European Union News

The European Commission has launched a call for proposals under the Work Programme "People" 2010 of the Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities, which will fund the exchange of research staff across Europe and third countries.

The European Commission has closed a four-year antitrust investigation into U.S. chipset maker Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) without levying a fine or absolving the company. The commission, the European Union's regulatory arm, said companies that objected to Qualcomm's pricing for its technology have all withdrawn their complaints or are planning to withdraw them.

European Parliament has formally approved the EU’s telecoms reform package at its plenary session in Strasbourg, proposed by the Commission in November 2007. This new rules will give new rights to European consumers, and it will streghten competition on Europe's telecoms markets.

EU support for volunteering should be stepped up to €10 million, as part of the 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship, said the Education and Culture Committee on Monday evening. The programme will support good practice exchanges, studies and research, conferences, information and promotion campaigns and other activities at EU, national and regional levels.

Up to 3 000 school students from all over Europe, including Kalix near the Arctic Circle in Sweden, Heraklion in Crete, Saint Martin in the West Indies and Paralimni in Cyprus, will be testing their language skills in the third Juvenes Translatores contest . The translation contest, whose name means “young translators” in Latin, is held simultaneously in all the participating schools, under the supervision of the schools .

The current crisis is taking its toll on EU labour markets, reversing most of the employment growth achieved since 2000. Men, young people, the low-skilled and workers on temporary contracts have borne the brunt of the employment contraction. Employment in the EU has shrunk by over 4 million jobs since the start of the crisis, although the effect has been somewhat mitigated thanks to the use of shorter working hours and other schemes. But these short term measures, however important, are not in themselves sufficient to ensure a successful exit from the crisis. Employment policies must focus on preparing for the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) has just announced the winner of the photography competition focussing on safety and health at work. Christopher Azzopardi from Malta was awarded with the 1st prize for his photograph entitled “Beekeeper” at the European Summit on Risk Assessment and SMEs in Bilbao, the closing event of the Healthy Workplaces Campaign.

Including technology in the curriculum in early childhood could help to raise the interest of both girls and boys in science and technology, according to recently published, EU-funded research.

The Council of EU Ministers unanimously approved the EU's telecoms reform package, first proposed by the European Commission in 2007. The new rules will enhance competition and investment in Europe's telecoms market, by giving more certainty to companies investing in high-speed optical fibre and wireless networks. It will also open up airwaves for new mobile services. The European Parliament will vote next week, in its Strasbourg plenary session, to formally endorse the telecoms package.

The Commission has launched its 4th poster competition for youngsters to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, under the title "Draw me a right!"

The European eGovernment Awards is a European Commission initiative organised every two years. The aim is to encourage good practices and innovative solutions in central government authorities to increase access to public services for businesses and individuals. Five winners have been selected among the 52 finalists in a ceremony in Maslö (Sweden)

In the context of EU's strengthened engagement in Somalia, EU Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers agreed on a concept to train Somali security forces in their last meeting. The decision comes in response to a request from the transitional government in Mogadishu. Now the plan to launch a training mission can begin.