Articles by Hans van Scharen

About Hans van Scharen

Hans van Scharen, born in Brussels, studied Journalism in The Netherlands and worked as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and television in both Belgium and the Netherlands for over 15 years. For a decade (2009-2019) he worked as parliamentary assistant to Belgian MEP Bart Staes in the European parliament, focussing a lot on agricultural and food policy related issues like pesticides, food waste, seeds and trade. Since the start of 2020 he works as media officer for the Brussels based research and campaign NGO Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and works as freelance journalist.

A Loud Lobby for a Silent Spring

March 18, 2022 Hans van Scharen

It has emerged that the SUR – Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation – may not be announced next week, as initially planned. Rather, on Monday 21st a decision will be made to postpose or not. This is just one example of how the EU Farm to Fork strategy is in a perfect storm: the agribusiness lobby against sustainable policies is now reinforced by war in Ukraine. Op-ed by Nina Holland, researcher at Corporate Europe Observatory. Hans van Scharen, press officer at Corporate Europe Observatory. […]

A Toxic Multi-Billion-Euro Business Costing Citizens Big Time

November 30, 2021 Hans van Scharen

What is the scale and impact of pesticides in agri-food? Where is power expressed, and what are the costs associated with the use of these agri-industrial inputs? A new concept note and policy brief throws some light on the topic. Op-Ed by Le BASIC – Christophe Alliot, Sylvain Ly CCFD-Terre Solidaire – Maureen Jorand Pollinis – Nicolas Larmaan PAN-Europe – Martin Dermine and CEO – Hans Vanscharen. […]

Damning Report on CAP Cash in Central and Eastern Europe Released

March 9, 2021 Hans van Scharen

There are “strong links between politics and the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidies” in five Central and East European member states of the EU. That’s according to a new in-depth study “Where does the money go”, which examines the implementation of the EU agriculture funds in Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and the Czech Republic. The study, which was commissioned by the Greens/EFA political group in the European Parliament, sheds a stark light on how the CAP is not only funding degradation of biodiversity but also degrading democracy. Hans van Scharen reports. […]