European Union News

The European Commission has presented a Proposal of Decision in order to designate 2012 as European Year for Active Ageing. The initiative aims to help create better job opportunities and working conditions for the growing numbers of older people in Europe, help them take an active role in society and encourage healthy ageing.

The European Parliament has endorsed a report proposing a series of measures in order to improve transparency in the human food supply chain in Europe. Measures such as cutting the maximum payment period to 30 days, creating an EU farm prices and margins observatory or the publication of a list with non-complying companies, would increase transparency in the food supply and make it more equitable.

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) endorsed on 7 September changes to the manner in which the EU's stability and growth pact is implemented in order to allow a "European semester" to be introduced as part of a reform of EU provisions on economic policy coordination.

The European Commission has presented to the Council and the European Parliament its Report on the European Research Council's operations and realisation of the objectives set out in the Specific Programme "Ideas" in 2009 (COM(2010) 458 final). This Annual Report from the Commission presents the assessment of the ERC's operations and the achievement of its objectives in 2009.

One of the biggest challenges the World in general has to face today is what to do with the growing mountains of rubbish. According to researchers in Ireland, compost production may be the answer to this problem.

The Official Journal of the European Union published on 7 September 2010 Commission's Decision amending the rules for the implementation of the Community civil protection mechanism. This amendment introduces measures which are needed at Union and participating state levels to enhance the interoperability of civil protection modules, notably regarding training and exercises.

The European Ombudsman, in its decision on the case 0676/2008/RT, required the European Commission to grant access to a series of letters relating some meetings between the Commission and representatives of cars manufacturers, which were requested by an non-governmental organization active environmental issues. Back in March this year the Ombudsman criticized the lack of cooperation from the Commission in this matter.

Researchers in Europe continue to fight the good fight against cancer. In so doing, projects such as the Seventh Framework Programme's funded MIRACLE are contributing to this end with an advanced LOC system for the detection and characterisation of circulating and disseminated tumour cells will lead to faster and cost-efficient diagnosis of cancer.

The European Parliament has successfully concluded negotiations with the European Commission and EU governments on the future shape of financial supervision in Europe. With the agreement reached on 2 September, the institutions agree on the setting of the new European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) for risks to the stability of the financial system and three European Supervision Authorities (ESAs).

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton, expressed in an statement Union's encouragement to the positive outcome of the launch of direct peace talks for the Middle east. She also took the opportunity to comment Commissioner De Gucht declarations confident that they were not intended to offence any of the parties.

The cases of mass deportations carried out by France over the past weeks, will be discussed by the European Parliament at its first plenary session after the summer. MEPs have already expressed their concern over these cases, a concern backed by the Commission and also expressed by the Economic and Social Council which called for coordinated action by Member States.

The European Commission approved the first financing decisions under the 264 million Euro 2010 allocation for the so-called Vulnerability FLEX mechanism to help the most vulnerable African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries cope with the impact of the global financial crisis and economic downturn.