European Union News - 29 December 2011

The project BIOBOOST ('Biomass-based energy intermediates boosting biofuel production'), which will be launched early 2012, aims to promote and develop energy resources based on residual biomass. This project meets the general opinion of EU citizens who support research to promote and develop alternative energy resources.

According to a recent judgement of the European Court of Justice, member states customs authorities would be entitled to act in cases where goods which are in transit on EU territory violate intellectual property rights protected in the European Union. The Court clarifies that for that purpose, it has to be demonstrated that there has been a commercial act directed to European consumers, such as advertising of these products in EU market.

In response to the 2011 events in Southern Neighbourhood the European Commission has put forward a Proposal to extend European Bank for Reconstruction and Development operations to the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. This proposal is based in the Bank's experience in delivering support to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe after the fall of Communism whose main challenges were similar to those now faced by Southern Mediterranean countries.

On the request of tobacco industry representatives, members of the Health and Consumers Directorate General met in Brussels in December in order to discuss the ongoing revision of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). The revision of the current Directive, which dates from 2001, is a response to some scientific progress and international developments, as well as a response to the request from the Parliament and the Council.