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Article Selection

 * 1960s in Western Fashion
 * UK underground
 * Resistance during WWII
 * Anti-communism (expansion on France
 * Anti-imperialism
 * Milan Fashion Week
 * Berlin Fashion Week
 * London Fashion Week
 * Budapest Fashion Week
 * Fashion in Milan
 * Making Sweden an Oil Free Society
 * The Vegan Society
 * Cannabis in Denmark, Croatia, Russia, France, Ireland, Luxemburg, Lithuania

Labelling Issues
As the demand for vegan and vegetarian products in Europe has continued to rise, the European Vegetarian Union has tried to define how to label "vegetarian" and "vegan" items. They have argued that the vegan label on a product should have a clear and standard meaning. They have put forth 2 main requirements: 1. "The deliberate use of non-vegan or non-vegetarian substances must be ruled out."

2. " The (potential) presence of inadvertent traces of non-vegan or non-vegetarian substances should not be an obstacle to labelling a product as vegan or vegetarian, provided that such contamination occurs despite a careful production process that complies with best practices and the state of the art." Despite the organization's efforts, the European Commission initially refused to enact any changes. The EVU has continued to lobby state governments, especially in Germany because the country experienced more widespread support for the labeling legislation. As a result, "consumer protection ministers of German Länder unanimously agreed on a proposal for a wording of the definition of the terms “vegan” and “vegetarian” for food labelling and put it into effect for the food control authorities within their jurisdictions, making it de facto binding." A recent 2018 report predicts that "vegan" and "vegetarian" labels will be required to meet the EVU's criteria by the year 2020.

Belgium
Less than 1.5% of the Belgian population is vegetarian. A study that surveyed 2436 Belgian individuals found that "21.8% of the respondents believed that meat consumption is unhealthy, and 45.6% of the respondents believed that they should eat less meat." The major reasons persons expressed interest in a more plant-based diet was for taste and health-related reasons. The majority of vegetarians polled think that the meat industry is harmful to the planet, while more than half of the non-vegetarians surveyed disagree with this statement.

France
France is not known to be friendly towards vegetarians as lunches at public schools must contain a "minimum of 20% of meals containing meat and 20% containing fish, and the remainder containing egg, cheese, or offal." An Appetite study found that French women were more accepting of vegetarianism than French men. Between the US, Brazil, Argentina, and France, France's people were most upset with vegetarianism because it was perceived to challenge national culture and identity.

There has been conflict between vegans and farmers in southern France. A farmers' union known as "Coordination Rurale" advocated for the French to continue eating meat through the slogan "To save a peasant farmer, eat a vegan."

Germany
As of 2016, Germany was found to have the highest percentage of vegetarians (7.8 million, 10%) and vegans (900,000, 1.1%) in the modern West. A survey from "Forsa" also revealed that approximately 42 million people in Germany identify as flexitarians aka "part time vegetarians." Professionals at the German Official Agencies estimate that by 2020 over 20% of Germans will eat mostly vegetarian. The reason why vegetarianism is so prevalent in Germany is not agreed upon, but the movement seems to have experienced much growth from promotion in media and the offering of more non-meat options.

In 1889, the first "International Veg Congress" met in Cologne, Germany.

Hungary
The recorded history of vegetarianism began with the Hungarian Vegetarian Society (HVS), formed in 1883. During this time, vegetarianism was popular because New Age ideas and counter belief systems were favored. In 1911, the first Hungarian vegetarian restaurant opened up in Vámház körút. In the 1950s, the HVS ceased operations and vegetarianism in popular culture diminished. Hungarian vegetarianism was later revived in 1989 with the fall of socialism. The "Ahimsa Hungarian Vegetarian Society of Veszprém" was founded in the late 90s.

Russia
Russian vegetarianism first gained prominence in 1901 with the opening of the first vegetarian society in St. Petersburg. Vegetarianism began to largely grow after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Russian vegetarians were found to be mainly those who were wealthy and educated. According to a 2018 poll carried out by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM), only 1% of Russians identify as vegetarian. Of 1,000 surveyees, 39% felt that vegetarian food was not healthy. 20% of respondents opposed this claim, and 27% felt that vegetarianism was neutral.

United Kingdom
The Vegetarian Society was formed in Britain in 1847. In 1944, a division of the organization broke off to form The Vegan Society.