EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: Low-cost catfish fillets sold as expensive sole fillets or cod caught in the North Sea but declared as originating from the Baltic Sea are both examples of types of fraud in the fisheries sector.
A European Commission report shows how molecular technologies - based on genetics, genomics, chemistry and forensics - can provide clear answers to questions such as ‘what species does this fish product come from….where was this fish caught….is it wild or farmed?’.
A European Commission report shows how molecular technologies - based on genetics, genomics, chemistry and forensics - can provide clear answers to questions such as ‘what species does this fish product come from….where was this fish caught….is it wild or farmed?’.
The report by the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), is called ‘Deterring illegal activities in the fisheries sector’ and shows how these technologies can help in the fight against illegal practices and support traceability - including of processed products such as canned fish – ‘from ocean to fork’.
KPMG: Local government will undergo dramatic change in the next few years, driven by agendas of austerity & localism. The best councils may prove to be very different to the present according to a new report - The Brilliant Local Authority of the Future - by KPMG and the Centre for Public Service Partnerships.
The report asserts that leading local authorities will address new realities through clear & commercial business plans and operating models that focus on politically determined outcomes, accountability, productivity and financial control. They will find roles as strategic commissioners and will wholeheartedly adopt payment by results supply chain management.
EU News: A Scoreboard has been published by the European Commission showing the performance of the EU & Member States in delivering on the agreed targets of the Digital Agenda for Europe after the first year of its existence.
Overall progress over the first year of the Digital Agenda has been good, especially on the use of Internet (65% of EU population). But progress in some areas is disappointing, in particular roll-out of new super fast Broadband networks, which is one of the key Digital Agenda goals, even if there is some progress in upgrading existing cable and copper networks.
EU News: Baby bottles containing the substance Bisphenol A (BPA) have had to be removed from the shelves in stores across the European Union, as a ban on the placing on the market & import into the EU of such products enters into force.
The ban is foreseen in an EU directive (2011/8/EU) adopted in late January. The industry has been withdrawing voluntarily from the market baby bottles containing BPA. On 1 March 20111, the EU had banned the manufacture in the Union of baby bottles containing BPA.
The ban is foreseen in an EU directive (2011/8/EU) adopted in late January. The industry has been withdrawing voluntarily from the market baby bottles containing BPA. On 1 March 20111, the EU had banned the manufacture in the Union of baby bottles containing BPA.
EU News: Last week, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an opinion on the European Commission's Evaluation Report on the Data Retention Directive.
This much discussed Directive requires all providers of electronic communication services to store traffic & location data of the communications of all citizens, for possible use by the Member States for law enforcement purposes. The Commission Report provides an evaluation of the implementation & application of the Directive and measures its impact on economic operators & consumers.
This much discussed Directive requires all providers of electronic communication services to store traffic & location data of the communications of all citizens, for possible use by the Member States for law enforcement purposes. The Commission Report provides an evaluation of the implementation & application of the Directive and measures its impact on economic operators & consumers.
After careful analysis of the Evaluation Report, the EDPS takes the view that the Directive does not meet the requirements imposed by the fundamental rights to privacy & data protection.
The Evaluation Report will now play a role in possible decisions on amending the Directive. The EDPS calls for the Commission to seriously consider all options in this further process, including the possibility of repealing the Directive, whether or not combined with a proposal for an alternative, more targeted EU measure.
The Evaluation Report will now play a role in possible decisions on amending the Directive. The EDPS calls for the Commission to seriously consider all options in this further process, including the possibility of repealing the Directive, whether or not combined with a proposal for an alternative, more targeted EU measure.
EU News: Viviane Reding, the European Union’s Justice Commissioner, marked the foundation of the European Law Institute as an important contributor to the EU’s wider goal of building a European area of justice. The Institute, an independent non-profit organisation, will ‘help improve legal consistency in Europe by providing practical advice to policymakers & authorities’.
EU News: The European Commission has authorised, under EU state aid rules, a 6 month prolongation of guarantees schemes for credit institutions in Ireland & Spain, until 31 December 2011.
During the application of the crisis rules for State aid to banks, the Commission has been authorising guarantee schemes on banks’ liabilities for periods of 6 months in order to be able to monitor developments and adjust conditions accordingly.
