European Union News - 30 November 2010

Agriculture and Fisheries ministers meeting in Brussels on 29 November held an initial exchange of views on Commission's communication on the future of CAP after 2013. In the agenda, ministers also addressed, among other issues, fishing opportunities for certain deep-sea stocks for 2011 and 2012 as well as the possibility to enable EFSA to receive fees, and were also debriefed on the Farm advisory system.

Seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.1% in October 2010, increasing by 0.1% compared to the same data in September. In the European Union as a whole the rate remained unchanged compared to the previous month and a value slightly lower than those registered in the Euro area reaching 9.6%.

The European Commission has decided to open an antitrust investigation into allegations that Google Inc. has abused a dominant position in online search. The opening of formal proceedings follows complaints by search service providers about unfavourable treatment of their services in Google's unpaid and sponsored search results coupled with an alleged preferential placement of Google's own services.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation focused on gathering the opinion of public and private organisations, companies and individual citizens on the challenges created by the ageing population in Europe, and in particular on a pilot European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on active and healthy ageing. Results of this consultation, which will run until 28 January 2011, will be the base to shape the content of this EIP which is part of Commission's "Innovation Union" strategy.

The EU and G8 leaders agreed in 2009 to achieve an 80% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 if atmospheric CO2 is to stabilise at 450 parts per million, and if global warming stays under the safe level of 2°C. However, securing the overall 80% decarbonisation goal within the next 4 decades may need 95% decarbonisation of the road transport sector, and objective which will require new efficient and reliable propulsion systems.