European Union News

A new Call for proposals under 2009 work programme of the 7th EC Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities has been published on the 28th October 2008 at the Official Journal of the European Union with 38 Meuros budget.

The event will give the latest news and background on the Marco Polo programme and explain how to apply for Marco Polo funding under future calls for project proposal.

It has been published the Directive  2008/94/EC of 22 October 2008 on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer at the Official Journal of the European Union on the 28th October 2008.

The Workshop aims to provide key information about the Agency’s activities and services. At the same time, the event will also serve as a valuable forum for discussion about important issues pertinent to the successful implementation of the TEN-T programme by all stakeholders on the 3 December 2008 (8:45 - 17:15) at the Centre Conference Albert Borschette in Brussels.

The European Commission has approved funding for 143 new projects under the first call for the LIFE+ programme (2007-2013), the European fund for the environment. The projects are from across the EU and cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, environmental policy, and information and communication. Overall, they represent a total investment of €367 million, of which the EU will provide €186 million.

The European Commission proposed on October, 27th, new legislation for the establishment of  a Critical Infrastructure Warning Information Network (CIWIN) to strengthen information-sharing on critical infrastructure protection between EU Member States. This proposition follows Commission concern over the development of  the European Programme for Critical Infrastructure Protection.

It has been published in the OJ the opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) on the Commission Decision of 12 December 2007 concerning the implementation of the Internal Market Information System (IMI) as regards the protection of personal data (2008/49/EC)

The European Union and the United States of America, concluded on October 22nd, 2008, an Agreement on the participation of the United States of America in the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX KOSOVO. This mission was adopted by Joint Action 2008/124/CFSP of the Council in February 2008.

The European Parliament adopted the 2009 draft budget substantially higher than that adopted by Council in its July first reading. Commitments are set at €136 bn (1.04 % of GNI), payments are €124.5 bn (equivalent of 0.959% of EU GNI). Council had adopted a draft budget of € 133.9bn in commitments and €114.9 bn in payments. With this vote, Parliament has stayed within the margins of the Financial Perspective.

The European Commission launched on the 23 rd October an on-line survey to find out more about the actual experience of businesses and public purchasers with electronic public procurement ("e-procurement").

In adopting a resolution on the impact of security measures and body scanners on human rights, privacy, personal dignity and data protection, MEPs believe that this draft measure could exceed the implementing powers as the measures foreseen cannot be considered mere technical measures related to security, but have a serious impact on the fundamental rights of citizens. MEPs consider that the conditions for a decision have not yet been met, given that essential information is still lacking.

The European Commission welcomes BioMarine, an international maritime forum on oceans sustainability an innovative solutions, organised under the aegis of the French Presidency of the European Union, which gathers business, scientific and political communities. This is a major event which will enable Europe's maritime community to reinforce the development of an integrated approach to maritime affairs.