European Union News

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted a favourable opinion on a proposed Council Directive on a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) because, according to its members reduces tax obstacles and costs associated with cross-border activities, promoting fair, sustainable competition.

The European Commission adopted a Recommendation in which asks EU Member States to step up their efforts, pool their resources and involve the private sector in digitising cultural material. Commission also asks for a major involvement of private sector in this task. It challenges Member States to develop solid plans and build partnerships to place 30 million objects in Europeana by 2015.

The Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting conclusions stressed the need to strongly encourage that training on Union acquis will be made available for legal practitioners through initial and continuous training, reflecting how national and Union legislation interact and influence their everyday practice.

The text which contains the political agreement on the draft decision establishing the first radio spectrum policy programme 2012-2015 has been endorsed by the Permanent Representatives Committee of the Council. The document has been negotiated in trialogue meetings between the Polish presidency, the European Parliament and the European Commission.

The European Commission has proposed that the EU accede to a Protocol of the Barcelona Convention that protects the Mediterranean against pollution from offshore exploration and exploitation activities, the "Offshore Protocol". EU ratification of the Protocol is likely to stimulate ratification by other Parties to the Barcelona Convention, bringing the waters of the Mediterranean closer to good environmental status, the ultimate goal of the EU Marine Framework Directive.

The European Parliament approved a resolution in which it demands a smarter use of antibiotics. Parliament also wants the European Commission and Member States to improve information to the public, around half of whom mistakenly believe that antibiotics can treat viruses or colds.

The European Parliament adopted the directive which sets out minimum penalties for about 20 criminal offences. The directive approved tougher penalties across the EU, especially in cases of abuse by persons in a position of trust, authority or influence over the child or abuse of particularly vulnerable children. The directive will also require EU countries to remove child porn web sites and it will introduce EU-wide requirements on prevention, prosecution of offenders and protection for victims.

The European Parliament Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought in 2011 has been granted to the Arab Spring, in particular to five representatives of the Arab people, in recognition and support of their drive for freedom and human rights. The decision to award the Prize to the Arab people is, according to Parliament's President, a symbol for all those working for dignity, democracy and fundamental rights in the Arab world and beyond.

The European Parliament adopted its position on 2012 budget. Basically, MEPs sought to restore the draft budget proposed by the Commission, which the Council cut in July. This implies an increase in payments of 5.2% as compared to this year's budget, resulting in a budget of €133.1 billion.

The European Commission may refer Ireland and Spain to the EU's Court of Justice if they do not modify the way in which they tax leased or rented vehicles from another Member State, as well as company cars in the case of Spain, so as to ensure their rules comply with EU legislation.

The conclusions of the latest Euro Summit shows an agreement among Eurozone ministers with regard to Greece. The new programme agreed includes a contribution by Euro area Member States to the package up to €30 billion. In particular, the new EU-IMF multiannual programme financing up to €100 billion will be put in place by the end of the year. It also includes a voluntary contribution by private creditors who had lent to Greece.

The workshop on the Euroregions organised in the Open Days 2011 framework shows a model of cooperation for European territories. The Euroregion Pyrenees-Mediterranean was showed during the event as an example of this model for cooperation.