European Union News - April 2008

Education and training are crucial elements to economic and social change in Europe, the flexibility and security needed to achieve more and better jobs depend on ensuring that all citizens acquire key competences and update their skills throughout their lives.

EU farm money unduly spent by Member States is claimed back as a result of a decision adopted by the European Commission. The money returns to the Community budget because of inadequate control procedures or non-compliance with EU rules on agricultural expenditure. Member States are responsible for paying out and checking expenditure under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), and the Commission is required to ensure that Member States have made correct use of the funds.

European Commission approved PEACE III, the European Territorial Cooperation Programme for Northern Ireland and the Border Regions of Ireland (Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal) for the period 2007-2013 period with €225 million budget. A new open call for proposal is open now.

On the 4th of April 2008, the European Commission published it's Proposal for a decision of the Council on the signature on behalf of the European Community of the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the European Community of the one part and the Government of New Zealand of the other part. The Agreement it will be concluded for an initial period of five years and continue in force after this initial period unless either Party notifies the other that it shall be terminated.

The European Commission cleared last 28th March, under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of Aearo Company, a US producer of protective equipment, by the US company 3M, a diversified technology company.

The European Commission has introduced rules to harmonise conditions for the take-off of pan-European mobile communication services on aircraft. These services will allow businesspeople and consumers to receive and make calls and messages safely with their own mobile phones while flying all over Europe. This means that the 90% of European air passengers that already carry mobile phones on-board aircraft can remain contactable during flights.

Prospects for agricultural markets and income 2007-2014 was published last 4th April by the DG  Agriculture and Rural Development. It provides a picture of the likely medium-term developments of agricultural markets, based on a certain number of assumptions and on the statistical information available at the end of December 2007.

The event was organised by the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union. It offers an opportunity to discuss the policy's scope and impact, and paves the way for the forthcoming discussion on the EU budget. The Commissioner will present initial results of its analysis of contributions to the public consultations on the future of Cohesion Policy. A Green Paper on territorial cohesion will be published in September 2008 by the EC services.

The European Commmision decided on 28 March 2008 to initiate proceedings in the case COMP/M.4942 — Nokia/Navteq. The information has been published in the OJ last 5th April 2008.

The Interreg IVA Cross-border Cooperation Programme “Öresund-Kattegatt-Skagerrak” – Programme under the Territorial Cooperation Objective, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) has been approved On 27 March 2008 bye the European Commission with a total budget of around €223 million

The European Commision has published on 4th April 2008 a new call for proposal in the Framework Programme under the 'People' Specific Programme addressed to researchers at all stages of their careers, in both public and private sectors. Researchers are of at least postgraduate or equivalent level and are classified on the basis of professional experience with a budget of 185 Meuros.

The OJ has published on 4th april the Commission Decision of 17 March 2008 amending Decision 2007/176/EC as regards the List of standards and/or specifications for electronic communications networks, services and associated facilities and services in order to include the Digital Video Broadcasting (Handheld) DVB-H as an standard.