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EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
ScotGov: Legal professionals from around Europe travelled to Edinburgh last week when the city and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service - Scotland's Prosecution Service - plays host to the annual Eurojustice conference (the 2009 conference will be hosted by Estonia).
The 11th annual conference focused on two themes:
* prosecutors' roles in securing public confidence in the criminal justice system
* development of Information Communications Technology
Press release ~ Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service ~ Eurojustice ~ European Arrest Warrant (EAW) ~ International Association of Prosecutors ~ Eurojust ~ European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) ~ Academy of European Law
Defra: A new web service detailing payments made to beneficiaries under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has gone live. Details of all payments made via rural development schemes in the UK from 1 January 2007 to 15 October 2007 will be available on the internet.
From 30 April 2009 details will be added for beneficiaries of all CAP schemes, including the Single Payment Scheme, during the year from 16 October 2007 to 15 October 2008. Thereafter information will be published annually for the preceding CAP financial year (i.e. the year ended 15 October).
In line with guidance from the European Data Protection Supervisor, the information shown will include the name, the local town and the first part of the postcode for each recipient, together with the total payments received by that beneficiary.
ScotGov: Scotland's determination to radically reduce the amount of fish dumped in Europe's seas has received a positive response in Brussels. The Scottish Government is making the issue of discards a key part of this year's autumn negotiations on fish stocks and quotas.
There will be further talks in the run-up to the Fisheries Council in December, where decisions on quotas are made for 2009, and Mr Lochhead will also meet European Fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg when he visits Scotland in mid-October.
Press release ~ ScotGov - Sea Fisheries ~ Fisheries Research Services ~ EC - Fisheries ~ BBC: Wasted catches hit Europe's cod ~ Telegraph: UK fishing boat filmed dumping 5 tons of fish
Defra: The UK Government plans to issue EU ETS Phase II carbon allowances once European and Global registry systems are linked & operational. The European Commission and UNFCCC have confirmed that the work required to establish this connection will start on Monday 6th October and will take at least ten days.
All EU registry systems will need to be taken off-line for a period of time during this process. Once this work has been completed the UK registry will remain off-line for a number of additional days while the process of allocating 2008 allowances to operator holding accounts takes place.
Once the UK registry is brought back on-line, all 2008 allowances will be available in operator accounts. This is likely to be in early November 2008. A further information note will be issued at this time.
The UK's first auction of allowances is scheduled for Wednesday 19th November 2008 and the number of allowances available at the auction will be announced at least one month beforehand. The application window to become a Primary Participant for participation in the auction is open to the end of October.
Press release ~ EU confirmation of timing press release ~ UNFCCC ~ Treasury scheme ~ Debt Management Office - EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS)
Defra: Following a request from farming representatives, Environment Secretary, Hilary Benn, has granted a further temporary exemption from the cross compliance standard for farmers who need to use mechanical equipment & vehicles on waterlogged soil to harvest their cereals, oilseeds and protein crops in England (GAEC 3).
On 10 September 2008 he announced an exemption until 4 October. In view of the persistent wet weather conditions and its adverse effect on harvesting, Hilary Benn has now reviewed the situation and given a further temporary exemption from the requirement until 25 October 2008 (subject to review).
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