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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13797
Contents Publication in full By article 20 / 37
SECTORAL POLICIES / Environment

Cost of forever chemicals estimated at €440 billion by 2050, according to an EU study

Pollution by per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS), known as ‘forever chemicals’, could cost the European Union around €440 billion by 2050 if current levels of contamination continue without regulatory action, according to a study commissioned by the European Commission and published on Thursday 29 January. 

These persistent chemical substances, which are used in textiles, food packaging and fire-fighting foams, have proven effects on human health and the environment,...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
IRAN: EU puts Revolutionary Guards on its list of terrorist organisations and sanctions those responsible for repression
VIETNAM: EU and Vietnam consolidate relations with a new strategic partnership
SUDAN : EU sanctions seven warlords
SERBIA: European Commission criticises passing of controversial law on judicial independence by Serbian Parliament
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: Ukraine facing humanitarian catastrophe warns Kaja Kallas
HUMANITARIAN AID : European Commission announces a further €153 million in emergency humanitarian aid for Ukraine and Moldova
ECONOMY: Cyprus Presidency of EU Council working hard to reach agreement on loan to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027
RUSSIA: EU sanctions six people deemed responsible for destabilising activities
RUSSIA/BELARUS: European Commission registers ECI aiming to phase out EU imports from Russia and Belarus
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: European Commission adopts EU’s first comprehensive visa strategy
AGRICULTURE : MEPs begin complex debate on post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy
AGRICULTURE : work in EU Council progressing on provisions of national plans to be transferred to regulations on CAP
FISHERIES: reform of Common Fisheries Policy will be debated by EU Council in May and June
ENERGY: according to European Commission, regulatory framework for nuclear fusion does not have to replicate that for fission
INDUSTRY: chemical plant closures in Europe have increased sixfold since 2022, according to Cefic
RESEARCH: MEPs want to separate Horizon Europe framework programme from European Competitiveness Fund
RESEARCH: European Commission explains its proposals on nuclear energy and ‘ITER’ project to MEPs
DIGITAL: major digital files this year have their rapporteurs in European Parliament
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission draws up mixed report on fight against pollution in EU
ENVIRONMENT: cost of forever chemicals estimated at €440 billion by 2050, according to an EU study
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECB: MEPs struggle to lay foundations for compromise on digital euro
EIB: EIB quadrupled financing for security and defence sector in 2025
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
GREENLAND: there are no major threats to Greenland, according to Lars Løkke Rasmussen
INSTITUTIONAL
BETTER REGULATION: MEPs call on European Commission to rethink ‘one in, one out’ approach to further regulatory simplification
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: Cyprus Presidency of EU Council promises to do its utmost to reach an agreement on coordination of social security rules
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY/EMPLOYMENT: MEPs call for women’s work to be valued in order to reduce pay and pension gaps
DEMOCRACY: European Democracy Shield – Tomas Tobé’s report finds that European Commission’s proposal is still too limited
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: lack of reliable and comparable data limits fight against antisemitism, according to EU Fundamental Rights Agency
HOUSING: European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights calls for a human rights-based approach to housing energy policies
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
ECHR: European Court of Human Rights celebrates a “very productive” 2025, but still faces challenges
NEWS BRIEFS
BANKS: MEPs give green light to reappointment of Frank Elderson as Vice-Chairman of Single Supervisory Mechanism
EUROPEAN COMMISSION : EU institution dismisses Henrik Hololei following disciplinary proceedings
EUROPEAN COMMISSION : European Commission appoints new director at DG DEFIS and new deputy director-general at DG ECFIN
RULE OF LAW: association of European cities Eurocities objects to legal proceedings brought against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony
UNITED STATES: 125 civil society organisations urge European leaders to reduce US fossil fuel imports
DRC: situation in Eastern Congo cannot be a forgotten conflict, warns Maxime Prévot
SOCIAL: former commissioner Ylva Johansson to chair ‘European Skills High-Level Board’