European Union News

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on December 22nd the Commission Decision of 18th December 2010 concerning the adoption of the 2010 work plan to implement the Second Programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-2013), and the criteria for selection, award and other factors that apply to financial contributions for activities of this programme. Together with this programme, four calls for proposals have also been issued.

A huge disappointment is what the European Parliament delegation to the COP15 said about the agreement on climate change which was reached at last in Copenhagen. The outcome and the procedure show an urgent need to reform the UN working method.

The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, has explained the objectives of the Spanish Presidency of the EU at the headquarters of the European Council and maintained that all the political initiatives of the six-month period which begins on 1 January will be designed to overcome the economic crisis, based on the principles of innovation, peace, welfare and gender equality.

Two years after the adoption of modernising EU TV rules removing outdated restrictions on digital TV over the internet, video on demand and mobile TV, only three countries – Belgium, Romania and Slovakia – have officially notified the European Commission of measures putting them in place, as required under EU law. EU countries had until 19 December 2009 to turn the modernised rules for Europe's audiovisual industry into national law.

The European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, Civil Protection Unit, has launched a call for proposals with the aim of identifying projects on preparedness and prevention which might be eligible for financial support in the framework of the Council decision establishing a Civil Protection Financial Instrument.

New EU telecoms rules will officially become EU law tomorrow following their publication in today's Official Journal of the European Union. The new rules composed of the Better Regulation Directive and the Citizens’ Rights Directive will need to be transposed into national laws of the 27 EU Member States by June 2011. The new Regulation establishing the new European Telecoms Authority called "Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)" is directly applicable and will enter into force in 20 days.

The Official Journal of the European Union on December 18 includes the publication of Regulation (EC) No. 1244/2009 of the Council amending the list of countries whose citizens require visas to enter the EU. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia have been removed from this list.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) announced today its first three Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). The launch of the KICs marks a crucial step in setting up the EIT, which is designed to become a role model for boosting innovation in Europe and thereby contributing to the goals of the future EU 2020 strategy.

The Commission will fund with almost 2 M€ Transatlantic Exchange Partnerships and Transatlantic Degree Partnerships within the EU-Canada  programme for co-operation in higher education, training and youth. Applications may be submitted until March, 24th, 2009

Parliament has adopted the final EU budget for 2010, which will be €141.4 billion in commitments and €122.9 billion in payments. The main challenge for this year's budget was to find the funding for the already agreed but not yet financed economic recovery plan, which will cost the EU €2.4 billion next year.

Improving labour market flexibility is one of the key elements of the Lisbon strategy to make Europe more dynamic and competitive. Eurofound's second European Company Survey is designed to make easier for Companies to find strategies to manage the economic recession.

The biggest forum on ICT research and innovation, a biennial event with the latest research trends, will take place among 27 and 29 September 2010, in Brussels, under the belgian presidency of the EU.