European Union News

The European Commission will channel €59 million in humanitarian aid to Africa's second-largest country, the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 2012. According to Commissioner Georgieva, the country is struggling with tremendous difficulties, therefore the EU is increasing the funding by 10% compared to last year.

The European Commission has pointed out that at this pace, it would still take more than 40 years to reach a significant gender balance (at least 40% of both sexes) on company boards. For this reason, the European Commission has launched a public consultation on possible action at EU level, including legislative measures, to redress the gender imbalance on company boards.

The results of the latest Eurobarometer show that the 72% of EU citizens travelled in 2011, and more than 80% said that they would do so in 2012. Over 30,000 randomly selected citizens aged 15 and over responded to this survey in which shows that the European Tourism sector has performed well, and it even grew in 2011. The European Commission assures tha the sector will further improve in 2012.

The EU's generalised trade preferences (GSP) list should be updated according the Commission's plans, says MEPs at the Committee on International Trade. In addition, MEPs also agrees in introducing safeguards to prevent textile imports from disrupting the EU market. Since 1971, the Generalised Scheme of Tariff Preferences (GSP) grants trade preferences, such as zero or reduced tariffs, for developing countries' exports to the EU, so as to help them reduce poverty and promote sustainable development and good governance.

Mercedes Bresso, President of the Committee of Regions calls for a major involvement of the regions on the elaboration of the National Reform Plans. In addition, the President also stressed the CoR intention of using more intensively its EU 2020 Monitoring platform.

The 'Instruct' network joins so far fifteen of Europe's leading structural biology research institutes with the aim to provide access to some of the most advanced technology in the world to academic and commercial scientists across Europe.

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approved a series of binding measures to help implement the overall 20% target. MEPs want Member States to make concrete plans for achieving energy savings of 80% in the buildings sector by 2050.

According to the latest figures published by the European Commission, women earn in the EU an average of 16.4% less than men. This is the reason why the Commission is raising awareness on the gender pay gap among the European citizens celebration the European Equal Pay Day. This year’s Equal Pay Day focuses in particular on employers.

The European leaders signed on 2 of March the new treaty aimed at strengthening fiscal discipline and convergence in the euro area. The treaty introduces a "balanced budget rule" which consists in a requirement for national budgets to be in balance or in surplus, a criterion that would be met if the annual structural government deficit does not exceed 0.5% of GDP at market prices.

The Public Health and Food Safety Committee voted new rules in order to streamline and clarify labelling and composition rules covering products baby milks and food for people with special medical needs, which represents around 1-2% of the total food market. In addition, food business operators will need to notify authorities regarding products covered by the new draft legislation. Authorities should ensure there is post-market monitoring to make sure the rules are respected.

The Eurogroup meeting held on 1 of March reached an agreement to authorise the provision by EFSF of a buy-back scheme for the eligibility of marketable instruments issued or guaranteed by the Greek Government. In addition, Herman Van Rompuy has been re-elected as president of the European Council and as president of the Euro Summits. On the other hand, the European Council granted the EU status of candidate country to Serbia.

The Legal Affairs Committee at the European Parliament backed unanimously the new rules which aims to make easier to settle inheritances and avoid disputes when someone dies and leaves a will and the legal systems of more than one Member State are involved.