European Union News

At least this seems to be the result from a consultation launched by the European Commission in June 2010 which has gathered opinion from 318 stakeholders from all levels of the value chain who provided input to the consultation. Although the consultation did not reveal a widespread call for further EU legislation, there is an expectation that additional guidance may be needed in the future.

Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Brussels on 8 November 2010 gave its unanimous vote on visa liberalisation for Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This decision, which amends regulation Nº 539/2001, will grant citizens of Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina possessing biometric passports the right to travel to and throughout the Schengen area without a visa.

The European Council voted on 8 November the adoption of the new Directive which will cut industrial emissions from large combustion plants across the EU. This legal provision represents one more step in the efforts made by the Commission to control industrial pollution, contributing to enhance citizens' protection against industrial pollution at the time of reducing air and other environmental pollution.

The 1,000 Genomes Project, an international initiative that is probing genetic variation in humans and which received EU funding through Health Theme of 7th Framework Programme, has released the results of its pilot phase. The initial findings already shed new light on the nature of genetic variation as well as its influence on disease, human history and evolution.

European SMEs wishing to export to or invest in the Chinese market can enjoy now a new venture where they will be able to get information, advice, training and matchmaking opportunities. The new Centre for European Union Small and Medium Enterprises in Beijing has been open on 5 November as a key element of the support given by the European Union within the Small Businesses Act for companies looking for opportunities in the Chinese market.

Three films which received co-funding from the MEDIA Programme on support for the EU audiovisual sector, were among those honoured at the closing ceremony of the International Rome Film Festival on 5 November. In total, ten films co-financed in a way or another were part of the Festival.

The European Commission has adopted its sixth report on certain third countries' maintenance of visa requirements in breach of the principle of reciprocity. The report shows that although progress towards full reciprocity has been achieved, there still a few cases in which "non-reciprocity" remains, as it is the case for Canada and the United States where there are certain visa requirements concerning citizens from some Member states.

A total of 578.5 million Euro of EU farm money unduly spent by Member States is claimed back as a result of a Decision adopted on 4 November by the European Commission and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 5 November.

The Official Journal of the European Union published on 6 November 2010 Commission's Decision C(2010) 7499, laying down the criteria and measures for the financing of commercial demonstration projects that aim at the environmentally safe capture and geological storage of CO2, as well as demonstration projects of innovative renewable energy technologies under the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community.

Recent developments during the Euro debt crisis have highlighted the need for a revision on the regulatory framework of credit rating agencies (CRAs). Concerns have risen over the excessive trust put by financial institutions and institutional investors on external ratings instead of carrying an adequate risk assessment. For that purpose, the European Commission has launched a public consultation which will be open until 7 January 2011 in order to calibrate the scope and ambition of any possible future legislative initiative in the field of credit rating agencies.

EU companies cut their research and development (R&D) investments by 2.6% in 2009, the new Industrial R&D Investments Scoreboard reveals. It is the first time that business R&D investments have fallen in a number of years. It should be noted, however, that sales and profits fell by 10% and 21% respectively, and that R&D investment decisions for 2009 were taken in late 2008, at the height of the financial crisis. Under these circumstances, the fact that R&D investments fell so little demonstrates the importance of R&D to businesses.

The European Commission has presented on 4 November a proposal to ban the use of phosphates and to limit the content of other phosphorous containing compounds in laundry detergents. The draft Regulation, which does not affect detergents for automatic dishwashers or those used by professionals yet, aims to reduce the phosphates found in waste water and to improve water quality.