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EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to ascertain whether UK plans to restructure the postal incumbent Royal Mail, by relieving it of its 'pension deficit' and strengthening its balance sheet, are in line with EU state aid rules.
WSL2011: The European Social Fund is making funds available to help young people from disadvantaged areas explore training, skills & employment opportunities at WorldSkills London 2011. The ESF is providing just under £500k in funding to assist young people from disadvantaged areas in around the capital to attend WorldSkills London 2011, the world’s greatest skills Competition taking place this year (5-8 October) at ExCeL London.
WSL 2011 is in the process of contacting eligible schools, colleges & community groups – providing welcome news for groups who expressed an interest in the event, but were not able to fund the costs of visiting.
EU News: Authorisation to use the 24 GHz radio frequency band for short-range anti-collision radar in cars has been extended until 2018 by a European Commission decision. This temporary extension will ensure short range car radar systems remain available on the market until manufacturers develop technology using the 79 GHz band, which was the operating frequency designated for such systems back in 2004.
PC&PE: The European Commission’s proposed package of measures for the dairy sector is not sufficient on its own to redress the problems facing the UK industry, warn MPs in a report evaluating the Commission’s ‘Milk Package’.
The Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee warns that farm-gate milk prices remain below the average cost of production and calls on the Government to set out its strategy to improve the state of the UK dairy sector. MPs also urge DEFRA to provide greater support for innovative research and development in the dairy sector that is focussed on novel uses and processes that add value
ScotGov: A new Scottish Beef Scheme will be introduced from 1 January 2012 to ensure support payments to the beef sector continue until new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) regulations come into force. The scheme will help some of Scotland's most vulnerable beef producers by targeting payments towards small farms in hills and other less favoured areas, where agricultural conditions are very poor. It replaces the Scottish Beef Calf Scheme which can no longer continue under CAP legislation.
CLG: Swift action by the Government has restored the flow of regeneration funding from the European Union after a period of interruption caused by irregularities in projects, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has announced.
The European Commission has confirmed it is lifting an interruption to payments of European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) in England following the implementation of a new regime of tighter controls on projects. The Commission temporarily interrupted the payment of funds after an annual audit found a number of irregularities in projects.
EU News: Recently the European Commission agreed to measures that should make a significant contribution to getting some of the EU's most troubled economies back on track. The Commission is proposing to the European Parliament and the Council to adjust the current system of EU co-financing in cohesion, fisheries and rural development policies for Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Latvia and Hungary. Each Member State would need to submit a request to benefit from this new system.
