This is a tangible outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe, where we saw in very real terms how valuable it is to bring citizens to the very heart of policy making on initiatives that impact their daily life.
Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President for Democracy and Demography - 03/03/2023
Learning mobility is crucial for a borderless and interconnected Europe and to achieve the European Education Area. This life-changing personal experience can be a powerful instrument to develop employability, skills and knowledge. We look forward to engaging with citizens through panel discussions and public consultation to make learning mobility a real possibility for each European, regardless of age or background.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth - 03/03/2023
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New generation of European Citizens' Panels
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Press contact
· Sonya GOSPODINOVA
Phone
+32 2 296 69 53
Mail
sonya.gospodinova@ec.europa.eu
· Flore BOUTIER
+32 2 296 60 43
flore.boutier1@ec.europa.eu
Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson in Saudi Arabia for climate and energy discussions and COP28 preparations
On 5 and 6 March, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, and Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, will visit Saudi Arabia to meet with government representatives for climate and energy discussions, and to prepare for the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).
On Sunday morning, the Executive Vice-President and the Commissioner will meet the Minister of Energy, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, followed by a presentation on the energy transition and a roundtable on hydrogen, with the presence of national energy stakeholders and companies. They will also meet the Minister of Commerce, HE Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi, and the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, HE Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, and the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Envoy for Climate Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir. During the day, the Executive Vice-President and the Commissioner will participate in a youth dialogue to discuss the importance of enhancing global climate action, environmental protection and renewable energies.
On Monday, Executive Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Simson, accompanied by the Minister of Energy, HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud will take part in different field visits to national energy companies and research centers in the cities of Jubail and Dhahran. A tour to the facilities of the Jubail United Petrochemical Company and SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company will kick off the day, followed by a visit to the Aramco Research Centre and EXPEC Advanced Research Center, with a focus on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and hydrogen; and the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra). To conclude the official visit to Saudi Arabia, both will visit the Wildlife Sanctuary in Shaybah that protects native plant and animal species in the country.
(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25; Giulia Bedini – Tel: +32 2 295 86 61)
CALENDAR
Monday 6 March
Ms Stella Kyriakides meets with representatives of the European Patients Forum (EPF) and the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) to discuss the reform of EU pharmaceutical legislation; meets with representatives of Copa-Cogeca to discuss EU animal welfare rules; delivers an opening speech via pre-recorded video message for the event Swedish Presidency's High-Level Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Tuesday 7 March
Mr Margaritis Schinas participates in the LSE Alumni Association Belgium Event.
Ms Stella Kyriakides est reçue en audience par Sa Majesté Mathilde, Reine des Belges ; rencontre M. Daniel Caspary, membre du Parlement européen, pour discuter de la réforme de la législation pharmaceutique de l'UE ; s'entretient par vidéoconférence avec les membres de la plate-forme de conseil scientifique sur COVID-19 ; prononce un discours liminaire via enregistrement vidéo pour le troisième sommet annuel du magazine The Economist sur le « Programme de la Grèce pour lutter contre le cancer ».
Wednesday 7 March
Mr Margaritis Schinas receives students from the Diplomatic Academy of Greece; delivers a keynote speech at the Masters of Digital 2023.
Thursday 8 March 3
Mr Margaritis Schinas co-chairs the EPP Ministers of Interior meeting.
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Nicosia, Cyprus (until 10/03): delivers an opening speech on the role of women in sport at an Event organised by the Cyprus Olympic Committee.
Friday 9 March
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Nicosia, Cyprus: meets with Mr Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus; meets with Mr Konstantinos Kompos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus; meets with Ms Popi Kanari, Health Minister of Cyprus; meets with Mr Petros Xenofontos, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Minister of Cyprus.
The European Commission is committed to personal data protection. Any personal data is processed in line with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. All personal information processed by the Directorate-General for Communication / European Commission Representations is treated accordingly.
Athanasios ATHANASIOU
Press Officer / Political Reporter
European Commission
Representation in Cyprus
EU House, 30 Vyronos Avenue, 1096 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22 81 75 76 Mob: +357 99 363753
Twitter: @aathans