EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.

EU News: The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has opened an investigation into whether the EC has taken appropriate measures to combat increased bee mortality in the EU, which is potentially linked to certain insecticides.
Press release & links
 
EU News: A new EU energy initiative which will provide access to sustainable energy for an additional 500m people in developing countries by 2030 has been announced by European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso.
 
Speaking at the EU Sustainable Energy for All Summit in Brussels, he unveiled this EU commitment in the framework of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative (SE4All) launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last year.
Press release & links
 
EU News: A new partnership between the EU & UN Women, set up to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations on their work on empowering women and gender equality, has been signed.
Press release & links
 
EU NewsImproving equality between women & men is essential to the EU's response to the current economic crisis, according to the European Commission's latest annual report on gender equality.
Press release & links
 
EU News: With EU unemployment hitting record levels and forecasts of a grim economic outlook for the months ahead, the Commission has come forward with a set of measures to boost jobs.

The proposal focuses on the demand-side of job creation, setting out ways for Member States to encourage hiring by reducing taxes on labour or supporting business start-ups more.  It also identifies the areas with the biggest job potential for the future: the green economy, health services & ICT.
Press release & links
 
ScotGov: More than 7,900 Scottish producers will receive their share of £22m of European funding this week. Payments for the 2011 Scottish Beef Calf Scheme (SBCS) will start to arrive in bank accounts from Tuesday (April 24), with 95% of recipients expected to receive their payment by the end of April, subject to necessary validation checks.  Payment information is available to view on Rural Payments Online.
Press release & links
 
EU News: The European Commission has launched the “We Mean Business” campaign, which aims to encourage companies to create more trainee placements to boost young people's skills & employability.  

In 2012-2013, the Commission will provide funding support for a total of 280 000 placements through its Leonardo da Vinci and Erasmus schemes for vocational & higher education students.
Press release & links
 
EU News: A new report from the European Commission has discovered that top performing Member States have recycling rates of up to 70 % and bury virtually nothing, whilst others still landfill more than three-quarters of their waste.
Press release & links ~ Use of Economic Instruments and Waste Management resources
 
EU News: The use of a common consolidated corporate tax base should be made compulsory, said Parliament in a vote on last Thursday outlining its position on legislation proposed by the Commission.  The Commission had proposed a voluntary scheme, but said it should become mandatory after a transition period, says the resolution.
Press release & links
 
EU News: A new agreement on the transfer of EU air passengers' personal data to the US authorities was approved by the European Parliament last week.  The deal sets legal conditions and covers issues such as storage periods, use, data protection safeguards and administrative & judicial redress. Justice & Home Affairs Ministers will formally approve the agreement on 26 April 2012, which will apply for 7 years.
Press release & links
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