European Union News

According to the European Commission, a coordinated European approach to sharing spectrum will lead to greater mobile network capacity, cheaper wireless broadband, and new markets such as tradable secondary rights for a given spectrum allocation. This strategy is part of a new plan recently launched.

The European Heritage Days which are being celebrated each year in September, are an opportunity for taking advantage of free access to thousands of rarely opened sites and special events in 50 countries across Europe. In addition, a number of countries are producing joint events to emphasise the European dimension of the initiative.

EU-funded researchers are creating technologies that combine web, social media and TV to enhance our experience and interactions across media. In particular, they are working in a the project “NoTube” which has as main aim linking media together so consumers can watch shows and interact with friends regardless of the devices they use.

Olli Rehn, Vice-president of the European Commission, welcomed the adoption by the Spanish government of a Royal Decree Law on the restructuring and resolution of credit institutions, including a comprehensive blueprint for the future Asset Management Company. On the other hand, the Eurogroup also welcomed the reiteration by the Spanish authorities, and the statement by the Board of BFA-Bankia, of their firm commitment to complete the restructuring plan for BFA-Bankia by October, as foreseen by the Memorandum of Understanding.

Per capita CO2 emissions in China reach EU levels in 2011, according to what it was reported by the Joint Research Centre. In particular, in China, the world’s most populous country, average emissions of CO2 increased by 9% to 7.2 tonnes per capita. In the European Union, CO2 emissions dropped by 3% to 7.5 tonnes per capita. The United States remain one of the largest emitters of CO2, with 17.3 tonnes per capita.

The figures published by Eurostat show that the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.3% in July 2012, stable compared with June. Also it was stable the EU unemployment rate, at 10.4% in July 2012. Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg, and the highest in Spain and Greece.

Researchers from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities and hospitals across Ireland, France, Finland and the United Kingdom work in a new project aimed at finding a test that would reduce the diagnosis time of respiratory tract infections from days to hours, so that the appropriate treatments can be administered as early as possible.

The meeting organised by the Cyprus Presidency with EU Senior Officials, and that focused on cultural issues, had as a main conclusion that evidence-based cultural policies can contribute to economic and social development.

The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area edged up by 0.06 points to ‑1.21 in August 2012. By contrast, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) decreased markedly by 2.0 points in the EU, to 87.0, and by 1.8 points in the euro area, to 86.1. In both areas, the loss in confidence was particularly strong among consumers, retail trade and construction managers.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and European Commissioner Štefan Füle following the outcome of the review by Ukraine’s Higher Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal Cases of the verdict against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, stressed the importance for the Ukrainian authorities to redress the effects of selective justice. This would also require implementation of further judicial reform steps. At the same time, the European Commission published a call for proposals for projects to support justice sector reforms in Ukraine.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) will allocate a €10 million credit line to Intesa Sanpaolo Bank for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The European Commission has started a phase II (in-depth investigation) under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition of Aer Lingus by the low cost carrier Ryanair. The European Institution believes that the takeover could lead to the elimination of actual and potential competition on a large number of European routes.