European Union News - European Union

The European Commission has decided to pursue infringement procedures against 11 Member States for failure to implement the Cross-Border Mergers Directive in national law. The Commission will send formal requests to Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Slovenia. These formal requests take the form of "reasoned opinions", the second stage of the infringement procedure laid down in Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If there is no satisfactory reply within two months, the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice. The Directive should have been implemented before the end of 2007.

The Commission has sent reasoned opinions to Estonia and Finland to fully implement EU rules prohibiting discrimination in employment and occupation on the grounds of sex (2002/73/EC). The countries have two months to respond. If they fail to reply or if the response is unsatisfactory, the Commission can decide to take them to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

On the 4th-5th June 2008, beginning at 9am, the second Western Balkans Civil Society Forum will take place organised by the  EESC and Western Balkans civil society acting to promote dialogue and consultation. The forum will take place in Gospodarsko Razstavišče, Dunajska cesta 18, 1000 Ljubljana.

New regulation has been published by the European Commission from the 23rd April 2008 laying down the Community Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code). The official text was published on the 4th June 2008 In accordance with the Communication from the Commission concerning the protection of the Community’s financial interests and the Action Plan for 2004-2005.

Female decision-makers from around Europe are meeting on the 2nd of June 2008 for the launch of a new EU-level network of women in power. The group aims to promote women in decision-making positions in politics and the economy across Europe. The inaugural meeting will be opened by Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimír Špidla and by Zita Gurmai, Vice-Chairwoman of the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström and Budget Commissioner Dalia Grybauskaité will also be present at the discussion.

On the seventh of June 2008. from 10AM until 6PM, an Open Day will mark the fiftith anniversary of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and highlight the role which the Committee has played since 1958 as a bridge between the European institutions and organised civil society.

The European Commission published, on the 30th May 2008 its annual policy statement on fishing opportunities for 2009, outlining the approach it intends to take when setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs) and fishing effort limitations for the coming year.
Despite substantial efforts, there has been no overall improvement in the status of stocks since 2003. The Commission is therefore proposing greater flexibility in changing TACs from year to year, to enable both more effective recovery measures for overexploited stocks, and greater benefit for fishers when stocks do recover. The Commission is also proposing to shift to a kilowatt-day system for managing fishing effort, which will be both easier to control and more flexible to implement. Member States and stakeholders are invited to present their views on the approach set out by 30 June.

The European Commission, on the 30th May 2008, unveils a pilot project to ensure cross-border recognition of national electronic identity (eID) systems and enable easy access to public services in 13 Member States.

The euro area (EA15) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.1% in April 2008, unchanged compared with March. It was 7.5% in April 2007. The EU271 unemployment rate was 6.7% in April 2008, also unchanged compared with March. It was 7.2% in April 2007.

The EU Competitiveness Council is meeting in Brussels on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 May under the chairmanship of Mr Andrej Vizjak, Minister for Economy of Slovenia, Mr Gregor Virant, Minister of Public Administration, and Ms Mojca Kucler Dolinar, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Slovenia. The European Commission will be represented by, Vice President Gunter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise and Industry, Commissioner Charlie McCreevy responsible for the Internal Market and Services, Commissioner Janez Potocnik for Science and Research, Danuta Hubner, Commissioner for Regional Policy and Jan Figel Commissioner for Education, training, culture and youth.

On 22nd May 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration by which the undertakings Sociedad Estatal de Participaciones Industriales (‘SEPI’, Spain), Centro de Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial (‘CDTI’, Spain), Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial ‘Esteban Terradas’ (‘INTA’, Spain) and Abertis Telecom, SA (‘Abertis’, Spain) acquire joint control of the undertaking Hispasat, SA (‘Hispasat’, Spain) by way of a contract of management.