European Union News - 2008

Africa is home to some of the most valuable natural ecosystems and species on the planet. Worldwide, more than 16 000 plant and animal species are threatened with extinction. The monitoring of Africa's 741 protected areas (representing over two million square kilometres, i.e. nearly half the total area of the EU) plays a vital role in biodiversity protection, conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources. “The Assessment of African Protected Areas”, an online information system based on the latest advances in satellite technology, monitors trends in fire, vegetation, and rainfall. It allows park managers to compare current fire activity, vegetation growth or rainfall against seasonal norms. This information will help African nations to achieve the goal of reducing the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

The Commission supports committed journalism with the  launch of Lorenzo Natali Prize in its 16th edition. This prize is awarded to journalists defending human rights, democracy and development. This year it is open to all journalistic media: radio, television, written press, Internet.

The European Commission has decided on a far-reaching reorganisation of the Directorate-General in charge of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs. The former “DG FISH” becomes the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and will now be known as DG MARE. There will be greater focus on Mediterranean fisheries and on control in international waters in line with the EU's commitment to fight illegal fishing. The new set-up takes effect on 29 March.

Mr. Rajendra Pachauri participated last 26 april 2008 in EP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change before an audience of MEPs.

The European Parliament (EP) agenda for debate and voting has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union C 76 E/1.

8,000 pedestrians and cyclists are killed and 300,000 injured across the EU each year. The Transport Committee - in a vote on Wednesday - is backing Commission proposals to reduce this number via requirements for road vehicles covering systems for collision avoidance, frontal protection, brake assistance and other obligations for car manufacturers.

The economy has to contend with strengthening external headwinds but the euro area is showing resilience helped by strong growth in emerging markets, shows the latest Quarterly Report on the Euro Area (QREA). The most recent hard and soft data are consistent with the growth forecast announced on 21 February. The Report also looks at why growth and inflation have become more stable in industrialised countries in recent decades, a phenomenon economists refer to as the 'Great Moderation'. It shows that labour market reforms have succeeded in increasing employment levels but that there is a growing divide on the labour market, with the burden of reform falling on those not subject to standard labour contracts. It also shows that the economies of the Member States are reacting differently to the ongoing inflationary pressures. Finally, in its focus section, the QREA argues that East Asia could take inspiration from the European economic and monetary experience to the benefit of the region and indeed the whole world.

The Council of the European Union has agreed the appointment and replacement of members of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop).

The first estimate for the euro area1 (EA15) trade balance with the rest of the world in January 2008 gave a 10.7 bn euro deficit, compared with -7.3 bn in January 2007. The December 2007 balance was -4.1 bn, compared with +2.3 bn in December 2006. In January 2008 compared with December 2007, seasonally adjusted exports and imports rose by 7.4%.

European Commission has announced the launch of a major EU control campaign aimed at preventing a repeat of last year's overfishing of Mediterranean bluefin tuna by a number of EU Member States.

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has issued a call for tenders for a study on mobility patterns and career paths of EU researchers.

Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden are world leaders in broadband deployment with penetration rates over 30% at the end of 2007, says the European Commission’s 13th Progress Report on the Single Telecoms Market issued today. These EU countries, together with the United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg and France, all had broadband penetration rates higher than the US (22.1%) in July 2007.