by AFP | 19.Sep 2023 | Fact check
In response to the record high temperatures in Europe and elsewhere around the world this summer, social media users accused the European Space Agency (ESA) of having modified its measurement methods to achieve the striking results. They claimed that the agency was now measuring the land surface temperature, which is higher than air temperature. However, this is a misinterpretation of an ESA article about the heatwave. The institution has not made changes to its methodology and had in fact already published land surface temperature data in the past. What’s more, the ESA is not responsible for validating temperature records. That is the role of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which uses other measurements that it receives from weather stations.
by ANSA, STA, TASR, FENA, ATA | 15.Sep 2023 | Europe in brief
The German government has suspended an agreement with Italy to voluntarily take in refugees due to Italy’s refusal to respect the Dublin rules. In other news: Slovenia and Luxembourg pledge for equal treatment of all EU candidates and the preservation of Schengen. Slovak and Hungarian police are combating illegal migration together.
by AFP, ANSA, dpa, EFE, Europa Press, STA | 15.Sep 2023 | Key Stories
The European Parliament gave the green light to start negotiations with the Council of the EU to reform the Union’s electricity market. However, the Council is currently deadlocked due to disagreements, mainly between Germany and France, over the financing of nuclear energy.
by EFE, STA, BTA | 12.Sep 2023 | Europe in brief
This week, attention will turn to the State of the Union speech that Ursula von der Leyen will give to the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the last of her current term. In other news: Slovenia’s PM Golob calls for accession talks with Bosnia and Bulgaria’s PM sees the euro as a stability factor against inflation.
by AFP | 12.Sep 2023 | Fact check
The European Union is taking steps to encourage the sustainable production of paper, but it is not proposing to ban toilet paper. False claims circulated in Polish in August 2023 that the EU is planning to phase out toilet paper, first by replacing it with a product made from straw, and then by banning it altogether. However, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed to AFP that the EU has “no intention of banning toilet paper”. AFP could find no such announcement of any ban and paper industry representatives said they were not aware of any such move. While toilet paper made from straw instead of wood pulp is now on the market, there is no move to force EU countries to use it or ban other types.
