European Union News

Joe Borg, Commissioner in charge of maritime affairs and fisheries, opened on February 26th 2009 an EU-wide debate on how to improve maritime spatial planning across the European Union. The Commission believes that a common approach across the EU and closer coordination between Member States could cut administrative procedures and provide a stable legal framework for investors.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on February 26th the Commission Decision of 23th February 2009 concerning the adoption of the 2009 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.

The automotive sector, with 12 million jobs depending on it, has been hit particularly hard by the current economic crisis with new registrations down by 20% and poor expectations for 2009. In today's communication, the European Commission defends a proactive stance to support industry in their efforts to withstand the crisis, soften negative effects and ensure long-term competitiveness.

The European Commission considers that a common European approach is presently needed to deal with the treatment of impaired assets, to make sure that foreseeable losses are disclosed and properly handled and banks can use their capital to resume their normal function of lending to the economy instead of fearing they would need this capital to cushion against possible losses.

The European Commission continued its work to implement the European Economic Recovery Plan with a special meeting with the representatives of trades unions and employers at EU level. It showed a wide consensus that the internal market and the Recovery Plan provided the right springboard for tackling the crisis and taking action on jobs in Europe.

The European Commission has announced a package of decisions aimed at giving Member States more flexibility in their use of the structural funds, in response to the financial and economic crisis. The changes will extend the deadline for EU countries to use up their allocations from the 2000-2006 funding period until June 30th 2009, ensuring that every available Euro can be used to maximum effect.

The "IMI Awareness-Raising Conference" taking place in Brussels on February 25th 2009 marks the IMI Services Directive pilot project launch, a key point in time, as the first exchanges of information on services in Internal Market Information system (IMI) will start as from March 2009.

European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, has announced at a ceremony in Brussels that the Swedish capital will be European Green Capital in 2010 followed by Hamburg in 2011. The European Commission's new award scheme encourages cities to improve the quality of urban life by taking the environment systematically into account in urban planning

The Hungarian capital was judged by an independent panel of experts to have done the most to raise public awareness of air pollution from traffic and promote cleaner alternatives during European Mobility Week  Almada in Portugal and Zagreb, the Croatian capital, were runners-up among a group of ten european cities.

The Commission has published in the OJEU on February 24th 2009, its Communication 2009/C 45/02, setting out the enforcement priorities that will guide the Commission's action in applying Article 82 to exclusionary conduct by dominant undertakings. Commission's guidelines include the general approach applied to assess exclusionary conducts as well as some specific forms of abuse which could lead to market distortions.

Eight Oscars were awarded to "Slumdog Millionaire" at the 81st Academy Award ceremony, which took place in Hollywood (USA) on February 22nd 2009. This Brittish film, that has been awarded with some of the most prestigious prizes including Best Film and Best Director for Danny Boyle, was co-funded under the EU's film support programme MEDIA.

The European Commission adopted two Communications related to disasters: a Community approach to reducing the impact of natural and man-made disasters within the EU, and a strategy for supporting disaster risk reduction in developing countries. Both Communications contribute to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for action 2005-2015, adopted at the world conference on disaster reduction.