European Union News - European Union

The Official Journal of the European Union, OJEU, has published on January 31st, 2009 the Conclusions reached by the Council on the definition of a “2020 vision for the European research area”. Following these conclusions the Council adopts such definition aiming at boosting the complete achievement of the European Research Area (ERA).

The European Commission has launched the EU Calendar, a new Internet tool that allows people anywhere in the world to find out what will be on the agenda of the European institutions in the near future.

The Council of the European Union has published in the Official Journal of the European Union, OJEU on January 30th 2009, a report with its conclusions concerning joint programming of research in Europe in response to major societal challenges. These conclusions recognize the need for a common response to certain issues within an ever more global framework.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published a new Call for Proposals under the Joint Harmonised European Union Programme of Business and Consumer Surveys, with the objective to carry out business and consumer surveys in Ireland. This co-operation will take the form of a framework partnership agreement between the Commission and the specialised bodies over a period of two years.

The European Commission has published in the Official Journal of the European Union on January 22nd 2009, a new Call for Proposals under the work programme “People” of the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Activities (2007 to 2013), concerning trans-national operation of the EURAXESS Services Network.

The European Council adopted on January 19th 2009, its Decision 2009/42/CFSP on support for EU activities in order to promote among third countries the process leading towards an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), in the framework of the European Security Strategy.  The overall objective of this Council Decision is to promote the participation of all stakeholders in the discussion on an ATT, integrate national and regional contributions to the international process under way, and to identify the scope and implication of a possible treaty on the trade in arms.

The European Commission has published on January, 20th 2009 a Report addressed to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, on the implementation of the Trans-European Transport Network Guidelines during the period 2004-2005, according to Article 8 of Decision 1692/96/EC.

Czech Minister of Justice, Mr. Jiří Pospíšil, presented on January 20th, the priorities of the Czech Presidency in the area of Justice in the Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament (JURI). Issues such as e-Justice, common rules for cross-border implications in family law, or the need to strengthen legal certainty for EU citizens will be in the agenda during Czech Presidency.

The European Commission published on January 16th 2009 its Annual Report on the implementation of the European Fisheries Fund (EFF) for the year 2007. This report has been compiled in accordance with Article 68 of Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the EFF and covers the actual implementation of the EFF in 2007. In addition, the first chapter of the report looks at the major events of 2007, in particular the adoption of the Implementing regulation and the guidelines for the implementation of EFF assistance, as well as the adoption of the National Strategic Plans (NSPs) and the Operational Programmes (OP).

The Official Journal of the European Union has publisehd on january, 14th 2009, the Commission Recommendation of December, 19th 2008 on common guidelines for the national sides and the issuance of euro coins intended for circulation. These recommendations contain some common rules which must be followed by the participating Member States as regards issuing and changes to the national side of the euro coins.

Two and a half years after its launch, the “.eu” top-level internet domain confirms its success with the registration of the third million domain, made by a German citizen on January, 11th 2009. These figures rank “.eu” as the fourth most popular internet domain among European country domains and the ninth worldwide.

The European Parliament has adopted a report calling on Member States and the Commission to adequately assess the support given form public sector to financial institutions and big companies in response to the current economic situation. The report argues that these aids should be limited to what is strictly necessary for the maintenance and development of the European economy and not respond to purely national interests.