European Union News

For the first time in its 33-year history, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers has come out with a joint political resolution on top-of-agenda issues such as food prices, Economic Partnership Agreements and regional integration, and the effectiveness of development aid. ACP-EU is the Africa - Caribbean - Pacific - European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly

On the 16th June 2008, the European Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, officially launched the network of European Researchers in Japan. Consulted through an on-line survey, the European researchers working in Japan have pronounced themselves very much in favour of this network (74% of the respondents) and expressed their specific needs: to develop their contacts and get access to information on career development, research funding and Europe-Japan cooperation opportunities. The tool set up for them by the European Commission will answer these needs with interactive tools of information and networking.

According to te most recent figures from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, the Euro area annual inflation up to 3.7% in May 2008.  Euro area annual inflation was 3.7% in May 2008, up from 3.3% in April. A year earlier the rate was 1.9%. Monthly inflation was 0.6% in May 2008. EU annual inflation was 3.9% in May 2008, up from 3.6% in April. A year earlier the rate was 2.1%. Monthly inflation was 0.6% in May 2008.

Delocalisation is not Europe’s number one ‘job-killer’ was the tag line for the major international conference, organised by Eurofound in Poznań, Poland, 3th-5th June 2008.

On the 11th June, the European Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union, proposal for the Council decision fixing the financial contributions to be paid by the Member States contributing to the European Development Fund (second instalment for 2008). 105,000,000 euros is destined for the 9th European Development Fund and 1000 million eiros for going to the Commission.

On 6th June 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration by which the undertaking Economic Zones World FZE (‘EZW’, United Arab Emirates) belonging to the Dubai World Group acquires control of the whole of the undertaking Gazeley Ltd (‘Gazeley’, United Kingdom) by way of purchase of shares.

On the 14th June 2008 the European Commission published in the Official Journal of the European Union (oJ) information concerning the Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty Cases where the Commission raises no objections. One such aid scheme dating back to the 6th May 2008 was grated to all economic sectors in Northern Ireland (United Kingdom).

The 6th JRC Energy efficiency workshop on "Effective Policies and Financial Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency in Buildings", organised by the JRC Institute for Energy (IE) on 3-5 June 2008 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has been very successful with over 60 participants, from the new EU Member States (apart Malta), and a large number of Balkans countries.

On 21st May 2008 the European Root Certification Authority (ERCA) celebrated the performance of the 50th key certification session provided to Member States and other associated countries in the context of the European legislation on the digital tachograph system.

The 2008 European Awards for Lifelong Learning were given on the 13th June 2008 to fifteen outstanding projects in the field of education and training funded by the European Union; the focus this year was on "quality in mobility". The prizes were handed over by the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Ján Figel', and the Slovenian Minister of Education and Sport, Milan Zver, at a conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou launches the European Pact for Mental Health and Well-Being at the High Level Conference on Mental Health in Brussels today. This is the first conference to bring together ministers, experts, patients, health professionals, researchers and high profile personalities and other stakeholders to agree future joint actions to improve mental health in Europe.

The EU has initiated, on the 13th June 2008, anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations into imports of biodiesel from the United States. Examination by the European Commission of complaints lodged by European industry found that an investigation was warranted – sufficient evidence was provided of subsidies to the US biodiesel sector, as well as dumping of biodiesel in the European market. The complainant has argued that this has had an adverse effect on the European biodiesel industry. A detailed investigation by the Commission will now determine whether measures are justified under EU trade rules.