European Union News

EU budget fir year 2012 should be one of the main tools for helping Europe's economy to recover after the crisis, by focusing on employment, economic governance and growth. This is the main idea put forward by the European Commission at its Plenary session held in Brussels on 24 March. In this session, MEPs voted on a Resolution setting out their recommendations to the Commission which is an early signal about their wishes and priorities for next year's budget.

According to the data released by the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) in 2010, there were 257,800 asylum applicants registered in the whole European Union, which amounts to 515 applicants per million inhabitants. These figures show a slight decrease regarding application for asylum registered the previous year which amounted to 264,000 applicants.

A European Treasury, tax harmonisation, euro bonds and increased EU expenditure to finance investments in research and development, infrastructure and energy projects is needed to ensure the EU's future competitiveness and sustainable growth, suggests the first draft of what is to become the final report by Committee on Financial, Economic and Social Crisis.

On 24 March, the European Commission published its analysis of the 350 responses to the consultation launched by the Green Paper on cultural and creative industries. According to this analysis, the consultation confirmed that cultural and creative industries are a powerful motor for jobs, growth, export earnings, cultural diversity and social inclusion in Europe, and that they have indeed a vital contribution to make to the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The European Commission has launched a competition for researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, students and other creative individuals to suggest a relevant, appealing and catchy name for the new EU research and innovation programme that will run post-2013. All those willing to take part in this contest can send their suggestions to the Commission by 10 May. All suggestions will be reviewed by an international jury and shortlisted ideas will be them voted online.

Further to the failure of conversations between the Parliament and the Council on updating the Novel Foods Regulation on 16 March 2011, the institutions had a last change to reach an agreement on the evening of 28 March. However, in spite of the efforts made by the Hungarian Presidency, this agreement has not been possible and the EU stays with the status quo, where legislation provides that food from cloned animals is subject to a pre-market authorisation.

European Parliament's Budgetary Control Committee approved on 28 March the European Commission's 2009 budget spending. This adoption, under the “budget discharge” procedure, comes after the Commission had given undertakings, inter alia to step up pressure on EU Member States to take more political responsibility for, and improve their supervision of, their national authorities' spending of EU funds.

The European Commission has presented on 28 March EU's comprehensive Transport 2050 Strategy which aims to created a competitive transport system that will increase mobility, remove major barriers in key areas and fuel growth and employment. This strategy described in the Transport 2011 White Paper for a Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area, also contains proposals to reduce Europe's dependence on imported oil and cut carbon emissions in transport by 60% by 2050.

The European Research Council (ERC) has launched a new funding initiative under the title “Proof of Concept” which aims to stimulate innovation by providing funding to researchers already holding an ERC grant, and supporting their outstanding research projects at the frontiers of knowledge. First Proof of Concept call is expected to be published on 29 March with deadlines in June and November 2011.

During the European Parliament plenary session held in Brussels between 23 and 24 March, MEPs introduced a series of amendments to Commission's proposal for a Directive protecting online consumers rights. MEPs backed a series of new rules to protect online shoppers and boost consumer confidence in buying in other Member States, and decided to postpone their final position with a view to reaching an agreement with the Council.

The European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders (FRONTEX) has announced that due to the notable increase in migratory pressure on Italy and the island of Lampedusa in particular, Frontex has widened the operational area of Joint Operation Hermes and extended its duration for five more months. This extension aims to strengthen Europe’s border control response capability in the Central Mediterranean.

At the second part of the meeting of the Council of the European Union held in Brussels between 24 and 25 March, Heads of State and Government debated over the lessons to be drawn from the events that occurred in Japan, notably as regards nuclear safety. In this regard, the Council has recalled that the energy mix is the competence of Member States, and has agreed to make safety revisions on all nuclear plants.