European Union News - European Union

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has issued a call for tenders for a study on mobility patterns and career paths of EU researchers.

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)

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.

The European Commission today called for a new approach to looking at the role and governance of European agencies. In recent years, using agencies to implement key tasks has become an established part of the way the European Union does its business. The communication calls on the European Parliament and the Council to give a new momentum to the need to develop a clear and coherent vision on the place of agencies in European governance. The Commission calls for the establishment of an inter-institutional working group to allow the key issues facing agencies to be set out as ground rules to apply to all.

On 7th March 2008, the EC published its official text of the Council decision of 28 February 2008 implementing Regulation (EC) No 168/2007 as regards the adoption of a Multi-annual Framework for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights for 2007-2012.

In May 2007 the European Commission published the Fourth Cohesion Report which provided an extensive overview of how cohesive the EU actually is, what the convergence trends are, what challenges lie ahead and also what role cohesion policy has played in contributing towards strengthened cohesion among the EU regions and Member States. his was followed by the official launching of the debate on the future of cohesion policy at the Fourth Cohesion Forum organised in Brussels at the end of September 2007.

From April 2008 on, day in and day out,16 radio stations from 13 countries working in a consortium and 7 associate radio stations will co-produce and simultaneously broadcast programmes devoted to current affairs and society in the Europe of 27.

A Europe-wide online poll to select a design for a commemorative €2 coin has chosen a design by Greek sculptor George Stamatopoulos. His design symbolises the currency as the latest step in a long history of trade within and outside Europe. The winning design will be on 90 million coins minted and put into circulation next year to mark the 10th anniversary of the completion of economic and monetary union (EMU).

The Directorate-General Regional Policy from the European Union is undertaking an ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy Programmes financed by the European Regional Development Fund during the period 2000–2006. The focus of the present study will be the 70 URBAN II programmes in the EU14 and the URBACT network for exchange of experience and good practice. The Urban Community Initiative did not continue into the 2007–13 period. Instead, urban regeneration measures are being 'mainstreamed' into Cohesion Policy Programmes as well as national programmes.

On 12 February 2008, the Council examined the updated stability programme of Italy, which covers the period 2007 to 2011. Real GDP growth in Italy has been below the euro area average since the 1990s and potential growth is estimated to have fallen from above 2 % in the early 1990s to around 1,5 % over the last 15 years. On the positive side, Italy has enjoyed robust employment growth since the turn of the century and its unemployment rate has fallen substantially, also reflecting the impact of labour market reforms. While there remains a long way to go before Italy catches up with the EU average in terms of employment rates, the combination of dynamic employment growth and sluggish GDP growth highlights Italy's productivity problem. Notwithstanding the recent recovery, medium-term prospects for the Italian economy remain challenging under the strain of major structural weaknesses.

The aim of the Foundation is to contribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions through action designed to increase and disseminate knowledge likely to assist in this development. Its tasks are to develop and pursue ideas on the medium and long-term improvement of living and working conditions in the light of practical experience and to identify factors leading to change. The Foundation is required to take the relevant Community policies into account when carrying out its tasks. It advises the Community Institutions on foreseeable objectives and guidelines by forwarding in particular scientific information and technical data. The social partners are associated in the actions it undertakes.

Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, today explained how Cohesion policy for 2007-2013 will contribute to developing renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in the EU's regions. Nearly €9 billion will be invested in these sectors. The Commission will also act as facilitator by supporting Member States in making timely energy investments, and by promoting the sharing of know-how among regions. The European Commission's proposals on climate action, launched on 23 January, gives a high priority to renewable energy and the need for better energy efficiency.