European Union News

The Official Journal of the European Union has publisehd on 19th March a regulation related to the common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency (REGULATION (EC) No 216/2008)

Following the new rules adopted on the 19th March, by the European Commission all recipients of European Union agricultural and rural development payments will be published in detail.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published 19 march 2008 the rules for the establishment and financial implementation of the resources of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) in the framework of the ACP-EC Agreement and in the Overseas Association Decision.

EU Heads of State and Government also called for 'swift progress' to be made in implementing a strategy to unlock Europe's innovation potential. Key aspects of this strategy include meeting national research and development (R&D) investment targets, promoting large research projects such as GALILEO and the Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs), and improving collaboration between industry and academia.

Euro-trans project will develop the final workshop in Madrid next 27 to 28 march in CDTI headoffices with the strategic objective of open encourage, facilitate and enhance cooperation between SMEs and the major European RID players and Industrial Stakeholders of Surface Transport (road, rail, waterborne and intermodality).

The current EU-wide minimum rate of tax on diesel should be increased to match the current minimum rate for unleaded petrol, but no further, say MEPs. They also want to set a limit on further petrol and diesel tax increases in the Member States which already have the highest taxes.

For the second year running, EU citizens have given a strong endorsement to recent changes to EU farm policy. This is one of the main findings of a poll examining the attitudes of citizens to agriculture and the Common Agricultural Policy. This survey, following on from a similar one conducted in 2006, confirms a predominantly favourable reaction to key elements of the 2003 agreement on CAP reform.

eTwinning is an EU initiative to encourage schools to network with each other over the internet. In the three years since its launch, over 35,000 schools have signed up. At an eTwinning conference held in Bucharest on 14-16 March, the European Commission will be handing out prizes to eight outstanding eTwinning school projects.

The Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) is hereby launching a call for proposals for the ‘Intelligent Energy — Europe’ 2008 work Programme. Some € 45 million will be made available, supporting up to 75% of eligible project costs. European projects, with a budget usually between € 0.5 - 2.5 million (mainly staff costs), will have a maximum funding period of three years and will include at least 3 partner organisations from 3 different eligible countries.

Over two-thirds of Europeans prefer policy decisions on the environment to be made at European Union level, according to a Eurobarometer survey published on 13th March 2008. The report also shows that Europeans are increasingly aware of the role played by the environment in their daily lives. More than 95% of European citizens feel that it is important to protect the environment. Some 80% also feel it influences their quality of life and consider that they have a role to play in protecting it. Climate change tops the list of Europeans' environmental concerns, followed by pollution and man-made disasters.

An international conference devoted to the training of professional translators – European Master's in Translation – takes place in Brussels on 14 March 2008. Representatives from universities of all EU Member States, as well as of Candidate and Third Countries, will discuss with potential employers and international institutions the core skills that the next generation of translators should have. The conference will also address the admission criteria for universities to join the network working under the common umbrella of the Master's.

The Italian researcher Luisa Corrado was among the researchers honoured at the European Science Awards Ceremony, for her work on whether wealth can bring happiness. Ms Corrado received one of five "Marie Curie Excellence Awards", which recognise excellent researchers who have participated in the EU's researcher exchange programme. Awards were also given recognising excellence in multinational research teams and in science communication. The winners were selected by three separate Grand Juries, one for each category, composed of leading figures from European and international science. They share an award fund of almost €2m.