European Union News - 2009

The European Commission has published an additional information notice concerning Lot nº 5 of the tender procedure of a framework contract for the evaluation of CAP measures concerning sectors subject to past or present direct support, dedicated to beef and veal, and dairy products.

The European Commission has published in the OJEU of April 20th 2009 its Recommendation including a set of data protection guidelines for the Internal Market Information System (IMI). These guidelines are not aimed at being an exhaustive list, but rather a easy to use consultation tool for IMI System users.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on April 20th 2009, a Call for proposals for actions in the field of eco-innovation under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP), which will be funded with up to 30 million Euro. Closing date for applications is September 10th 2009.

On the eve of the donors’ conference for Pakistan, the European Commission has adopted a new three year programme to fight terrorism, trafficking and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The 2009-2011 Indicative Programme for the Instrument for Stability includes the first global counter-terrorism measures developed by the Commission together with experts from EU Member States. Key priorities are Pakistan and Afghanistan as well as the Sahel region in Africa.

Members of the EP Women's Rights Committee are proposing that maternity leave be extended to 20 weeks. They also say a new EU directive on these matters should require 100% of salary to be paid for six weeks after birth, at least 85% of salary for the rest of the leave period and the introduction of paternity leave.

The Official Journal of the European Union, OJEU, has publishes on April 17th 2009, the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council of March 11th 2009, on mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund, in accordance with the Interinstitutional Agreement of May 17th 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.

Following the steps of the selection committee of the cities that hold the European Capital of Culture, the Commission has forwarded a recommendation to the Council to ratify the Portuguese city of Guimaraes, and Maribor, in Slovenia, as European Capitals of Culture 2012.
 

The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, the prolongation of the Credit Guarantee and Recapitalisation Schemes, which form part of the UK's support measures to the banking industry during the current financial crisis. The Commission's investigation found that the circumstances on the financial markets justify the extension which aims at underpinning lending to the UK real economy.

An opinion poll on interest in the 4-7 June European elections and on EU policy issues reports that 34% of possible voters surveyed across the EU say they are already certain that they will go and vote in June, while 19% of respondents said they were already certain that they would not vote.

The Commission has opened an infringement proceeding against the United Kingdom after a series of complaints by UK internet users, and extensive communication of the Commission with UK authorities, about the use of a behavioural advertising technology known as ‘Phorm' by internet service providers.

The European Commission decided to send reasoned opinions – the last step before lodging a case to the Court of Justice – to Poland and Spain for failure to respect EU legislation on port state control of shipping.

In a video posted on her website, Viviane Reding, the European Union's Commissioner for Information Society and Media, said that Europeans must have the right to control how their personal information is used, and said that the Commission would take action wherever EU Member States failed to ensure that new technologies such as behavioural advertising, RFID 'smart chips' or online social networking respected this right.