European Union News - Regional Policy

The Official Journal of the European Union has published the information communicated by United Kingdom member state regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 70/2001 on the application of Articles  87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The European Commission has presented to the Council an the European Parliament a report about the agricultural situation in the European Union (COM(2008) 525 final). The report was completed in 2007 and is published in conjunction with the General Report on the Activities of the European Union.

The Directorate-General for Regional Policy, REGIO.C.3 Economic and quantitative analysis has launched a call for tender related to a study of the competences in relation to regional development policies in the Member States of the European Union.

The European Commsision has published a the report on the first year of implementation of the Black Sea Synery related to 2007 (COM(2008) 391 final). This strategy is needed as on 1 January 2007, two Black Sea littoral states, Bulgaria and Romania, joined the European Union. More than ever before, the prosperity, stability and security of our neighbours around the Black Sea are of immediate concern to the EU.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on the 18th August 2008 the iInformation regarding the authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty in the cases where the Commission raises no objections. A tax relief of 30% has been agreed  in the Environmental protection for the period 1.4.2008-1.4.2015.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on the 18th August 2008 the iInformation regarding State aid granted under Commission Regulation (EC) No 1857/2006 on the application of Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to State aid to small and medium-sized enterprises active in the production of agricultural products related to livestock aid in Shetland Islands (Scotland).

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) published in the Official Journal of the European Union on August 7th, a vacancy notice for filling a post of Director of the Directorate for Administration and Finance (grade AD 14) on the basis of Article 29.2, of the Staff Regulations.

The European Commission proposed on the 15th July a new legal framework that will make it easier to set up European Research Infrastructures, such as observatories for environmental sciences, data banks in genomics or state of the art large super computers. The proposal was made in response to requests from Member States, who wish to jointly develop world-class research facilities in Europe.

The Official Journal of the European Union published July 11th the appointments of various members in different EU institutions. The appointments concerned are those of three Judges of the European Union Civil Service Tribunal, a Portuguese member of the Economic and Social Committee, the external auditors of the European Central Bank, and some members of the Committee of the Regions.

The European Parliament published in the Official Journal of the European Union on July 11th, the second amending budget for the financial year 2008. This document includes the sections corresponding to Agriculture and rural development, Fisheries and maritime affairs, and Regional policy.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published last 5th July its Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on ‘A European ports policy in relation to the communication from the Commission on a European Ports Policy COM(2007) 616 final.

The Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission and the TEN-T EA wish to have a framework contract that would allow a swift and efficient way to strengthen its capacity to follow up a number of major EU-funded projects for the deployment of the European Rail Traffic Management System along key European corridors (ERTM).