European Union News - 2009

The Czech Presidency of the EU and European Commission launched the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 on Wednesday, 7 January with the slogan “Imagine. Create. Innovate”.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published the Council Regulation (EC) No 13/2009 of 18 December 2008 amending Regulations (EC) No 1290/2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy and (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) in order to set up a School Fruit Scheme.

Research activities carried out at the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), aim to deliver new testing methods which will avoid unnecessary tests using animals for the validation of chemical substances safety.

Compared with the same date for November 2007, thirteen Member States recorded a fall in their unemployment rate, and fourteen an increase. The largest falls were observed in Poland (8.5% to 6.5%) and Slovakia (10.5% to 9.1%), and the highest increases in Spain (8.6% to 13.4%) and Estonia (4.1% to 8.3%)

The European Commission has agreed to propose to the Council to provide medium-term financial assistance to Latvia of up to € 3.1 billion. The proposed European Union loan is the biggest of the contributions put together with the Nordic countries and the IMF, among others, and which will total up to €7.5 billion. The financial assistance is conditional on a major economic adjustment programme already adopted by the Latvian government designed to limit and progressively correct the budgetary and other imbalances. Ultimately, it will put the Latvian economy on a sounder and more sustainable footing.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on January, 8th, 2009, the Decision adopted by the Commission on December, 18th 2008, on a financial contribution from the Community for 2008 towards expenditure incurred by Greece, Spain and Italy for the purchase and modernisation of vessels and aircraft used for inspection and surveillance of fishing activities.

Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek and Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra introduced the main priorities  and the work program of the Czech Presidency, in a ceremony held in Prague on January, 6th. Three key priorities will be in focus for this period, which will be identified by “the three E's”: Economy, Energy and Europe in the world. The motto is a ‘Europe without barriers’.

The Official Journal of the European Union has publisehd on January, 7th, 2009, the favourable Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a multiannual Community programme on protecting children using the Internet and other communication technologies.

Notice has been given in the Official Journal of the European Union on January, 6th, 2009, on the launch of a call for proposals under the “2009 Cooperation” work programme of the 7th EC Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities. This calls aims to fund coordinated reserach projects between European and Brazilian teams.

The Official Journal of the European Union published on January, 6th,  the favourable Commission's opinion on the request from Ireland to accept Council Decision 2008/381/EC establishing a European Migration Network.

The Czech Presidency of the EU and European Commission will officially launch the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 on Wednesday January, 7th, with the slogan “Imagine. Create. Innovate”. The aim of the Year is to promote creative and innovative approaches in different sectors of human activity and help equip the European Union for the challenges ahead in a globalised world.

An emergency humanitarian aid decision has been launched by the European Commission to provide an extra 3 M€ relief assistance in the Gaza Strip. The aid will be deployed as rapidly as possible to meet the basic needs of people affected by the Israeli airstrikes and by continuing access restrictions. Close cooperation is taking place with Czech presidency, in relation to this matter.