European Union News

A report from the European Court of Auditors (ECA) highlighted that the European Commission is partially effective in its support for a sustainable road network in Sub-Saharan Africa. Partner countries visited by the Court do not do enough to ensure the sustainability of road infrastructure, roads are affected to varying degrees by premature deterioration.

The European Commission launched a public consultation aimed at all citizens interested in organic production in Europe. The consultation will cover possible simplifications to be brought to the existing scheme, while maintaining high standards, as well as the issues of control and international trade.

The European Union decided to bring forward the first part of its 2013 assistance package for the Palestinian people to the beginning of the year. This means that €60 million will be allocated to the PEGASE mechanism, which supports the Palestinian National Development Plan, and €40 million will be allocated to UNWRA's 2013 regular budget in order to support its education, health, relief and social services programmes.

The conference 'New skills for a European Bioeconomy' which brought together bioeconomy and education and training stakeholders, was recently held in Brussels to discuss the role of skills development in driving and facilitating transition towards the bioeconomy and seizing the employment opportunities that this transition entails.

Europol and over 200 law enforcement officers have dismantled an organised crime group responsible for massive VAT fraud in several EU countries. The joint investigation team arrested 14 suspects and seized €4.8 million in cash, as well as luxury motor vehicles and real estate.

Eurostat announced that in November 2012 compared with October 2012, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.3% in both the euro area and the EU. The largest decreases were registered in Slovenia, Portugal and Spain, and the highest increases in Estonia, Latvia and the Netherlands.

The European Court of Auditors assessed whether Cohesion Policy investments in energy efficiency were cost-effective. ECA drew the conclusion that the projects selected by Member State authorities for financing did not have rational objectives in terms of cost-effectiveness, i.e. cost per unit of energy saved.

EURAXESS Links' main objective is to maintain the link between Europe and European researchers, scientists and scholars working abroad. According to the European Commission, they are an important resource for European research and for stimulating scientific cooperation between Europe and their host countries.

Three years after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, the EU decided to allocate an additional €30.5 million in humanitarian funding to this country. The EU supports projects based on awareness-raising campaigns in schools and the creation of local emergency-alert groups, which contribute to making communities and key institutions more resilient to future disasters.

ECAS, a Brussels-based NGO, lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman about the Commission's refusal to give access to five documents, drafted by its services and concerning the UK opt-out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The Ombudsman response is that the Commission refused access to documents without giving valid reasons.

A report published by Eurostat shows that 53% of enterprises from industry and services reported innovation activity between 2008 and 2010. However there are important difference among Member States. The highest proportions of enterprises with innovation activity were recorded in Germany,Luxembourg, Belgium, while the lowest were recorded in Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Romania and Hungary.

The European Commission announced the allocation of €65 million to support Kosovo's efforts to implement its EU-reform agenda. In particular, the funds will be used for reforms of the justice and public administration systems, investments in education and regional development, and to provide housing and job opportunities for Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian families who are currently living in lead-contaminated camps.