European Union News

In order to make easier for foundations to support public benefit causes across the EU, the Commission has presented a proposal for a European Foundation Statute. On this way, it can be created a single European legal form - the ‘European Foundation’ (FE) – which would be fundamentally the same in all Member States and would exist in parallel with domestic foundations.

New EU rules for “organic wine”, which will be published in the Official Journal, have been agreed in the Standing Committee on Organic Farming (SCOF). Thus, the term “organic wine” will be allowed to use by organic wine growers on the labels. In addition, the labels must also show the EU-organic-logo and the code number of their certifier.

Eurostat published the latest figures on the risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU which show, among other findings, that in 2010 27% of children aged below 18 were affected by at least one of the three forms of poverty or social exclusion. In addition, the figures also show that 16% of the population in the EU were at risk of income poverty in 2010.

The Joint Research Centre published a report which shows that Member States plan to reach an overall share of 20.7% of energy from renewable sources by 2020. Even more, Member States are planning to exceed their own targets and will therefore be able to provide surpluses for other Member States.

MEPs at the Industry Committee want to prolong the European Network and Information Security Agency mandate further than 2013. The reason behind the extension is that ENISA can help the EU, Member States and private stakeholders to develop their capabilities to prevent, detect and respond to network and information security problems and incidents.

The 2012 European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) work programme has been published. The publication includes the activities which look for complete the implementation of the EMCDDA three-year strategy. Furthermore, the 2012 work programme presents specific objectives accompanied by their related activities and expected outcomes.

The new Protocol to Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Greenland foresees that Greenland will provide the EU with a total fishing opportunity of 85,765 tonnes, down from 91,700 tonnes under the current Protocol. the EU/Greenland Fisheries Partnership Agreement will enter into force on 1 January 2013. On the other hand, it was agreed to further limit catches for jack mackerel to 40% of the 2010 baseline in the South Pacific.

The European Commission published the Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011 which shows that although almost all Member States have improved their innovation performance according to the Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011, innovation performance growth is slowing down and the EU is not closing the persistent gap with global innovation leaders US, Japan and South Korea. According to European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, enterprises have already proven to be the key to success in innovation.

On 7th February, more than 100 events in 30 European countries will encourage children, their families and teachers, to discover the digital world together on the Safer Internet Day 2012. INSAFE, the network of Safer Internet Centres funded by the Commission is coordinated the events celebrated this year under the theme: linking up generations for a safer digital world.

The proposed acquisition of joint control of the Spanish company MaxamCorp Holding S.L. by US based Advent International Corporation and approximately 110 individuals including Maxam's current managers, technical experts, other employees and co-investors, has been approved by the Commission.

MEPs at the Agriculture Committee backed the text as proposed by the Council on a two-year reprieve for the EU's "food for the needy" programme. Now the Parliament as a whole has to approve the scheme which will run until the end of 2013, with a budget of up to €500 million per year.

The European Commission announced that one of their most longstanding WTO disputes concerning the US calculation practice of so-called "zeroing" in anti-dumping investigations, is ended. From now on, the excessive American anti-dumping duties will have to be down to WTO level. As a result, no EU exporter should be subject to an anti-dumping duty affected by zeroing in the future.