European Union News - 2008

World Day Against Child Labour will this year be marked by thousands of events in scores of countries around the world on 12 June with a focus on the need to improve access of children to education as the right response to child labour.

On 11 June 2008, Once was screened in the European Parliament as part of the European Film Festival on Intercultural Dialogue. The film, written and directed by Irishman John Carney, was introduced by MEP Avril DOYLE (EPP-ED, IE) and was followed by a discussion with Grainne Humphreys, Director of the Dublin International Film Festival.

During the first week of operations companies have actively started to use the REACH-IT portal for making company sign-ups and for submitting pre-registrations. They have also sent notifications, inquiries and registrations using the temporary procedures. Almost 5,000 files were received.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a survey on Salmonella levels detected in slaughtered pigs across the European Union in 2006-2007.  Salmonella was estimated on average to be present in one in ten pigs slaughtered for human consumption (10.3%), according to an EU-wide report from an EFSA Task Force.

Life at sea could become safer in future thanks to a recently completed project using satellite navigation technologies to provide more reliable information for vessels and coast guards.

OHIM is launching a new website on 1 July. The site has been designed to be more welcoming while also providing professional users with easy access to the tools they need to register trade marks and designs and to manage their interactions with the office. The front page includes a "professional area" with direct links to MyPage, legal texts and case-law. There is also quick access from every page to OHIM's databases and to the e-filing tools and forms.

Experts in Biological Detection Identification and Monitoring have held a unique gathering to underline the European Union’s commitment to protecting forces deployed on ESDP operations from biological attack, with the aim of addressing this key capability requirement through European collaboration.

With the website Study in Europe, foreign students from all over the European Union are able to organise and plan study periods, courses and programmes in other countries with greater ease. The site contains full listings of courses and programmes availalbe for undergraduate and post graduate study, an application guide and also offers practical advice for living in Europe.

The future of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies in Europe is on its way. The Council adopted, on the 30th May 2008, the regulation setting up the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. This public-private joint technology initiative (JTI) will implement the EU target-oriented research and development to support the broad market introduction of these technologies.

The European Commission finance with 4.7 million euros, projects to encourage and increase public participation in Information and Communications Technologies. eParticipation is a Preparatory Action which aims at harnessing the benefits of the use of Information and Communications Technologies for better legislative and decision-making processes and enhanced public participation in such processes, at all levels of governmental decision making.

EU Telecoms Ministers meet, on the 11th June 2008 in Luxembourg. The Commission will be represented by Viviane Reding, EU Telecoms Commissioner. The Ministers will discuss several significant Telecoms dossiers, including the EU Telecoms Reform and the mid-term review of the i2010 strategy. The Council is also expected to agree on a general approach for the extension of the mandate of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).

The European Commission debated the policy responses needed to mitigate the effects of rising global fuel prices, on the 11th June 2008. Based on thier conclusions, President Barroso will present a communication, to be adopted in good time to be discussed at the European Council on 19-20 June in conjunction with the recent Commission communication on rising food prices.