Search Results for: Dutch

BY PAUL COCHRANE and KEITH NUTHALL

SYRIA is such a staple of Middle East political turmoil, it is easy to forget that it is a near neighbour of Europe: less than 200 miles of sea separate it from Cyprus and it borders Turkey, which could be a European Union (EU) member by 2020.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE DUTCH government has become the first in Europe to move towards automatic universal road pricing by proposing a tax charging motorists on the kilometres they drive. It wants the Netherlands parliament to approve replacing road and car purchase taxes with the charge by 2012, varying rates/km by car model weight and CO2 emissions.…

BY PHILIPPA JONES

THE ADDITION of nanoparticles to paint is the "best way forward" for the growth of the paints and coatings industry, according to Craig Barker, director of regulatory affairs at the Dutch chemical firm Akzo Nobel. However, environmentalists have questioned, at a recent conference debate, whether the oft-touted benefits actually outweigh the risks, given what they consider to be a continuing lack of data about the safety of these products.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE NOMINATION of an Italian to the important position of European Union (EU) industry Commissioner could be good news for the clothing and textile industry. Antonio Tajani would be replacing German socialist heavyweight Günter Verheugen who has vigorously pushed an activist agenda in Brussels, which has often favoured heavy industry, and the transport sector in particular (which is strong in Germany).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

OUTSPOKEN European Union (EU) information society Commissioner Viviane Reding is to leave her position in Brussels when the new European Commission is confirmed in January. The Luxembourger will be replaced by a tough Dutch free-market liberal Neelie Kroes who takes on a renamed post of digital agenda Commissioner.…

BY PHILIPPA JONES

NANOTECHNOLOGY scientists remain excited by the advantages various industries can glean from the addition of nanosilver to textiles, but there is increasing opposition to its use in non-medical fields and growing concern that not enough is known about its health and environmental effects.…

BY DEIRDRE MASON GAVIN BLAIR ANCA GURZU and KEITH NUTHALL

AS the Copenhagen conference charged with forging a new international climate change treaty gets under way this month, the auto industry worldwide will be looking closely at how the deliberations will affect its business.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE EUROPEAN Commission is to investigate removing plastic from seas and oceans worldwide, amidst growing concern about massive floating islands of plastic debris in international waters. The initiative follows a call by the Dutch government at the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers for action, which could involve further pressure to reduce the use of plastics in packaging, sacks and bags.…

BY MARK GODFREY

AS CHINA’S stimulus-primed economy rebounds, increased local emphasis on environmental and quality specifications is playing into the hands of foreign brands like PPG Industries and Akzo Nobel.

"The whole industry is facing consolidation, changing needs from customers, and stricter environmental requirements," said Mike Horton, head of architectural coatings and automotive refinish coatings for the Asia Pacific region at PPG.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL

THE SEIZURES of generic medicines in transit through German and Dutch ports (that prompted complaints from the Indian and Brazilian governments) have now sparked criticism from Oxfam. It and Health Action International Europe said in a report: "The EU’s [intellectual property] policies are increasing the cost of medicines.…