European Union News - European Union

The Commission has published the General Report on the activities of the European Union in 2008. Last year was marked in particular by the global financial crisis, climate change and international conflict, all of which brought rapid and effective European reaction that pushed the Union to the forefront of the world political stage. The key institutional event of the year was the process of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, which faltered in spring with the 'no' vote in the Irish referendum, but was revived at the European Council in December.

The Official Journal of the European Union published on March 3rd 2009, the Council's conclusions of February 26th 2009 supporting the Council of Europe's legislative work in the area of criminal justice. In its conclusions, the Council stresses that many of the Conventions of the Council of Europe form part and parcel of the bedrock of co-operation in criminal matters between the Member States of the European Union.

According to recent data published by the Statistical Office of the EU, Eurostat, in January 2009 unemployment in the euro zone rose to 8.2% from 8.1% in December 2008, while in the Twenty-seven were increased from 7.5% to 7.6%. Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were observed in the Netherlands (2.8%) and Austria (4%) and highest in Spain (14.8%) followed by Latvia (12.3%).

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on February 19th 2009, the Communication made by the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions regarding the final evaluation of the implementation of the multiannual Community Programme on promoting safer use of the Internet and new online technologies, the so-called Safer Internet Plus Programme (COM(2009) 64 final).

The Commission presented on February 18th 2009 its Annual Policy Strategy which paves the way for establishing a policy agenda for 2010. While ensuring the continuity of the institution’s strategic planning system, the Annual Policy Strategy takes account of the fact that a new Commission will be in office in 2010, and it will be for the next Commission to review the policy priorities at the start of its mandate, and to turn them into an operational programme when it draws up its Work Programme for 2010.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on February 17th, 2009 the Council Decision of December 18th 2008 the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other part, to combat fraud and any other illegal activity to the detriment of their financial interests and the accompanying Final Act.

The European Commission has communicated to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, on February 13th, 2009, its Proposal for the Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion of year 2009, COM(2009) 58 final.

The European Commission has adopted a new funding decision for 27 million Euro to strengthen global humanitarian preparedness and the response capacity of international organisations. Daily experience confirms the view of the Commission's humanitarian partner organisations who call for significant gaps to be filled, notably in respect of logistics, pre-positioning and disaster-preparedness in sectors such as health, water/sanitation, shelter, food assistance and protection.

On February 12th 2009, a second generation of the Europe-wide network of Europe Direct information centres was launched for the 2009 - 2012 period. The Europe Direct information network is one of the main tools of the European Commission to offer information to citizens at local level and to give feedback to the European Institutions. The new network will extend possibilities for citizens to get practical information and advice on exercising rights in the European Union.

The ECOFIN Council has met for the second time under Czech Presidency, and started preparations for the European Council to be held in March. These preparations concern some major issues in the economic scenario for the coming months such as the possible single market review, the implementation of national measures under the European Economic Recovery Plan, or issues of space for the execution of fiscal stimuli, reduced VAT rates and the appropriate timing of budget consolidation.

President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, stressed the increasingly crucial role that the European Union must assume in managing instability. In his speech addressed at the Munich Security Conference on February 7th, President Barroso pointed out some of the challenges the World is now facing and  which are starting to have serious geopolitical and social repercussions.

This Agreements are the result of the conversations held during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to the European Commission. The visit has been instrumental in giving a high-level impulse to bilateral cooperation within the EU-China strategic partnership which the Commission intends to continue to develop and enhance based on mutual interest.