European Union News - European Union

In a recent report, the European Ombudsman has commended the European Commission for the progress it has made in recent years in reducing its late payment problems. These are some of the results following an investigation and a public consultation that the Ombudsman conducted on this issue, which show that although there has been significant improvements, problems still persist.

In an extraordinary meeting of EU Foreign Affairs ministers held in Brussels on 20 February, the European Union expressed its extreme concern about the event unfolding in Libya. Although not referring to Libya's threat regarding its support to EU's migratory policy, the EU has condemned the repression the violent reaction against peaceful protesters and deplored the death of civilians.

The so-called European citizens' initiative, one of the main innovations under the Treaty of Lisbon, will enable citizens to ask the Commission to bring forward legislative proposals if  the supporters of an initiative number at least one million and come from a significant number of member states. On 14 February, the European Council adopted the Regulation to finally put this instrument into place.

Following former President of Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, decision to step down, the European Union in a common statement from President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, welcomed his decision and renewed EU compromise towards the people of Egypt. In a first reaction to this historic event, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, stated that this is only a beginning of a long road to lasting change: a road of political transition in Egypt in full.

Following the public address of President Hosni Mubarak on 10 February 2010 where he said he will not step down, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton reaffirmed the European Union position that the demands and expectations of the Egyptian people must be met. It is for the Egyptian people to judge whether the steps announced by President Mubarak fulfil their expectations and aspirations.

The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee addressed on 10 February some issues concerning the situation of both Turkey and Montenegro in their respective relations to the Union, and voted two resolutions . MEPs voted on a resolution welcoming Montenegro's candidate status, while also pointing out some issues which still remain to be addressed. Some of these issues, especially those related to media freedom, are also matter of concern for MEPs regarding Turkey's situation.

European agencies have been set up in successive waves since the mid 1970s and today form an important part of the EU’s institutional landscape. Responding to needs identified by the EU and its Member States, they perform a variety of legal, technical and scientific tasks across a broad range of policy areas. In order to discuss over their future role in the European construction, experts and members from these organizations met in Brussels between 31 January and 3 February in the “EU Agencies: The way ahead” Exhibition.

The European Personnel Selection Office published on 4 February the results of the first new open competition to select generalist graduate 'Administrators' launched on 2010 as part of a programme of modernisation of the EU Institution selection procedure. This new procedure has allowed to speed up the selection process and reduce it from an average 2 years procedures to approximately 10 months.

Only one day after the European Parliament's questioning of EU attitude and its inability to develop an effective and genuine foreign policy, EU Heads of State and Government have called on all parties to show restraint and avoid furtherviolence, and begin an orderly transition to a broad based government. In their declaration, member states has also given instructions to High Representative Ashton regarding actions to be adopted.

In a statement issued after the weekly meeting of the European Commission College held on 2 February, Commissioners expressed their firm commitment to support the legitimate aspirations of the people of Egypt. Following the public statement made by president Hosni Mubarak on the previous evening, demonstrations are still taking place all over the country with Egyptian people calling for changes in the political regime change.