Increasing turnout at European elections
The European Parliament (EP) is failing to project an image, good or bad, of itself in the minds of over half of Europe’s citizens. The result is a lack of engagement and fall in the number of people participating in European elections. However, campaigning raises the visibility of the Parliament, and the more information people have the more positively they feel towards the institution. These are just some of the findings from a study conducted by the EU-funded CIVICACTIVE project.
Read more …Three new films on European social concerns
The Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities has produced three new video news releases. They all address social issues which are currently high on the agenda.
Read more …EU warns against 'criminalising' filesharers
People should not be criminalised for the file-sharing of copyrighted material if they are not profiting from doing so, the European Parliament has recommended.
Read more …Child-resistant lighters Commission Decision
The Official Journal of the European Union has published last 19th April 2008 a Commission Decision prolonging the validity of Decision 2006/502/EC requiring Member States to take measures to ensure that only lighters which are child-resistant are placed on the market and to prohibit the placing on the market of novelty lighters.
Read more …Implementation of the Public Health Programme in 2006
The European Commission has published last 17th April the COM(2008) 198 final related to the Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council about the Implementation of the Public Health Programme in 2006.
Read more …The EU moves toward the creation of a Asylum Support Office
The JHA Council, on the 18th April 2008, adopted conclusions on practical cooperation which invite the Commission to come forward in the near future with proposals to provide adequate support for practical cooperation activities between Member States, including the creation of an Asylum Support Office which would provide for adequate structural and financial backing in order to guarantee the level of ambition necessary to complete the Common European Asylum System.
Read more …New Scientific and Technical Research call for proposals (COST)
The European Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ) a notice for administraive procedures from the Council for athe n open call European Cooperation in the field of Scientific and Technical Research (COST) (2008/C 96/09). COST brings together researchers and experts in different countries working on specific topics. COST does NOT fund research itself, but supports networking activities such as meetings, conferences, short term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. Currently more than 200 scientific networks (Actions) are supported.
Read more …250 million Europeans regularly use Internet
More than half of Europeans are now regular Internet users, 80% of them have broadband connections and 60% of public services in the EU are fully available online. Two thirds of schools and half of doctors make use of fast Internet connections, thanks to strong broadband growth in Europe.
EC examines use of Insurance Block Exemption Regulation
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the functioning of the Insurance Block Exemption Regulation (BER).
Read more …EC proposal for migration from the Schengen Information System
The European Commission have published a proposal for a council decsion on migration from the Schengen Information System (SIS 1+) to the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II) including the objective of establishing the legal framework governing the migration from the Schengen Information System in its current form (SIS 1+) to the second generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). This will include a comprehensive test, with a view to demonstrating, in particular, that the level of performance of SIS II is at least equivalent to that achieved with SIS 1+.
Read more …Improving Habitat Networks Locational Supplement
The European Commission (EC) has released information from European institutions and bodies regarding the Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty Cases where the Commission raises no objections (2008/C 97/02). The Forestry Grant Aid - improving Habitat Networks Locational Supplement aid scheme will provide aid to the foestry sector in Wales in the form of direct grants. Authorities will dispose of a budget of 1,40 million Pounds.
Read more …TSE testing for sheep and goats for human consumption aid scheme
The European Commission (EC) has released information from European institutions and bodies regarding the Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty Cases where the Commission raises no objections (2008/C 97/01). One aid scheme focused on was the TSE testing for sheep and goats for human consumption scheme.
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