European Union News

Although China remains the number one country for the number of notifications on products, there has been a decrease from 58% in 2010 to 54% in 2011. According to the 2011 report of the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products ("RAPEX") dangerous, these products are detected earlier and more effectively.

The Erasmus Programme registered an 8.5% increase in the 2010-11 academic year – a new record , compared to the previous year. In addition, the three most popular destinations for students in 2010-11 were Spain, France and the United Kingdom. Spain also sent the largest number of students abroad, followed by France and Germany.

The European Commission launched a call which is targeted particularly at SMEs that have developed an innovative green product, process or service, which is struggling to find its place in the market. Therefore, businesses and entrepreneurs from across Europe can apply for funding to help bring novel environmental projects to the market.

The European Commission asks to Spain to recover €265 million public funding granted by the Valencia Regional Government to the Ciudad de la Luz film studio. According to the Commission, no private investor would have accepted to invest on the same terms and that the public funding massively distorts competition between major European film studios.

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted an opinion that stressed the need for sustainable European agriculture and for the policy's implementation to be tailored as closely as possible to realities on the ground. The opinion also calls for a fairer and more ambitious CAP.

According to a expert report, Europeans will only be able to benefit from the affordable, less intrusive and more personalised healthcare which ICT can bring if agreement is reached on how to use health data. The report was presented during the celebrations of the eHealth Week 2012 in Copenhagen.
 

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) published its Triennial Work Programme (TWP) which outlines the EIT's priorities and activities planned on the basis of currently available input.

The EU reached an international agreement to update the Gothenburg Protocol according to a joint statement by the Danish EU Presidency and Commissioner Potočnik which welcomed this new agreement. There is also agreement to act on so called 'Black Carbon', a pollutant with short-lived climate forcing characteristics.

The report on the application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive adopted by the Commission shows that, according to Vice President Neelie Kroes, the AVMS Directive is working, but also the need for further guidance on Connected TV (which is internet-enabled TV). Therefore, bearing in mind internet-driven changes, the Commission is launching a public consultation on Connected TV.

European regions and cities request a place-based approach to the thematic concentration of resources, a stronger flexibility in the definition of the funds allocation and clear rules for the involvement of regions and cities in defining operational programmes and partnership contracts through the four opinions adopted in plenary session by Members of the Committee of Regions.

The European Union and the United States of America formally agreed to recognise each other's safe traders, thereby allowing companies from EU and US to benefit from faster controls and reduced administration for customs clearance. The EU and USA are strategic trade partners, with imports and exports accounting for almost €500 billion in 2011. The joint decision will start to be implemented from 1 July 2012.

Launching a campaign to advertise the upcoming pilot European Security Month for cyber security, the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) aims at bringing this initiative to life by involving the European citizens. The European Security Month will take place in October 2012.