European Union News

According to the European Commission, 74% of Europeans don't know what emergency number to call when travelling in the EU. This is the reason why many major rail, air and other transport companies have joined Commission's Vice Presidents Neelie Kroes and Siim Kallas call for carrying out a campaign to raise 112 awareness rates.

The report presented by the Commission to the Education Ministers Council highlights that funding for education is stable in most Member States and it underlines that higher education remains the best insurance policy against unemployment, with graduates more likely to find a job faster than non-graduates. However, it also warns of growing teacher shortages.

The Council adopted a regulation following an agreement with the European Parliament in order to restrict the use of phosphates and other phosphorus compounds in consumer laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents in order to reduce the level of phosphorus poured into the waters. In addition to domestic detergents, the scope of the regulation also includes detergents used in public laundrettes.

European researchers leaded by the the Spain-based Patronal de la Petita i Mitjana Empresa de Catalunya (PIMEC), have developed a biomaterial from whey protein as well as a commercially viable method of producing multifunctional films on an industrial scale. This sustainable food packaging product is a step ahead of the conventional films based on petrochemicals.

The Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union has informed that an agreement on the new rules for increasing transparency and safety in derivatives trading has been reached by the Council and the European Parliament. According to the Danish Presidency, the new rules reduce the risk that a crisis-hit financial institution can “infect” the rest of the financial system via derivatives markets. The compromise text will now have to be confirmed by the Parliament as a whole and the Council.

The Regional Innovation Monitor (RIM), an initiative of the European Commission's Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, has the objective to describe and analyse innovation policy trends across EU regions. RIM provides detailed information on regional innovation policies for 20 EU Member States based on the work of a network of experts.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded in a preliminary report that the number of vectors and the temperature have an impact on the possible spread of the virus in a susceptible animal population. However, there is lack of data on many aspects, such as how likely animals are to become immune. Another preliminary assessment concludes that there is currently no evidence that the virus could cause illness in humans.

Following the discovery of the fraudulent use of non medical grade silicone in breast implants manufactured by the Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) Company in France, the Commission calls on Member States for immediate action to be taken at national level to ensure full and stringent implementation of the current legislation on medical devices.

The competition organised by the European Environment Agency seeks to award young Europeans born in 1991, 1992 or 1993 which make a video showing their vision of a sustainable future. With this competition, the Agency intends to get young people vision of how we can solve the most pressing environmental problems.

The European Commission is scaling up its humanitarian assistance in order to help out the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa. Combined with at least €150 million of development assistance, the €123.5 million brings the Commission's funding for the Sahel so far this year to almost €275 million. But it's estimated that €700 million are required to cover the next 6 months.

The Communication "A simplification agenda for the 2014-2020 MFF" published by the Commission brings altogether in one single document the proposed 120 changes to simplify the rules governing EU funding for Small and Medium Enterprises, towns and regions, students, scientists and others.

Member States informed about progress achieved in key areas such as the progress on access to credits and simplification initiatives, at the second meeting of the Network of SME Envoys celebrated in Luxembourg and chaired by the EU SME Envoy, Mr Daniel Calleja Crespo.