European Union News

The Commission has issued a call for applications for financial support to European consumer organisations in 2009 with the aim of complementing, supporting and watching the policies of the member States, and contributing to protect the health, the security and the economic and legal interests of the consumers.

The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union has published a call for tenders for the consultancy, strategic review and planning services relating to the EU Council public website.

The Commission is calling for an EU-wide ban on smoking in public places by 2012. Today, not all EU countries have strong anti-smoking regulations, and there are big differences between member states. Tobacco is the leading avoidable cause of death in the EU, and about 170 million Europeans are smokers.

The European Commission has published a Green Paper on "Promoting the learning mobility of young people" with the aim of opening up a debate on how best to boost the opportunities for young people in Europe to develop their knowledge and skills by going abroad. Spending a period in another country for studying, learning, work experience or volunteering is one of the fundamental ways in which young people can strengthen their future employability as well as their personal development. With this Green Paper the Commission is launching a public consultation which will be open until 15 December 2009.

Everyone who wants to participate in OPEN DAYS 2009 European Week of Regions and Cities is now able to get registered online. The event will take place in Brussels from 5 to 8 October 2009, and it is expected that milliards of people will participate in the 300 events that are expected to be held across the participating countries.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published a Call for Proposals to grant subsidies to promote transport policy objectives. The policy priorities have been fixed in the 2009 Work Programme adopted by the European Commission. Main topics selected are road safety, transport safety and internal market (for inland and maritime navigation). The total budget is EUR 4,750,000.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18th June 2009 on the establishment of a European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). The text is not binding, but offers six recommendations to all Member States on ECTVET.

 The Council has adopted a regulation establishing a programme to aid economic recovery by granting Community financial assistance to projects in the field of energy, approving all the European Parliament's first reading amendments.

The EU Council will develop a new public web site. It will start with a previous phase of consultancy, strategic review and planning services relating to the EU Council public website.

Alongside with the leaders of Sweden as holder of the EU Council presidency, the four European Union G8 members (France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom) as well as the United States, Russia, Canada, and Japan, President Barroso will represent the Commission as full member of the G8 summit for the fifth time

The European Commission has proposed to set up a new microfinance facility providing microcredit to small businesses and to people who have lost their jobs and want to start their own small businesses. The instrument also offers support for young people wishing to establish or expand their own business.

The Council has decided by written procedure to appoint Pawel Samecki as new Commissioner on Regional Policy in place of his compatriot, Danuta Hübner, newly elected MEP in June elections.