European Union News

The European Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union of October 21st, 2008, the invitation to a public consultation for all interested parties to send their comments concerning the draft Commission Regulation (EC) on the application of Article 81.3 of the EC Treaty to certain categories of agreements, decisions and concerted practices between liner shipping companies, the so called “consortia”.

European Commissioner for Agriculture, Mariann Fischer Boel, launched on October 17th, an EU-wide campaign to promote the relaunched School Milk Programme. Under the slogan “Milk – Drink it up”, the information campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits of milk consumption and the availability of EU funds to schools.

The Welsh Assembly Government host the European auditors annual meeting in Cardiff.

The Council has put forward a Proposal for a Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Community and Australia on trade in wine. This new document, which would replace the 1994 Agreement, aims to facilitate and promote trade in wine originating in the Community and in Australia.

The Official Journal of the European Union (C 265/6 - 18.10.2008) has published the guidelines on the assessment of non-horizontal mergers under the Council Regulation on the control of concentrations between undertakings.

EuropeAid  Officice has launched on the 15 october 2008 a call for tender for a technical assistance for assessments in macroeconomics, public finance management and performance measurement.

The European Commission has decided to launch infringement proceedings against 10 Member States for failure to implement certain Internal Market Directives into national law. The Commission will refer Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom to the Court over non-implementation of a Directive on recognition of professional qualifications. The Commission will also refer Belgium, the Czech Republic, Greece, Poland and Portugal to the Court over non-implementation of a Directive on reinsurance.

The European Commission has put forward a proposal modifying the provisions and extending the scope of the 2001 Regulation on cross-border euro payments, under which cross-border bank transfers in euro within the EU cost the same as domestic transfers. The aims of this initiative are to replace the existing Regulation in order to adapt it to market developments (emergence of the Single Euro Payments Area), to enhance the protection of consumer rights and to provide an adequate legal framework for the development of a modern and efficient payment system within the EU.

According to the Commission's annual progress report on emissions, the EU and most member states are on track to deliver on their Kyoto Protocol commitments for reducing or limiting emissions of greenhouse gases. The latest projections from Member States indicate that the EU-15 will achieve its 8% reduction target through a combination of policies and measures already taken, the purchase of emission credits from projects in third countries, and forestry activities that absorb carbon from the atmosphere.

The European Union and countries of the Caribbean region signed on October 15th, 2008, an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which will strengthen ties between the two regions and promote regional integration in the Caribbean. The EPA is the first genuinely comprehensive North-South trade and development agreement in the global economy, and includes a package of measures to stimulate trade, investment and innovation, and to promote sustainable development, build a regional market among Caribbean countries and help eliminate poverty.

Due to the current International economic scenario, the European Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union on October 16th, some amendments on Regulation (EC) Nº 1725/2003 adopting certain international accounting standards, in accordance with Regulation (EC) Nº 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards International Accounting Standard (IAS) 39 and International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 7.

The European Commission, DG for Environment, Civil Protection Unit launched October 14th, a call for proposals aiming to improve civil protection preparedness and response for emergencies throughout providing a testing environment and learning opportunity for all actors involved in civil protection assistance interventions under the Community Civil Protection Mechanism. This support will take the form of co-financing grants.