#Europe

2025-05-29

EEA Scientific Committee elects new chair and vice-chairs

The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) Scientific Committee has elected a new chair and two vice-chairs at its spring meeting held over two days at the EEA headquarters in Copenhagen.

Dr. Louis Meuleman, Special Visiting Professor in Public Governance at Leuven University, Belgium, was elected as the new chair. A member of the committee since 2020, Dr. Meuleman has previously served as both vice-chair and acting chair. He will lead the committee’s efforts to ensure strategic guidance and compliance with the EEA Regulation and Scientific Committee Rules of Procedure.

Professor Adina Dumitru and Professor Teis Hansen, both newly appointed members in 2025, were elected as vice-chairs. They bring broad expertise in environmental psychology and innovation studies, respectively.

Professor Dumitru is Professor of Psychology at the University of A Coruña, Spain, and President of the International Association of People-Environment Studies (IAPS). Professor Hansen is Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Food and Resource Economics.

Leena Ylä-Mononen, EEA Executive Director, commented: "The EEA Scientific Committee has been busy, starting the year by welcoming nine new members and this week electing a new chair and two new vice-chairs. The committee gives invaluable ‘hands-on’ input to EEA knowledge and contributes to the scientific quality of our work. I look forward to working closely with the newly-elected chair and vice-chairs as well as the other committee members over the coming years."

"I am very pleased and honored that the members have elected me to lead the committee in the coming years, in a leadership team with the two vice-chairs. In these very turbulent times, scientifically sound environmental evidence will be crucial to maintain and improve the EU’s environmental sustainability. The committee is well-placed and equipped to support the EEA with advice. We kick-started this week with discussions on future environmental knowledge needs and the challenges posed by widespread mis- and disinformation, among others", said Dr. Louis Meuleman, Chair of the EEA Scientific Committee.

Renewables lower energy prices and play key role to reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel supply shocks

Renewables lower energy prices and play key role to reduce vulnerability to fossil fuel supply shocks Boosting the use of homegrown renewable electricity is Europe’s best way to reduce its vulnerability to volatile international energy supplies and rising energy prices according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment published today.

Circular economy offers the EU win-win on environment and economy

Stepping up a circular economy offers the European Union the potential for significant positive impacts on Europe’s environment and poses an untapped and strategic economic opportunity in terms of better access to materials and the creation of new businesses. Three new assessments on circularity, published today by the European Environment Agency (EEA), also stress the need to accelerate investment in circularity efforts to meet EU climate and environment policy targets.

State of Europe’s environment not good: threats to nature and impacts of climate change top challenges

State of Europe’s environment not good: threats to nature and impacts of climate change top challenges Significant progress has been made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, but the overall state of Europe’s environment is not good, especially its nature which continues to face degradation, overexploitation and biodiversity loss. The impacts of accelerating climate change are also an urgent challenge, according to the European Environment Agency’s (EEA) most comprehensive, ‘state of environment’ report, published today. The outlook for most environmental trends is concerning and poses major risks to Europe’s economic prosperity, security and quality of life.

What are the impacts of PFAS polymers on our health and the environment?

The widespread use of PFAS polymers in everything from consumer products to green technologies can lead to contamination of water, air, soil, food and people. A European Environment Agency (EEA) assessment, published today, says that these chemicals can also contribute to global warming and ozone depletion.

European textile industry calls for €10 handling fee on ultra-fast-fashion imports

The introduction of the €3 customs duty on low-value imports marks an important milestone in Europe’s efforts to address the challenges created by the rapid growth of ultra-fast-fashion imports. Together with the abolition of the €150 customs duty exemption, it demonstrates that policymakers are willing to act when market distortions become impossible to ignore. However, the European textile and clothing industry considers this a first step rather than the final destination.

EU ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear now in force

The European Union's ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear has entered into force. Since July 19, 2026, large companies across the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold textile products, while medium-sized companies will be required to comply with the same rules from 2030.

KARL MAYER invites the Global Textile Industry to celebrate its 90th anniversary at its German Headquarters in 2027

KARL MAYER is turning its anniversary year 2027 into a milestone for the textile sector. To mark its 90th anniversary, the industry leader is inviting customers, partners, and experts from around the world to a unique event series in September aimed at pushing boundaries, unlocking new opportunities, and jointly setting the course for a new era in textiles – just as KARL MAYER has done throughout its history. The company’s headquarters in Obertshausen, near Frankfurt, is the place to be.

ITMF names three winners of the Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026

Three projects from the UK, Korea and China have been selected as winners of the ITMF Sustainability & Innovation Award 2026. The projects address textile-to-textile recycling, chemical recycling for automotive textiles and a regenerative approach combining silk production with ecological restoration.

Durak Maxibalance thread supports users’ movement and balance comfort

Durak Tekstil, a leading brand in its industry, has developed Durak Maxibalance, a new product engineered with bio-ceramic and FAR IR technology. Ushering in a new era for sportswear, activewear, and medical textiles, this technology offers features designed to support balance and movement comfort by reflecting the energy absorbed from the body back into it.