I. Martina Morabito and Andreas Geiger Named Finalists for PRCA Public Affairs Awards 2025
Martina Morabito and Andreas Geiger of Alber & Geiger have been shortlisted as finalists in the highly regarded PRCA Public Affairs Awards 2025. Andreas is a finalist for the Public Affairs Professional of the Year, while Martina is recognized in the Public Affairs Woman of the Year category.
This recognition continues a proud tradition for the Alber & Geiger team, whose members have earned awards across multiple PRCA award categories over the years. Their consistent presence among the finalists reflects the firm’s excellence and impact in the field of public affairs.
Hosted by one of the world’s largest professional PR body, representing over 35,000 PR professionals worldwide, the PRCA Public Affairs Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in influencing policy and driving meaningful change.
The winners will be announced at the ceremony on February 27, 2025, offering an opportunity to highlight individual and team accomplishments while connecting with the industry’s most influential figures.
Alber & Geiger can help organizations voice their interests and concerns to EU policymakers.
II. The EU Lobbying Handbook: A Must-Have Guide for Post-2024 European Politics
As we move into 2025, understanding the complexities of EU decision-making is more important than ever for professionals in public affairs and lobbying. The EU Lobbying Handbook by Alber & Geiger offers a comprehensive look at the intricacies of EU politics, providing readers with the knowledge needed to navigate and influence the European Union’s policymaking process.
Written by Dr. Andreas Geiger, a leading EU lobbyist, this book is both a guide and a toolbox. It combines proven methods, actionable tactics, and real-world insights to help readers make their voices heard in the crowded Brussels policy arena.
Whether you are an EU-based stakeholder or operate outside Europe, this handbook is an invaluable resource for mastering the art of advocacy in the current shifting political climate.
Our team enjoys long-lasting relationships and understands the complexities to help shape decisions.
III. New EU Rules Enhance Chemical Safety and Transparency
New regulations on the classification, labeling, and packaging of chemicals (CLP) have come into force in the EU, aiming to improve safety for consumers, workers, and the environment. These changes also seek to streamline the EU single market for products containing hazardous chemicals.
The updated rules focus on increasing transparency and safety. Websites must now clearly display the hazardous properties of chemical-containing products, and advertisements and online listings must include details about potential chemical hazards. The introduction of digital labeling and simplified requirements will make chemical labels more legible and improve cross-border trade.
To enhance safety further, the rules expedite the identification of hazardous substances and mixtures. Comprehensive data will now be provided to poison centers, ensuring quicker responses to medical emergencies, particularly for products distributed across borders.
The implementation timeline varies. Most industry obligations begin on July 1, 2026, while label formatting requirements will take effect from January 1, 2027. Products already on the market during these periods won’t require re-labeling until July 2028 for substances and January 2029 for mixtures.
These measures underline the EU’s commitment to fostering a safer marketplace, enhancing consumer trust, and ensuring greater environmental protection while supporting the free movement of goods.
Our experienced team can help influence opinions and agendas.
IV. EU Launches Flight Emissions Label for Sustainable Air Travel
The European Commission has introduced a groundbreaking Flight Emissions Label (FEL) to provide travelers with transparent data about the environmental impact of their flights. Starting in July 2025, airlines operating within or departing from the EU can voluntarily adopt the label, which provides standardized information on greenhouse gas emissions (measured in kilograms of CO₂ equivalent).
This initiative addresses the current inconsistency in how airlines report flight emissions, offering a harmonized methodology that factors in aircraft type, passenger numbers, freight volume, and fuel usage. The result? Passengers can compare flights based on reliable, uniform emissions data, enabling more sustainable travel choices.
When booking tickets online, emissions data for participating airlines will be accompanied by a dedicated logo. This will offer transparency and protect consumers from misleading environmental claims, often called greenwashing.
Beyond aiding consumers, the FEL is a strategic move toward greener aviation. It promotes fair competition among airlines, encourages the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), and supports fleet modernization. The data-driven approach incentivizes airlines to optimize operations and reduce their carbon footprint.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, highlighted the initiative’s transformative potential, stating, “The Flight Emissions Label will provide passengers with transparent and reliable information, ending misleading environmental claims while fostering fair competition and sustainability across the aviation sector.”
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will oversee emissions estimations, ensuring alignment with advanced international standards. Airlines interested in joining the initiative can begin submitting data to EASA by February 2025, with the first labels rolling out in the 2025 winter season.
Alber & Geiger can help organizations voice their interests and concerns to EU policymakers.
V. EU Bans Bisphenol A in Food Contact Materials to Protect Public Health
The European Commission has officially banned the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials, citing its potential health risks. BPA, a chemical used in certain plastics and resins, is linked to harmful effects on the immune system and other health concerns.
This ban, supported by scientific findings from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), will prevent BPA from being used in items such as reusable plastic bottles, water coolers, metal can coatings and kitchenware. While BPA was already prohibited in infant bottles within the EU, this new measure extends protections to all age groups.
To ease the transition, most products will have an 18-month phase-out period, with limited exceptions where alternatives are unavailable to avoid disruptions in the food supply chain. The ban also includes other bisphenols harmful to reproductive and endocrine systems.
Commissioner Oliver Várhelyi emphasized the importance of this step, stating, “Protecting consumers from harmful chemicals in their food and drink is a top priority for the EU. Today’s decision reflects our commitment to maintaining high food safety standards based on rigorous scientific advice.”
This decisive action reinforces the EU’s dedication to safeguarding public health while promoting a safer, more sustainable food system.
Our team enjoys long-lasting relationships and understands the complexities to help shape decisions.
VI. EU Adopts Stricter Air Quality Standards for Cleaner Air by 2030
The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive, now in effect, sets tighter limits on pollutants to protect public health and advance the EU’s zero pollution goal by 2050
Stricter Air Quality Standards
The new directive cuts the allowable annual limit for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a major air pollutant, by over 50%. Additionally, it lowers limits for 12 pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), and heavy metals like lead and cadmium. These updated standards are backed by regular reviews to ensure alignment with scientific advancements and progress toward climate neutrality.
Proactive Compliance and Monitoring
Member States must take early action if air pollution exceeds the 2030 standards, analyzing progress and implementing measures to ensure compliance. Local authorities will benefit from enhanced air quality monitoring, modeling, and planning support, enabling efficient responses to breaches of standards.
Compensation for Health Damages
The legislation introduces a right to compensation for individuals suffering health damage due to violations of EU air quality rules. It also strengthens provisions on public access to air quality information, justice, and penalties for non-compliance.
Broader EU Support
EU policies in transport, energy, agriculture, and innovation will complement the directive, aiding national and local measures. In justified cases, Member States may receive extensions to meet the standards, accompanied by clear roadmaps for improvement.
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Commissioner Jessika Roswall highlighted the urgency of cleaner air, noting that air pollution causes 250,000 premature deaths annually and costs the EU economy €850 billion. The directive will boost public health, protect biodiversity, and drive economic growth.
Member States have two years to transpose the directive into national law, with further implementation guidelines forthcoming.
Our experienced team can help influence opinions and agendas.
VII. EU Launches EUDR Information System to Combat Deforestation
The European Commission has unveiled the EUDR Information System, a key tool to ensure compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This system allows operators, traders, and their representatives to submit and manage due diligence statements, ensuring products entering the EU market are not linked to deforestation or forest degradation.
Statements submitted through the system must pertain to products made available on the market or exported after the EUDR’s application date. These legally binding submissions will be subject to checks by Member States’ authorities, reinforcing accountability across the supply chain.
To aid users in adapting to the system, the Commission has also launched a training platform called the ACCEPTANCE Server. This replica system enables stakeholders to practice submitting due diligence statements without legal implications, helping them familiarize themselves with the process. Both the LIVE and ACCEPTANCE servers are available in all EU languages for accessibility.
Training sessions have been ongoing since September, with over 2,500 operators and traders, along with 84 Member State representatives, already trained. The system also allows users to test geolocation files for compatibility, offering valuable feedback to ensure smooth implementation.
This milestone underscores the EU’s commitment to curbing deforestation while fostering transparency and accountability in global trade.
Alber & Geiger can help organizations voice their interests and concerns to EU policymakers.
VIII. EU Bans Products Made with Forced Labor
The European Council has adopted a regulation banning products made with forced labor from the Union market. This historic move prohibits the import, export, or sale of any goods linked to forced labor, ensuring ethical standards in global trade. This regulation is now finalized, marking the completion of the legislative process.
A Framework for Action
The new regulation establishes a robust framework to identify and act against forced labor products. A key component is a forced labor risk database, to be developed by the European Commission. This tool will assist authorities in pinpointing high-risk products and regions. Investigations can be launched by the Commission for non-EU cases or by national authorities for incidents within the Union.
The regulation also sets a collaborative approach. Member state authorities must share findings and the Commission to facilitate swift and consistent enforcement. Once a decision to ban or withdraw a product is made by any national authority, it will automatically apply across the EU, based on the principle of mutual recognition.
What Happens Next?
The regulation will officially come into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Full application of the rules will begin three years after that date, giving businesses time to adapt to the new standards. The Commission first proposed this ban in September 2022.
Our team enjoys long-lasting relationships and understands the complexities to help shape decisions.