European Union News - August 2011

The final assessment of the 6th Community Environment Action Programme (EAP) adopted by the Commission shows the accomplishments in the field of environment during the past ten years with examples as the extension of the Natura 2000 network or the introduction of a comprehensive chemicals policy. However this assessment also shows the need of progressing in implementing agreed EU objectives and rules.

The European Commission adopted a proposal providing the legal framework for the introduction of an electronic identification system (EID) for bovine animals on a voluntary basis. In addition, the the proposal introduces changes in relation to labelling, by repealing the current provisions on voluntary beef labelling. The main objective is to reduce unnecessary administrative burden.

The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) declined by 5.0 points to 97.3 in the EU and by 4.7 points to 98.3 in the euro area. This was produced due to losses in confidence which is particularly marked in services, retail trade and among consumers.

The White Paper on the "Relationship between Museums and Municipalities in Europe" presented by the Commission, underscores the synergies and differences relating to the analysis of the museums’ missions and to the shared expectations of museums and municipalities. The paper has been written jointly by representatives of the Musée du Louvre and the Université Paris I Sorbonne.

The "APSIS4All" project, which is financed with EU funds, is aimed to make self-service terminals, such as public transport ticket vending machines or public information kiosks and cash dispensers, to the Europeans who have a disability or the 87 million Europeans aged 65 and over. In order to carry out this purpuose, the project will design and validate personalised interfaces, including contactless cards, to help overcome existing accessibility barriers.

According to the European law enforcement agency, Europol, the volume of illegal waste shipments increased due an exceptional ‘low risk – high profit’ margin for crime organisations. In the EU, the illegal trafficking of waste is particularly rising between countries in North West and North East Europe.

The EU has launched a new project that seeks to develop appealing, affordable and healthy food products that could prevent common nutritional problems among those vulnerable to poverty. By exploring means to lower the production costs and increasing the knowledge about this particular group of consumers this project will hopefully stimulate development of food products that can make a difference as well as make them available and attractive to people who really need them.

The ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet met with MEPs on 29 of August at the European Parliament in order to explain the recent measures taken in response to the intensification of the crisis early August. In addition, the MEPs highlighted that the economic governance 'six pack' remains the base on which to build long term economic stability

The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Thomas Mirow, stressed the importance of combating the crisis by creating the right environment for sustainable growth and greater harmonisation of economic and financial policies. He also argued that the crisis is not simply a fiscal problem.

A European team of researchers has developed a new transfer technology for video data, without any losses at an extremely fast rate of 100 megabits per second (Mbit/s), equivalent to transmitting four videos in HD quality to four different laptops at the same time. This technology, based on visible light communication (VLC) will able users to send and receive images in high-definition (HD) quality to personal computers, laptops and even mobile phones without any trouble.

The EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva requested at the African Union meeting more help from the African governments in order to fight against the current situation of hunger in the Horn of Africa. In most areas affected by drought, malnutrition rates exceed 30% which is more than double the internationally recognised emergency threshold.

The European Commission's Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) delivered a coordinated EU operation with aerial assets provided by Spain, France and Italy following the request made by Greece and Albania in fighting forest fires.