European Union News

Following complaints received from companies, associations, NGOs, universities and other organisations involved in EU-funded projects and contracts, the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has decided to open a new investigation into the timeliness of payments by the European Commission. The Ombudsman wants to find out which measures the Commission has taken recently to tackle late payment problems.

In its Report on ex ante verification of additionality in the regions eligible under the Convergence objective for the period 2007–2013, published on March 6th 2009, COM(2009) 112 final, the European Commission summarises the main findings of the verification of this principle at the ex ante stage for the period 2007-2013 along with an analysis from an economic perspective. In this Report, the Commission considers that there is clearly room to improve the information and the methodology for determining and verifying additionality, which is an important principle of cohesion policy. The Commission intends to engage in a more in-depth and permanent dialogue with Member States on how to overcome the shortcomings and improve the application of the principle.

The European Commission has published in the OJEU of March 7th 2009, its Decision of October 31st 2009 (2009/177/EC), implementing Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards surveillance and eradication programmes and disease-free status of Member States, zones and compartments. This decision lays down certain requirements for the application and information about the control measures for aquatic animal diseases.

The 2006-2009 scheme for the restructuring of the European sugar industry resulted in the renunciation of 5.8 million tonnes of quota, very close to the initial objective of 6 million tonnes. At the end of this 4-year process, a key element of the 2006 sugar reform, EU quota for sugar and isoglucose has been lowered to 14 million tonnes (of which 13.3 million tonnes for sugar).

The European Defence Agency (EDA) Steering Board has agreed to approve a project for the next generation European military earth observation satellites. This Multinational Space-based Imaging System (MUSIS) project has been launched by six European Union Member States: Belgium, Germany, Greece, France, Italy and Spain. The project has now become an EDA Category B project and will be open to participation of other EDA participating Member States, if their proposed contribution is acceptable to the existing contributing Members.

The European Chemicals Agency has announced a conference related to EU Regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) of substances and mixtures based on the UN Globally Harmonised System (GHS). The conference will take place in Brussels on the 17 June 2009.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published in the edition of 6 march of Explanatory note with regard to the definition of a ‘parent carrier’ in Regulation (EC) No 80/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Code of Conduct for computerised reservation systems and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2299/89.

The European Commission will provide nearly a quarter of a billion euro in humanitarian aid to vulnerable people in twelve African countries, with 8.5 additional M€ specifically allocated for ECHO Flight, a special humanitarian air service. All funds are channelled through the Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) under the direct responsibility of Commissioner Louis Michel.

The opinion adopted by the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) on the Commission's proposal for a Directive on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation  welcomes the attention given in the proposal to the data protection needs arising both for the donors and the recipient of organs, especially as concerns the requirement for keeping their identities confidential, but it also points out the need to reinforce security procedures to protect personal data.

A new report on "Barriers to E-commerce", presented by EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva shows that online shopping is increasingly popular in the EU, but warns that barriers to cross border trade are holding back its development. The report published on March 5th 2009, presents a detailed analysis of current trends in e-commerce across the EU; including per country, most purchased items and obstacles for consumers and business online.

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) took its first practical and very visible steps towards modernised and streamlined selection methods that are to become fully operational next year. EPSO is also launching a new, more intuitive layout of its website and a new brand and logo, under the slogan "EU career - smart choice". This emphasises the wide range of attractive opportunities on offer from the EU institutions.

The Commission has published the General Report on the activities of the European Union in 2008. Last year was marked in particular by the global financial crisis, climate change and international conflict, all of which brought rapid and effective European reaction that pushed the Union to the forefront of the world political stage. The key institutional event of the year was the process of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, which faltered in spring with the 'no' vote in the Irish referendum, but was revived at the European Council in December.