European Union News - 2008

The Council of ministers of the European Union adopted on November, 27th, the European Commission's strategy to reinforce the fight against cyber crime. The strategy proposes a series of operational measures, such as cyber patrols, joint investigation teams and remote searches to become part of the fight against cybercrime in the next five years.

The Political and Security Commission (PSC), has adopted Decision Atalanta/1/2008 (2008/888/CFSP), on the appointment of an EU Force Commander for the European Union military operation to contribute to the deterrence, prevention and repression of acts of piracy and armed robbery off the Somali coast (Atalanta).

First negotiation rounds between the Commission and Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova for their accession to the Energy Community Treaty, were successfully held in Vienna on November, 25th and 26th, 2008. Both countries demonstrated their strong willingness to join the Energy Community, to prepare for the implementation of the related EU legislation and to pursue the necessary reforms of their energy markets.

The Ministers of vocational education and training (VET) of the EU Member States, the EFTA/EEA and candidate countries, the European Commission and the European Social Partners adopted on November 26th, 2008 ,the Bordeaux Communiqué to strengthen cooperation in vocational education and training.

The European Commission has presented a comprehensive recovery plan to get Europe out of the current economic crisis. This Recovery Plan calls for a timely, targeted and temporary fiscal stimulus of around €200 billion, the equivalent to 1.5% of EU GDP, within both national budgets (around €170 billion, 1.2% of GDP) and EU and European Investment Bank budgets (around €30 billion, 0.3% of GDP).

The first annual conference of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), will be held in Strasbourg (France) between November, 24th and 26th, bringing together representatives of the 550 partners of the Enterprise Europe Network, a Community network that offers support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

The Commission adopted on November, 25th a roadmap on maritime spatial planning, a new tool to address the challenges emerging from the growth in competing uses of the sea. The roadmap will facilitate the development of spatial planning for both marine and coastal spaces, as well as help coastal areas to prepare for climate change impacts such as rising sea levels, floods, altered marine ecosystems and investments in coastal protection.

The European Ombudsman has opened an investigation into the European Commission's "Early Warning System" (EWS). This computerised information system lists companies, NGOs, associations or other parties which, according to the Commission, are deemed to pose a threat to the financial interests of the European Union. All EU institutions and bodies may block or suspend contracts or payments to entities listed under certain EWS warning levels.

The European Central Bank, ECB, has published in the Official Journal of the European Union on November, 25th, 2008, ECB/2008/18 Guideline on temporary changes to the rules relating to eligibility of collateral. This new Guideline aims to widen the eligibility criteria for collateral, as laid down in Annex I to Guideline ECB/2000/7, the so called “General Documentation”.

The European Commission has launched a Call for Proposals under the 2009 work programme “People” of the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013), whose main objective is to support training and career development of researchers though Marie Curies Scheme, for EU Member States or Associated Countries.

November, 25th, will mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The European Commission underlines its commitment to fight any form and expression of gender-based violence and to protect and reintegrate victims, in close cooperation with Member States and civil society organisations.

Bosnia and Herzegovina signed on November 24th, 2008 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Commission which will allow full access to the EC's 7th Research Framework Programme. This "associated status" will allow Bosnia and Herzegovina to participate in all calls for proposals and compete on an equal footing with the EU Member States and the other associated countries for research co-operation and support actions funded under FP7, as of January, 1st, 2009.