European Union News - 2008

The Eurogroup Heads of State and Government held a financial crisis summit in Paris on October 12th, in order to define a joint action plan for the eurozone and the European Central Bank. In this meeting the Eurogroup reinforced the idea of a common framework for MS actions against the financial turmoil and support to their financial system.

The European Commission marks the first anniversary of the Integrated Maritime Policy by reviewing the concrete progress achieved to date, where major new initiatives in areas as varied as border surveillance, sustainable tourism, maritime transport strategy, climate change, marine and maritime research strategy, or maritime governance have been achieved. After this period, the Commission plans to launch a number of new policy initiatives in the coming months which will also make an immediate, tangible difference to the way our oceans are managed.

The European Research Council (ERC) presented a selection of its first starting grant winners at a meeting of its Council, held in Paris on October 7th. This presentaion reflected on its successes and challenges over the past three years. The ERC's achievements, especially in fostering pan-European competitiveness, have been significant.

The European ministers responsible for transport, meeting in Luxembourg on October 9th, 2008, under the presidency of Dominique Bussereau, the French Minister of State for Transport, decided jointly to take a decisive step towards the safe and sustainable development of transport. A political agreement was reached fro two main legislative propositions the III Erika package on maritime transport security.

A holistic approach to eradicating poverty, which seeks to ensure adequate incomes, quality jobs and better access to social services, is advocated by the EP in an own-initiative report. MEPs call on the Council to agree an EU target for minimum wages to provide for remuneration of at least 60% of the relevant average wage and, further, to agree a timetable for achieving that target in all Member States. MEPs call on the Council to agree an EU-wide commitment to end street homelessness by 2015.

The European Commission on October 9th, 2008, a Call for Proposals to support the re-integration of EU researchers within the Marie Curie Actions. This Call is launched under the 2009 Work Programme ‘People’ of the 7th EC Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities. This Call is funded with 31 M€.

Proposal for a Council Decision about the financial contributions to be paid by the Member States contributing to the European Development Fund (third instalment for 2008) (COM(2008) 624 final).

The European Commission has presented a Communication to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee of the Regions, published in the OJEU on October 9th, 2008, encouraging the participation of Local Authorities on a European and national level, to engage in development policy and implementation. The Communication highlights the significance of this emerging dimension of development, build on the recent evolution in aid architecture, and put forward the need to develop a strategic approach at the EU level.

On September 30th 2008, the Commissioner for Health, Ms Androulla Vassiliou launched the 'Europe for Patients' campaign in Brussels. The campaign highlights the different health policy initiatives the Commission intends to adopt in the coming months. All these initiatives are bound by a common goal: better healthcare for all in Europe.

The Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry — Aerospace, GMES, Security and Defence has published the resolution of a tender to develop a study on the competitiveness of the European small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) in the defence sector with a budget of 170,590 euros.

It has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union (2008/C 257/12) the Committee of the Regions (CdR) oppingon related to Clusters and cluster policy.

The European Commission launched on October 8th, 2008, a proposal for EU-wide rights to make it easier for consumers to shop on the Internet and in the main street. The new proposal will guarantee consumers, wherever they shop in the EU, clear information on price and additional charges and fees before they sign a contract. It will strengthen consumer protection against late delivery and non delivery, as well as setting out tough EU-wide consumer rights on issues from cooling off periods, returns, refunds, repairs and guarantees and unfair contract term.