European Union News - 2009

The Member States have adopted a modernised and simplified version of the EU rules on coordination of social security systems, unther the Swedish Presidency. The decision of the Council was unanimous and without debate.

The Council of Ministers has followed the European Parliament in approving a proposal from the European Commission to modernise European legislation – the so-called GSM Directive – on the use of the radio spectrum needed for mobile services. The GSM Directive of 1987 reserves the use of part of the 900MHz spectrum band to GSM (Global System for Mobile or originally Groupe Spécial Mobile) access technologies such as mobile phones. The updated Directive now allows the 900 MHz frequency band to be used to provide faster, pan-European services such as mobile internet while ensuring the continuation of GSM services. This new flexibility will foster stronger competition on Europe's telecoms market and contribute to a more rapid and more widespread roll-out of wireless broadband services, one of the drivers of economic recovery. 

According to the latest report issued by the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and 20,382 are citizens of the EU and EFTA countries affected by H1N1 virus. In addition to these confirmed cases, there have been 35 deaths. England is the country with more infected: 11,159 confirmed cases.

Although 61% of Europeans think further impacts of the economic crisis on jobs are to be expected, and a third of those in work are 'very concerned' that they may lose their jobs in the crisis, 72% of EU citizens still feel that the EU has a positive impact in creating new job opportunities and fighting unemployment. These figures are put forward by a new survey delivered on July 24th.

The Directorate General for Internal Market and Services Commission has published a tender notice for which calls for nominations for the preparation of a study on the overall functioning of the trademarks system in Europe

In recent years the EU has mainstreamed sustainable development into a broad range of its policies. In particular, the EU has taken the lead in the fight against climate change and the promotion of a low-carbon economy. Three years into the implementation of the EU's Sustainable Development Strategy the Commission has taken stock of developments at EU level and launched a reflection on how the EU strategy could be taken into the future.

The Swedish town of Are hosts meeting of European ministers of energy and environment. The former have in their agendas the negotiation of directives that make up the energy efficiency package, with the aim of reaching an agreement with the European Parliament about it in December.

 Iceland today formally presented its application for accession to the European Union, a week after the national Parliament of this small Scandinavian country, with just 320,000 inhabitants, authorized the Government to negotiate the entry.

The European Commission, on a proposal from Vice-President Tajani, has just renewed the mandates of six coordinators in the trans-European transport networks (TEN-T) sector. With this decision, the Commission confirms the European coordinator solution which has proved to be both effective and decisive for Priority Projects where progress has met with difficulties.

The European Commission has adopted concrete proposals to tackle Alzheimer’s disease, dementias and other neurodegenerative conditions. These shared health and social challenges in Europe call for coordinated actions to ensure efficient prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for those affected. In addition, European countries are also invited to pool their resources and better coordinate their research efforts in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, and Alzheimer’s in particular, by programming their research investments jointly for the first time, instead of each separately.

The Commission has issued a call for proposals to develop the pilot project by the European Parliament that seeks to promote integration of Roma across the European Union.

The European Commission will continue do all it can to support milk farmers and stabilise the dairy market. In its dairy market situation report, the Commission sets out the catalogue of measures available to help alleviate the very difficult market situation. The Commission will continue to use instruments such as intervention, private storage aid and export refunds. It will allow direct payments to farmers to be paid early and has just launched a new round of dairy promotion programmes. In line with the conclusions of the June European Council, the Commission will not reverse decisions already taken on the quota system.