European Union News - 2008

Details of the new Operational Programme 2007-13  Competitiveness and Employment Programme taking palce various regions of the Unikted Kingdom. The Programmes are under the Competitiveness and Employment Objective, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Parliament adopted two reports on cultural industries, the first calls for a new task force on culture and the creative economy, a programme to support the culture industries the second calls more should be done to ensure that EU programmes reflect Europe's common cultural heritage.

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank today are presenting the results of a study on potential investments addressing pollution hotspots in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries. The study, undertaken as part of the Commission's Horizon 2020 Initiative designed to tackle the major sources of Mediterranean pollution by the year 2020, recognises the need for a programme to help the countries of the southern and eastern Mediterranean reduce the pollution they release into the sea.

A report by Janusz Lewandowski (EPP-ED, PL) deals with the guidelines that MEPs would like to establish for the expenditure of the EU institutions other than the Commission in 2009, including the EP. This report refers to the issue of the ceiling of 20% of total EU administrative expenditure (under heading 5 - Administration) voluntarily imposed on itself by the European Parliament, given that the EP's powers and legislative activity will expand if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force.

On 11 April 2008 the Official Journal of the European Union has published the Commission repection of a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation 139/2004 by which the undertakings EADS NV (‘EADS’, the Netherlands) and Sita France SA acquire the joint control of the undertaking T.A.R.M.A.C. Aerosave  SAS (‘T.A.R.M.A.C. Aerosave’, France) by way of purchase of shares.

Next Marco Polo Conference will take place in Venice on 10/11 June 2008. The conference will give the latest information aobut the freight transport in Europe, present ongoing Marco Polo projects and the ingredients of their success and tell you how to apply for Marco Polo funding under future calls for project proposals.

European Parliament (EP) President Hans-Gert Pöttering announced the adoption of written declarations on the subtitling of all public-service television programmes in the European Union (EU) and on the murder of the human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.

The authorities of Brussels-Capital Region, in close partnership with the European Commission and the City of Brussels, are launching a major competition aimed at defining a new urban design for the European Quarter. The area devoted to the competition includes the zone around the rue de la Loi, between the circular ring and the chaussée d’Etterbeek.

On the 10th April, the European Commission (EC) published in the Official Journal of the European union notices from member states including information communicated by Member States regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to national regional investment aid. One of the concers from the United Kingdom was the Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) for Northern Ireland aid scheme which has been aloted a budget of 100 million pounds.

On the 10th April the European Commission (EC) published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ), its decision from the 18th March 2008 to release a list of bodies whose researchers may access confidential data for scientific purposes. The decision have been released under Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom.

On 10 April the Official Journal of the European Union has published the non-opposition to a notified concentration in the Case COMP/M.5024 Tui/Royal Caribbean Cruises/JV, in a decision of the Commission.

The parties idea is gradually establish a freetrade area over a period lasting a maximum of five years starting from the entry into force of this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and in conformity with those of the GATT 1994 and the WTO. In so doing they shall take into account the specific requirements laid down hereinafter.