European Union News

The Representation of the European Commission in Spain has launched a mobile application which can be downloaded from Android phones and iPhone, in order to bring the latest news from the European Commission, the EU events and press calls. In addition the European Commission also presented an iGoogle gadget with the same characteristics.

The European Parliament adopted the new rules on sovereign debt speculation and short selling limitations. According to MEPs, the rules will impose much more transparency and virtually ban certain CDS trades, thereby making speculation on a country's default more difficult. Both law intends have been pushed by the Commission to tackle the financial crisis.

The European Parliament approved a resolution which ask for a faster recognition of professional qualifications. In particular, MEPs seek to make it easier for doctors, dentists, architects and other professions to work abroad within the EU.

MEPs voted in favour to pay up to 95% of regional development project costs in in Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Latvia and Hungary so as to permit and accelerate investment in growth and jobs. In addition, the Regional Development Committee agreed that the Member States concerned need to prioritise projects and show that under the current maximum co-financing rates, they could not have afforded to pay their share of the projects.

The European Research Council (ERC) has celebrated a symbolic milestone with the awarding of the 2000th ERC grant. It has been granted to Dr. Matthew Holt, who will join the VIB Department of Molecular and Developmental Genetics at K.U. Leuven, Belgium, in January 2012.

ECA published a special report in which it highlights the need of clarification on a number of issues concerning the control system for the geographical indications (GI). The report also states that there is no clear strategy for promoting and raising awareness of the scheme amongst both producers and consumers.

The ministers had on the 14 November an exchange of views on a regulation establishing rules for direct payment to farmers under support schemes within the framework of the common agricultural policy (CAP) and a discussion on the greening of direct payments. In addition, most delegations were in favour to strictly maintain the deadline for implementing the directive on the protection of laying hens.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has published its Annual epidemiological report in which underlines as major findings the continuous high numbers of tuberculosis cases, the developing epidemic of measles, antimicrobial resistance, ongoing transmission of HIV and lessons learned from the pandemic of 2009 and 2010.

The European Commission adopted a new proposal which intends to reach a more efficient cooperation in collecting excise duties. The new Regulation would replace the existing rules, to better reflect the introduction of the computerised Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) in April 2010.

As from 17th November 2011, once the new safety standards enter into force, national authorities will make sure that all cigarettes sold in the EU have the characteristic of 'Reduced Ignition Propensity' (RIP). This means cigarettes which self extinguish when left unattended and which are thus less likely to cause fire.

The European Commission adopts new rules for an European Union legal framework on security scanners. The proposal establishes that Member States and airports do not have an obligation to deploy security scanners, but if they decide to use them, they will have to comply with the operational conditions and performance standards set at European level.

The EU High Representative Catherine Ashton officially inaugurate the new Delegation of the European Union in Libya. At the inauguration she underlined that the Delegation is much more than a building, it is a symbol of EU determination to stand with the people of Libya into the future.