Europe’s environmental footprints exceed several safe limits

A new joint EEA-FOEN report ‘Is Europe living within the limits of our planet?’ explores two key questions related to Europe’s long-term sustainability ambitions. The first question is how to define a ‘safe operating space’ for Europe where all humanity can continue to develop and thrive. The second question is whether Europe’s consumption, or environmental footprint, is currently smaller or larger than its estimated ‘safe operating space’.

The report acknowledges that there are different ways to allocate Europe’s operating space in the global context, which inevitably involve normative choices about fairness, equity, international burden sharing, sovereignty and the right for development. Based on these different allocation principles, the study arrives to a minimum European share of 2.7 %, a maximum share of 21 %, and a median share of 7.3 % of the global limits.

Using a consumption-based analysis for four of the Earths life support systems, the report shows that Europe currently exceeds its safe operating space for nitrogen cycle by a factor of 3.3; phosphorous cycle by a factor of 2.0, and land system change by a factor of 1.8. Conversely, Europe does live within its limits when it comes to freshwater use, although problems with overconsumption and water scarcity remain locally and regionally.

The report also includes a case study of Switzerland’s biodiversity footprint. Considering the potential for global species loss because of land use, and by using and an equal share of land use per capita, the Swiss biodiversity footprint exceeds the threshold value by a factor of 3.7.



International trade mark application or registration – E-mail for electronic communications

April 17, 2020 About the EUIPO

International trade mark application or registration – E-mail for electronic communications

Due to the suspension of postal service in Switzerland caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has announced that is not able to send or receive communications by postal mail until further notice.

In order to facilitate electronic communications under the Madrid System with applicants, holders and representatives, WIPO has asked the EUIPO for access to e-mail addresses from applicants who have based their International Application on a European Union Trade Mark (EUTM). The EUIPO will contact relevant applicants regarding the e-mail addresses available in the User Area. For further information, contact us at information@euipo.europa.eu.

 



Update from the Executive Director of EUIPO

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Article – Covid-19: €3 billion emergency support for national health care systems

Europe’s health sectors are under extreme pressure because of the Covid-19 outbreak. The EU is mobilising an additional €3.08 billion to support national healthcare systems in fighting the pandemic and providing medical services to patients in need. The measures were approved by MEPs on 17 April.

The initiative serves to coordinate resource distribution and cross-border cooperation, with a focus on the most affected regions. It will help with the construction of field hospitals and coordinate and financially support the transportation of corona patients to hospitals with free capacity.

The money will also be used to directly purchase and distribute medical supplies such as respirators, protective equipment and reusable masks. Other actions are possible, depending on the needs of EU countries. In the longer term, the funds will improve medical research and testing capacities in EU countries.

The funds come from all remaining available means in this year’s budget.

  • €2.7 billion will be put into the EU’s Emergency Support Instrument
  • €380 million will go to the rescEU reserve of medical equipment


ESMA issues new Q&A on alternative performance measures in the context of COVID-19

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has issued a Q&A to provide guidance to issuers on the application of the ESMA Guidelines on Alternative Performance Measures (APM Guidelines) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Q&A published today

 

  • highlights the main principles of the APM Guidelines;
  • encourages issuers to use caution when adjusting Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) and when including new APMs to address the impact of COVID-19;
  • invites issuers to provide:
    • narrative information regarding the modifications made, the assumptions used and the impact of COVID-19;
    • information on measures taken or expected to be taken by issuers to address the impact that the COVID-19 outbreak may have in their operations and performance.

 

The APM Guidelines address the information that issuers should publish when disclosing APMs (e.g. Operating Results, EBIT, EBITDA, Free Cash-flows) to the market in management reports, prospectuses and ad-hoc disclosures (such as Quarterly Earnings releases).