Tackling plastic pollution: Commission sets 2030 target to make all plastic packaging recyclable
All plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030 under plans to tackle plastic pollution published by the European Commission. Currently, less than 30% of the 25 million tonnes of plastic waste generated by Europeans is collected for recycling. The EU-wide strategy on plastics also aims to reduce single-use plastics which represent half of all marine litter, as well as restrict the use of micro plastics. (See also fact of the week)
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VAT: more products on reduced rates, less red tape for SMEs
On 17 January, the European Commission proposed a new system for reduced and zero VAT rates that will allow member states to keep their existing ones and extend them to additional products. The proposals also broaden the pool of SMEs that can benefit from simplified VAT reporting procedures or can be exempt from VAT altogether. This is part of a root and branch overhaul of the EU's VAT system, which will introduce arrangements based on the principle of taxation in the member state of destination, as opposed to the current system where VAT is paid in the country where the goods or services originate. The new regime – as well as making fraud much more difficult - will allow more diversification in standard VAT rates.
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New measures to boost key and digital competences
On 17 January, the European Commission adopted new initiatives to improve the key and digital competences of European citizens. They are intended to reduce socio-economic inequalities, whilst sustaining competitiveness in order to build a more united, stronger and more democratic Europe. The initiatives include a digital education action plan that outlines how the EU can help people, educational institutions and education systems better adapt to life and work in an age of rapid digital change.
The new proposals will also feed into the first European Education Summit which Commissioner Navracsics will host in Brussels on 25 January.
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Big tech companies quickly remove two-thirds of content reported as illegal hate speech
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft remove 70% of content reported to them as illegal hate speech within 24 hours. Since 2016, the four tech giants have committed to combatting the spread of such content in Europe through a code of conduct initiated by the European Commission. The code is voluntary and does not give governments the right to take down content. Today Instagram and Google+ announced they will join in.
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EU steps up support to address the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh
The European Union has adopted a new €5 million programme to support the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. The funding is for measures to improve and facilitate identification and registration, for humanitarian support, and for better protection of vulnerable individuals. Prior EU-led responses to the crisis include the EU co-hosted donors' conference in Geneva in October and the creation of an independent, international fact-finding mission at the UN Human Rights Council. EU High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini and the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Christos Stylianides, have visited both Myanmar and Bangladesh several times since the start of the crisis.
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All this week's key European Commission announcements can be found here
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