European Union News - April 2008

On the 10th April, the European Commission (EC) published in the Official Journal of the European union notices from member states including information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid. One of the concers from the United Kingdom was the Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) for Northern Ireland aid scheme which has been aloted a budget of 100 million pounds.

On the 10th April the European Commission (EC) published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ), its decision from the 18th March 2008 to release a list of bodies whose researchers may access confidential data for scientific purposes. The decision have been released under Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom.

On 10 April the Official Journal of the European Union has published the non-opposition to a notified concentration in the Case COMP/M.5024 Tui/Royal Caribbean Cruises/JV, in a decision of the Commission.

The parties idea is gradually establish a freetrade area over a period lasting a maximum of five years starting from the entry into force of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and in conformity with those of the GATT 1994 and the WTO. In so doing they shall take into account the specific requirements laid down hereinafter.

The six winners of the 2008 "European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards" are outstanding projects in the Czech Republic, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and Romania. The prizes announced today serve as recognition of exceptional conservation, research and education efforts and are each worth € 10 000. The prizes are awarded jointly by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage. They will be presented at the European Heritage Awards Ceremony on 12 June 2008 in Durham Cathedral in the United Kingdom.

The House voted in favour of approving the new Cypriot Commissioner Androula Vassiliou for Public Health, Food Safety, Animal Health and Welfare, with 446 votes in favour 7 against and 29 abstentions. A new Commissioner is needed following the resignation of fellow Cypriot Markos Kyprianou, who left to take up the post of foreign minister in the new Cypriot government.

On 9 April 2008, it has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union the Commission decision not to oppose the a new concentration of AXA Group in the Case COMP/M.5055 - Axa/Klepierre/Annecy Courier.

European Commission cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of joint control over AvtoVaz of Russia by Renault SA of France and Russian Technology of Russia. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it. Prior notification of a concentration information has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Waste production should be stabilized by 2012, said the Environment Committee in a second reading report, adopted on Arpil 9th 2008, on a proposal to revise the EU framework directive on waste. For MEPs, a crucial aim is to reduce the amount of landfill and incineration, both of which cause pollution. The committee voted to reinstate most of Parliament's first reading amendments that were not taken up by the Council, and reiterated Parliament's call for re-use and recycling targets.

A record 217 regions and cities from 32 countries have signed up as partners for the OPEN DAYS 2008 European Week of Regions and Cities, the biggest annual gathering of EU and regional policy-makers, experts and representatives of banking, business and civil society groups operator in the regional policy sector.

The OJ has published on 9th April the REGULATION (EC) No 294/2008 of the EP and Council related to the establishment of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) with a initial budget for the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2013 of EUR 308,7 million. Regulation will enter  enter into force on the 29th april 2008.

The European Commission (EC) has released notices from different member states including information regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises. (2008/C 88/05). One of the concerns released was the Wales European Collaboration fund with an annual budget for the aid scheme is set at 200,000 Pounds.