European Union News - 2009

The European Commission presented on June 12th 2009, a draft legislation to improve the safety of biocides and to simplify authorisation procedures, by significantly increasing the safety of biocide products used and placed on the market in the European Union. It proposes to phase out the most hazardous substances, particularly those that may cause cancer, and to introduce new rules for articles such as furniture and textiles treated with biocides, which are not covered by existing legislation.

EU Ministers meeting at the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council session taking place in Brussels on June 11th 2009, held an exchange of views on network and information security policy. The debate focused on the issue of critical information infrastructure protection, on the future of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) as well as on the general direction of European efforts in this field.

The European Council adopted on June 11th 2009 at the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting , a revised regulation on the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) as one of the measures to tackle economic crisis.

According to Commission's Decision (2009/454/CE) of June 11th 2009, Decision 2008/938/CE where the list of the beneficiary countries which qualify for the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance was established is modified, excluding from such list the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Following the procedure established in conformity with Decision Nº 626/2008/EC of June 30th 2008 on the selection and authorisation of systems providing mobile satellite services (MSS), the European Commission has published in the OJEU on June 12th 2009 its Decision 2009/449/EC, designating the companies Inmarsat Ventures Limited and Solaris Mobile Limited as eligible operators of pan-European systems providing mobile satellite services (MSS).

Five years on from enlargement, the Baltic Sea region is facing pressing challenges including the deteriorating state of the Baltic Sea, poor transport links, barriers to trade and energy supply concerns. These problems have been exacerbated by a lack of effective coordination.The Strategy, presented by Commissioner for Regional Policy, above all aims to maximise the development potential of the Member States and regions in the Baltic Sea area, which is home to nearly 100 million people. 

Within the multi-year programme on child protection in the use of Internet and other communication technologies, Safer Internet, the Commission has launched a call for proposals calling to suggest actions that could fund the programme. Interested parties may submit their proposals until November 19th 2009.

The European Commission has a new and detailed guidance on state aid granted to ship management companies. These rules complement the 2004 guidelines on state aid to maritime transport. Under the guidance adopted today, the tonnage tax may be applied to all ship managers, as long as they contribute to the development of the European maritime cluster and, more importantly, that they make a commitment to implement the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 ahead of its entry into force.

The European Commission has decided to impose a fine of 20 million euros on Electrabel, an electricity producer and retailer belonging to the Suez Group for acquiring control of Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), another electricity producer, without having received prior approval under the EU Merger Regulation.

The Directorate-General for Education and Culture, School Education Unit  of the European Commission will study the impact of Comenius School Partnerships on the participating institutions, according to a tender published on the 10th June 2009

The Official Journal of the European Union (L 145/23) has published the Commission Regulation (EC) No 483/2009 laying down measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security.