European Union News - 2008

The last Environment Council under the Slovenian presidency will take place in Luxembourg on 5th June 2008 on World Environment Day. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will represent the European Commission. The Council will hold policy debates on the Climate and Energy package presented by the Commission in January and the proposed regulation to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars. There will be an exchange of views on genetically modified organisms and a decision is expected for be taken on a common position on whaling.

The public awareness raising campaign on climate change launched by the European Commission in May 2006 moves into a final stage tomorrow that will focus on five Member States – Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Bulgaria. Launched on World Environment Day, this third phase of the “You control climate change” campaign aims to initiate pro-active dialogue on climate change in these five countries, where national campaigns have not yet been implemented. This stage of the campaign is centred around television advertising and a competition for young people that seeks to create a virtual community of ‘Changers’ committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by adapting their daily habits.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending a total of EUR 200 million to TIM Celular S.A. and its subsidiary TIM Nordeste S.A for the expansion of their mobile digital communication networks in Brazil using 2G and 3G technologies. This represents the first project funded by the EIB to include UMTS broadband technology outside Europe.

On the 4th June 2008 a notification of state aid going to Channel 4 in the United Kingdom (linked to a digital switch over), was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ). By means of the letter dated 2 April 2008 the Commission notified the United Kingdom of its decision to initiate the procedure concerning the proposed financial support to Channel 4 to enable it to meet the costs of digital switchover.

On 18 March 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration between the German Railways, Deutsche Bahn and Transfesa. Deutsche Bahn acquired the shares in July 2007 and on the 4th June 2008, the European Commission declared that the procedure compatible with the common market.

On the 4th-5th June 2008, beginning at 9am, the second Western Balkans Civil Society Forum will take place organised by the  EESC and Western Balkans civil society acting to promote dialogue and consultation. The forum will take place in Gospodarsko Razstavišče, Dunajska cesta 18, 1000 Ljubljana.

New regulation has been published by the European Commission from the 23rd April 2008 laying down the Community Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code). The official text was published on the 4th June 2008 In accordance with the Communication from the Commission concerning the protection of the Community’s financial interests and the Action Plan for 2004-2005.

On 15th May 2008, the Commission decided not to oppose the above notified concentration between Barclays and CID. The Commission also declared it compatible with the common market.

The European Commission has promised EUR 40 million in funding to the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). The amount signifies half of the EUR 80 million that the EDCTP has approved for research into the prevention of poverty-related diseases in Africa.

There is a "considerable risk" that the private media's pursuit of profit could compromise its ability to act as a watchdog for democracy, warns a report adopted by the Culture and Education Committee on Tuesday. MEPs advocate "editorial charters" to prevent owners, shareholders or governments from interfering with editorial content, and ombudsmen to protect media freedom. They also want status of weblogs clarified, and suggest introducing fees for commercial use of user-generated content.

Close to the end of the Slovenian presidency of the European Union, the 2871st meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 29 and 30 May in Brussels yielded a number of decisions in the field of research. This includes among other things the go ahead for the new Joint Technology Initiative on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH JTI) as well as the launch of the Ljubljana Process.

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, Civil Protection Unit, is launching a Call for Proposals with the aim of identifying projects on an EU civil protection rapid response capability which might be eligible for financial support. This financial support will take the form of grants.