European Union News - 15 May 2008

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn told MEPs on Thursday that while the worst of the financial market crisis itself was probably over, the impact on the real economy would continue at least for the rest of the year. He also spoke about the food price crisis and reform of financial market supervision.

The European Commission is to create an Expert Group on Financial Education (EGFE). The group will be composed of financial education practitioners and will aim to promote exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices. The group will also advise the Commission on its policy-making in the area of financial education. Interested candidates are invited to send an application to the Commission by 13 June 2008.

EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva announced, on the 15th of May 2008, the launch of an EU- UEFA information campaign and helpline to advise fans travelling to EURO 2008 on their consumer rights and to provide support for those who run into problems between the opening match on 7th June in Basel and the final on 29th June in Vienna.

The European Union has decided to celebrate the achievements and potential of Europe's ocean and seas by declaring 20 May as a dedicated "European Maritime Day". The official launch ceremony will be held in Strasbourg, where Commission President José Manuel Barroso, European Council President Janez Janša and the President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering will sign a Joint Tripartite Declaration.

On the 15th May 2008, Peter Hustinx, Supervisor, and Joaquín Bayo Delgado, Assistant Supervisor, presented their fourth Annual Report to the press on data protection.

Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, has released figures on inflation within the Euro area for April 2008.

The EU is the second economic partner for Latin America-Caribbean region. Bilateral trade amounts around €160billion annually. In 2007 the EU represented around 14% of Latin American exports. For the Caribbean the EU is even more important as an export destination with 19% of products shipped to the EU. These numbers are constantly rising.

On the 15th of May 2008, the European Commission published notification of State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products to various member states. One aid scheme included was to the United Kingdom with over two million Pounds of aid over forur years.

The European Commission announced in its Council Joint Action notification, published in the OJ on the 15th May 2008, a series of workshops in accordance with the EU strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The action 2008/368/CFSP dates back to 14th May 2008 and is in support of the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004) and in the framework of the implementation of the EU strategy against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. (L 127/78).