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BRUSSELS, May 3 (Reuters) - The European Union is considering a proposal to quit an international energy treaty that has become mired in climate change concerns, but leave an option for individual countries to stay in an updated version of the accord, a document showed.

The 1998 Energy Charter Treaty lets energy companies sue governments over policies that damage their investments, a system initially designed to support investments in the sector.

But in recent years it has been used to challenge climate policies that require fossil fuel projects to shut - raising concerns that the treaty is undermining efforts to address global warming.

The European Commission has said a coordinated EU exit from the treaty appeared "unavoidable", after member countries including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain individually announced plans to quit.

However, a handful of countries, including Cyprus, Hungary and Slovakia, have signalled they may prefer to stay in an updated version of the accord - leaving Brussels searching for a way forward that would appease all of its members.

A new proposal, which EU country diplomats will discuss this week, said the 27-country EU should agree to jointly leave the treaty, but at the same time, let some individual EU countries stay in a modernised version of the treaty.

This would provide EU countries and lawmakers in favour of leaving with "reassurances that there will be an early and swift withdrawal of the EU," said the proposal, seen by Reuters.

It could also unblock a planned upgrade of the treaty - which aimed to address some of the climate concerns, but has met a mixed reception from EU countries and criticism from campaigners - and then let some EU countries remain in the modernised treaty, the document said.

A decision by the treaty's roughly 50 signatories to approve a the upgrade has been on hold while EU countries debate their next move.

In its current state, the unreformed treaty has a "sunset clause" that would protect existing fossil fuel investments in Europe for 20 years even after the EU quit.

The EU says that undermines its climate change targets. The reformed version would let the EU shorten that protection, but it would still be 10 years.

The proposal was drafted by Sweden, which holds the EU's rotating presidency and chairs negotiations among EU countries. If it wins countries' support, Brussels would draft legal texts to proceed with the EU exit.

Reporting by Kate Abnett; editing by Jan Strupczewski

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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EU mulls partial exit from energy treaty over climate concerns - Reuters

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After the U.S.-led coalition, in which the EU was a significant partner, withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, the country entered another political vacuum. The currently fragile state of affairs in Afghanistan is likely to drive the country to another crisis, which will have negative consequences for the region and beyond. Having played a significant role over the last two decades in Afghanistan, the EU has the capability to take a proactive diplomatic and political stance in managing the impending preventable socioeconomic and politico-security crises.

The 2016 EU Global Strategy (EUGS), titled Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe, outlined key priority areas, including the EUs role in conflict settlement, peacebuilding, and crisis management. The EUGS emphasizes that preventing conflicts is more efficient and effective than engaging with crises after they break out. This accurately characterizes the current political stalemate in Afghanistan.

The Taliban regime lacks internal legitimacy due to the absence of elections, and external recognition from the international community. A regime that lacks the general publics confidence is deemed unsustainable. This is when the EU must take proactive and constructive diplomatic measures to prevent potential crises.

An isolated Afghanistan could inadvertently become a haven for transnational terrorist groups, leading to a rise in poppy cultivation and widespread human rights violations, while also limiting freedom of expression and freedom of media. At the recent G-7 foreign ministers meeting in Japan, criticism was expressed regarding the Talibans strict restrictions on the Afghan population and reports of human rights violations throughout the country. However, the conservative Taliban group has not only failed to accommodate the public demands of the Afghan people and political movements but also intensified its coercive forces to rule through fear and exclusion. The use of coercion, intimidation, and oppression to silence dissenting voices not only fails, but also leads to increased public unrest.

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The Talibans recent policies include a ban on girls secondary education and preventing women from working for U.N. organizations in Afghanistan. Similar policies fuel public outrage against their regime. The U.N. office in Afghanistan has been prompted to issue a warning of their potential departure from the country, unless the prohibition of female U.N. workers in Afghanistan is reversed.

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All neighboring states of Afghanistan, except Afghanistan itself, have been included in the EUs Global Europe-Programing for medium- and long-term international cooperation. The absence of a legitimate government has resulted in the countrys disconnection from regional and transnational forums, events, and initiatives, leading to further isolation, political instability, economic disruption, and a deepening humanitarian crisis with limited access to healthcare, food, water, and education for the public.

What Can the EU Do?

The fragile political security in Afghanistan is unlikely to be sustainable. The resurgence of armed resistance and sporadic attacks by the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Khorasan (ISKP) are likely to deteriorate the security situation, culminating in internal conflicts.

To prevent impending security threats to the region and beyond, the EU should act earlier and pursue its EUGSs integrated approach to conflicts and crises. The EU has the capability to pursue a multidimensional approach and use existing instruments that are helpful in managing potential crises and conflicts. The situation is still in the early stage of armed resistance, but political violence persists.

The EU must pursue a multi-phased approach to the current and potential crises and conflicts. The withdrawal of the international community, of which the EU was a significant actor, left Afghanistan in a crisis. The theocratic Taliban movement is ruling the country, and other strata of society, including youth, women, and minority ethnic and religious communities, are marginalized. The persistence of such policies is likely to deepen the crisis and create a backlash. The EU should seek diplomatic ways in the earlier phases to prevent, resolve, and stabilize the political-security situation before a larger crisis erupts.

An effective and sustainable solution to the current and potential crises could be pursuing a multilateral approach aimed at engaging all Afghan political parties, ensuring the representation of women and ethnic and religious communities. Achieving this is possible by enabling concerted international and regional efforts to pave the way for a representative and inclusive government. Elite-driven peace and governance efforts have fallen short of bearing fruit in the past. To ensure sustainable peace and responsible governance, Afghan citizens engagement in initiatives from the top-down and bottom-up levels is imperative. This confers a sense of belonging to people and minimizes the risk of conflict.

The EU has the capability to streamline initiatives similar to the Global Europe thematic programs focused on peace, stability, and conflict prevention. These programs serve multiple purposes, including providing support to local stakeholders, community leaders, civil society activists, and women representatives to help build their capacity for conflict prevention. Additionally, they act as points of connectivity to engage in the ground. Moreover, these initiatives can serve as early warning mechanisms to address threats and crises.

Reports suggest potential security threats stemming from Afghanistan. In addition to existing missions in the region, the EU has the capability to deploy a non-military Civilian Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) Compact, which can serve dual purposes: tackling emerging threats and addressing potential crises in the context of the changed security circumstances in Afghanistan. The presence of a Civilian CSDP Compact could serve as a rapid reaction to address these threats. Additionally, such missions could also assist humanitarian organizations operating in the region and Afghanistan, aimed at delivering life-saving and relief assistance to Afghan citizens in need.

The Way Forward

It is worth stating that regional problems require regional solutions, but the region is characterized by certain regional rivalries, particularly India and Pakistans historical hostilities, Tajikistans stance against the Taliban, the lack of a unified stance vis--vis the regime in Afghanistan, whether for engagement or confrontation, and other regional issues. It is imperative to seek constructive and diplomatic solutions to ongoing and impending crises. This requires a multifaceted approach involving various local, regional, and transnational stakeholders.

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Local stakeholders, including political parties, opposition groups, women and youth representatives, civil society groups, representatives of ethnic and religious communities, and individuals can be brought together through dialogue to initiate and promote concerted efforts. Starting with dialogue is a significant step toward building efforts between and among stakeholders and parties. The EU has both political and economic leverage, and incentives for parties and stakeholders to use in building concerted efforts.

Through the use of existing political instruments and influence, the EU can facilitate the establishment of a regional consensus. This, in turn, can help facilitate the process of building intra-Afghan negotiations aimed at achieving a political setup that includes representation of all strata of society.

The present Taliban administration falls short of effectively representing the wider aspirations of the Afghan population and lacks mechanisms to be accountable to citizens. The persistence of such uncertainty prolongs the chaotic political deadlock.

To end the ongoing political stalemate, it is necessary to establish a responsive, accountable, and inclusive government that represents the desires and aspirations of all Afghan people. The EU has the capability to play a constructive role in supporting initiatives for a constructive solution that would lead to an inclusive, democratic, and representative political set-up in Afghanistan.

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Can the European Union Tackle Afghanistan's Crises? - The Diplomat

Israeli authorities on Sunday demolished a building that housed a European Union-funded Palestinian school near Bethlehem, prompting protests by the Palestinian Authority and European Union.

Israeli Civil Administration engineers razed the structure, which Palestinians constructed in 2017 without a permit in the Herodium national park in the West Bank.

The demolition followed a District Court ruling from March, in which the structure was defined as a safety hazard at risk of imminent collapse.

Regavim, a nonprofit organization that says it is dedicated to the protection of Israels national lands and resources, and has conducted a five-year legal fight to bring about the demolition of the building, said in a statement that it was one of 100 illegal schools throughout Area C of the West Bank that are used cynically to cement the Palestinian hold on open areas.

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Area C makes up some 60 percent of the West Bank and is fully under Israeli security and administrative control. Israel rarely approves Palestinian construction in Area C, with the overwhelming majority of requests being denied. This has resulted in rampant illegal building, which is in turn often demolished by Israel.

On social networks, the Office of the EU Representative in the West Bank and Gaza Strip protested the demolition near the village of Jubbet Ad Dhib, which the EU said it had funded.

A still shot from footage taken by Israeli NGO Regavim showing a school in Area C bearing an EU flag. (Photo credit: Regavim)

Shocked by the news about the demolition of the EU-funded Jab Zeeb school by the Israeli authorities. Over 60 Palestinian children will be affected by this, an EU spokesperson wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.

Demolition is illegal under international law, and childrens right to education must be respected. Israel must stop all demolition and evacuation operations that will only further the suffering of the Palestinian population and escalate an already tense environment, the statement read.

The Palestinian Education Ministry called the demolition a heinous crime, adding: These practices fall within the framework of the occupying regimes ongoing crimes against the Palestinian educational sector, targeting students, teachers and educational institutions in complete disregard of international conventions and principles.

Shlomo Neeman, head of the Yesha Council umbrella organization representing local authorities in West Bank settlements, said in a statement: We welcome the enforcement but regret the absurd reality in which the court, through a petition of civil society organizations, needs to instruct the state and its enforcement mechanisms to fulfill their duties. This is a tiny part of our unwavering struggle for our national lands. Much work remains to be done.

The rest is here:
Israel razes EU-funded Palestinian school near Bethlehem - The Times of Israel

On 22 March 2023 the European Commission published a proposalfor a Directive on Green Claims affecting commercial communicationsthat associate products/services with environmental or ecologicalbenefits.

The proposal complements and specifies an earlier proposal for aDirective on empowering consumers for the green transition1, and is thus part of aframework of strategic initiatives and action policies adopted bythe European Union (EU) in support of the circular economy, andaims to decrease the impact of climate change in order to achieveclimate neutrality.

The strategy pursued by the EU cannot disregard the activeparticipation of consumers in the ecological transition, whichrequires their adequate protection against unfair commercialpractices that prevent them from making informed and sustainablechoices. Such practices include greenwashing, in which companiesmake false environmental declarations in the context of theircommunication strategies, aimed at building a deceptively positiveimage of the company as to its environmental impact, with the clearobjective of capturing the attention and interest of consumers.

In 2020, the Commission carried out a study of more than 150environmental claims for a wide range of products and found thatmore than 53% of them were too "vague, misleading orunfounded", and that 40% were not supported by adequatetechnical and scientific evidence. These data show thatcompanies/traders have an increasing interest in providingmisleading environmental information on their products/services, tothe detriment of consumers wishing to make more sustainable andresponsible purchasing choices, and of virtuous companies sufferingfrom unfair competition.

From the need to contrast this increasingly widespreadphenomenon comes the provision of specific rules on the subject,aimed at setting minimum requirements for the verification ofenvironmental claims adopted by traders and thus improving thereliability of the information conveyed to consumers, facilitatingtheir choice of products and/or services that offer betterenvironmental performance.

First, the proposal aims to regulate the voluntary environmentalclaims2 of thecompanies concerning the environmental impact and performance oftheir products/services, providing that they be clear andadequately substantiated. Inter alia, voluntarydeclarations will have to specify whether they relate to thecompany's entire production or only to a particular product,one of its components, or one of its life cycle stages, in order to"make it possible to identify the environmental impactsand environmental aspects for the product or trader that jointlycontribute significantly to the overall environmental performanceof the product or trader". Furthermore, voluntary claimswill have to be validated by widely recognised scientific evidence,and evaluated by independent, accredited, verifying organisations,which will decide whether to issue a certificate of conformityvalid throughout the EU.

Should the proposal become law, it would no longer be possibleto use vague and ambiguous claims such as "climateneutral", "carbon neutral" or"100% CO2 compensated", if they do not meet allthe requirements of the Directive. Indeed, traders will be requiredto avoid claims expressed in broad or absolute terms, insteadhaving to circumscribe to the precise environmental benefitclaimed, which, of course, will have to be properly verified andsupported by technical evidence.

The proposed Directive also regulates so-called environmentallabels and their schemes, such as the EU Ecolabel and its nationalequivalents, awarded to products and/or services that are producedand marketed with a reduced environmental impact. The EU has notedthat more than 200 environmental labels are currently in use andtheir further proliferation could lead to consumer confusion, aswell as to a loss of value of existing labels. To address this, theCommission has advanced the possibility of preventing new publiclabelling schemes from being proposed unless they are developedexclusively within the EU. As a result, any new private scheme willhave to prove that it pursues more ambitious environmentalobjectives than existing ones, while obtaining prior approval inorder to be officially authorised.

Naturally, the proposal also regulates the enforcement of theprovisions contained therein, whose compliance is to be ensured bythe Member States by means of appropriate control systems and bythe provision of penalties, with varying amounts depending on thenature and seriousness of the violations ascertained.

The proposal will soon be assessed by the European Parliamentand the Council for their joint approval and, in the event of apositive outcome, the Member States will have to incorporate theDirective into their respective legal systems to ensure its uniformapplication within the EU territory.

Currently in Italy there are no specific legislations onenvironmental claims, so they are regulated by the generalprovisions of the Consumer Code on unfair commercial practices,those of the Civil Code on unfair competition, as well as theregulations on misleading advertising. The framework is completedby the European Directive 2005/29/EC and the Guidance on theimplementation/application of directive 2005/29/EC on UnfairCommercial Practices issued by the European Commission on25 May 2016, which contains useful guidelines on green claims, forexample that they be formulated "in a clear, specific,accurate and unambiguous manner".

Additionally, a provision specifically dedicated to commercialcommunications of an environmental nature is contained in Article12 of the Italian Code of Self-Discipline for CommercialCommunications, according to which "marketingcommunication that claims or evokes benefits of an environmental orecological nature must be based on truthful, relevant andscientifically verifiable data".

The above-mentioned provision was referred to by the Court ofGorizia in the first (and only) Italian court ruling ongreenwashing3. In this landmark decision,the judge acknowledged that generic expressions such as"environmentally friendly", "naturalchoice", "100% recyclable" constituteto all intents and purposes misleading advertising when they arenot clear, verifiable or supported by solid scientificevidence.

In the context of fragmented national regulations, the GreenClaims Directive could therefore be an effective tool to limitgreenwashing and related unfair commercial practices that aregrowing exponentially in parallel with the environmental awarenessof the consumers.

Footnotes

1. European Commissionproposal of 30 March 2022 amending Directives 2005/29/EC on unfaircommercial practices and 2011/83/EU on consumer rights.

2. On the other hand,the proposed Directive does not cover voluntary declarations thatare already regulated by other EU rules, such as the EU Ecolabel,as the relevant existing legislation already guarantees theirreliability.

3. Court of Gorizia,order of 25 November 2021 (Alcantara S.p.A vs. Miko S.r.l.). Theorder was then appealed by Miko S.r.l. and overturned by the Courtof Gorizia in March 2022, on the basis that Alcantara had beenunable to provide any evidence that Miko's environmental claimshad resulted in a risk of loss of customers forAlcantara.

The content of this article is intended to provide a generalguide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be soughtabout your specific circumstances.

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A Step Forward Against Greenwashing: The European Commission ... - Mondaq News Alerts

A special supplement marking the 50th anniversary of Ireland's membership of the Union [EU 50] will be published in this Wednesday's editions of the Tullamore Tribune and the Midland Tribune.

The 12 supplement is published by the Tribune and offalylive.ie in association with Offaly County Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Offaly History.

It can also be viewed on offalylive.ie from next Tuesday, May 9, which is Europe Day.

In the supplement foreword Anna Marie Delaney, Chief Executive of Offaly County Council and Cllr Frank Moran, Cathaoirleach write that it is widely acknowledged that Irelands 50 years of EU membership has coincided with a period of radical economic and social transformation across Ireland. This publication presents a wonderful opportunity to highlight how our lives have changed for the better because of our active membership.

The supplement features articles from a wide range of contributors, including former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, all of whom provide their unique insight into various milestones encountered because of EU membership.

Topics such as farming, gender equality, environmental issues, the 2004 European Foreign Ministers summit in Tullamore, the Just Transition process and the Leader programme are featured.

In compiling the supplement we invited contributions from all the MEPs for the South constituency and Offaly based Oireachtas members and are grateful to those who submitted articles, explained the Editor of the Tullamore Tribune, Ger Scully.

Two articles from members of the general public with specific interests in farming and policing are also published.

Said Ger Scully: We wish to stress the opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and were not influenced by Offaly County Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Tribune.

This special publication provides an opportunity to reflect on Irelands role in the EU and the partnerships we have developed over the last five decades. We wish to acknowledge the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of the Taoiseach for raising the profile of Irelands 50th anniversary of EU membership (EU50), outlined Anna Marie Delaney and Cllr Frank Moran.

They added: Irelands membership of the European Union has strengthened Offalys ability to protect our national and local environments with the EU Directives and EU Regulations. These legislative rules mean that Offaly County Council proactively tackle challenges presented by water pollution, waste management and air quality. We promote the conservation of natural habitats and protect local biodiversity. We take positive climate action. We prepare our strategic framework plans to answer our specific circumstances while being cognisant of meeting the demands of a changing environment.

We focus on our economic growth and proactively engage with the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly (EMRA) who distribute co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Because of our involvement in the EU, we recognise the importance of engaging with other EU members. There is strength in unity.

Our national voice is strong in Europe. In 2024 we have the opportunity to vote in local and European elections. Your vote is your voice and your voice matters. We look forward to strengthening our friendship and solidarity with the EU and to Ireland hosting the EU Presidency in 2026.

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Marking Ireland's and Offaly's 50 years membership of the European ... - Offaly Live