EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: In 2010, 810,500 persons acquired citizenship of an EU27 Member State. The highest number of citizenships were granted by the UK (195,000 persons), France (143,000), Spain (124,000) and Germany (105,000) which together accounted for 70% of all citizenships granted by the EU27 Member States.
Compared with 2009, the number of acquisitions rose by 4% in the EU27 in 2010, mainly due to an increase in the number of citizenships granted by Spain.
Compared with 2009, the number of acquisitions rose by 4% in the EU27 in 2010, mainly due to an increase in the number of citizenships granted by Spain.
EU News: Health spending per person and as a percentage of GDP fell across the European Union in 2010. This is one of the many findings in the "Health at a Glance: Europe 2012", a new joint report by the OECD and the European Commission.
From an annual average growth rate of 4.6% between 2000 & 2009, health spending per person fell to -0.6% in 2010. This is the first time that health spending has fallen in Europe since 1975.
From an annual average growth rate of 4.6% between 2000 & 2009, health spending per person fell to -0.6% in 2010. This is the first time that health spending has fallen in Europe since 1975.
EU News: Marine litter is a serious threat to the coastal & marine environment around the globe. Marine habitats are contaminated with man-made garbage and other waste, posing growing environmental, economic, health & aesthetic problems.
To raise awareness & stimulate reflection, the Commission is publishing an overview of the relevant EU legislation, policies, and strategies that touch on this problem, with an indication of on-going & future initiatives in this area.
To raise awareness & stimulate reflection, the Commission is publishing an overview of the relevant EU legislation, policies, and strategies that touch on this problem, with an indication of on-going & future initiatives in this area.
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires Member States to achieve ‘good environmental status’ of their marine waters by 2020. In order to do so, a first step in the implementation is the preparation of an initial assessment (Article 8) which identifies the main threats to the European Seas.
EU News: The European Commission recently adopted an Action Plan to address the problem of incidental catches of seabirds in fishing gears. Scientific evidence has shown that high numbers of seabird species including albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, auks, sea ducks & divers are being caught in fishing gear every year. Measures taken so far to protect seabirds from being entangled in fishing gear have been ineffective.
The new Action Plan sets up a management framework to minimise seabird bycatch and focuses on long line & static net fisheries where seabird bycatch are known to be highest, although other gears such as trawls & purse seines are also covered by the plan.
It entails a wide range of elements under 30 recommended actions that are a combination of binding & non-binding measures. The rules will apply to EU fishing vessels inside & outside EU waters as well as non-EU vessels operating in EU waters.
It entails a wide range of elements under 30 recommended actions that are a combination of binding & non-binding measures. The rules will apply to EU fishing vessels inside & outside EU waters as well as non-EU vessels operating in EU waters.
EU News: Recently, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted his opinion on the Commission Communication on ‘Unleashing the potential of Cloud Computing in Europe’ in which the Commission proposes key actions & policy steps to speed up the use of cloud computing services in Europe.
The EDPS Opinion not only reacts to the Communication but also highlights the data protection challenges created by cloud computing and how the proposed Data Protection Regulation will tackle them when the reformed rules come into effect.
The EDPS Opinion not only reacts to the Communication but also highlights the data protection challenges created by cloud computing and how the proposed Data Protection Regulation will tackle them when the reformed rules come into effect.
Press release & links ~ Digital Agenda: Tech CEOs and leaders kickstart new EU cloud computing board ~ Commission to renegotiate Council of Europe Data Protection Convention on behalf of EU
EU News: The President of the Committee of the Regions, Ramón Luis Valcárcel, has sent a letter to the Heads of State and Government to stress the deep concerns of European regional & local representatives about ‘being deprived of the instruments they need to respond effectively to the challenges they face’. President Valcárcel warns that ‘new cuts in the cohesion policy heading could harm growth prospects and damage the economic recovery’.
EU News: The teaching of IT, entrepreneurial & citizenship skills is fundamental for preparing young people for today's job market, but, in general, schools are still paying insufficient attention to these transversal skills compared with basic skills in literacy, mathematics & science, according to a new European Commission report.
The report also outlines progress in teaching 6 of the 8 key competences defined at EU level for lifelong learning in knowledge, skills and attitudes.
The report also outlines progress in teaching 6 of the 8 key competences defined at EU level for lifelong learning in knowledge, skills and attitudes.
ScotGov: New incentives have been proposed by Marine Scotland to increase catches of valuable Monkfish & Megrim – while boosting cod conservation. Fishermen have highlighted that days at sea restrictions, applied under the EU’s Cod Recovery Plan (CRP), have had the effect of forcing them to fish in cod-abundant waters closer to port, rather than taking the time needed to seek alternative species in deeper waters, like Monkfish.
As a result, catches of Monkfish have reduced by 27% since 2009. In 2011, this meant that some £2m of Scottish quota went unlanded. Marine Scotland has proposed a new flexibility that allows fishermen that target Monkfish & Megrim (where their catch is made up of at least 40% of these species) to receive a 50% ‘discount’ on their time at sea. This ‘buy back’ also means that the fishermen targeting these species catch considerably less cod than most fishing trips.
EU News: The youth unemployment rate is close to 23% across the European Union – yet at the same time there are more than 2m vacancies that cannot be filled.
The European Commission is launching a new strategy called Rethinking Education to encourage Member States to take immediate action to ensure that young people develop the skills & competences needed by the labour market and to achieve their targets for growth & jobs.
The European Commission is launching a new strategy called Rethinking Education to encourage Member States to take immediate action to ensure that young people develop the skills & competences needed by the labour market and to achieve their targets for growth & jobs.
EU News: The European Commission has found that a UK umbrella support scheme for investments in next generation access (NGA) broadband networks, 'BDUK', is in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the scheme is aimed at supporting local projects in rural & remote areas, where such networks would unlikely be developed on commercial terms.
EU News: It will now be easier for EU citizens living in another Member State to stand as candidates in the 2014 European Parliament elections, following a vote on a European Commission proposal in the European Parliament last week. The proposal is now expected to be adopted by the Council before the end of 2012.
EU News: The European Commission's proposals to help businesses & consumers resolve cross-border legal disputes more easily received the support of the European Parliament recently.
The reform of rules will help determine, which national court has jurisdiction in cross-border cases and how court judgements issued in one EU country are recognised and enforced in another (also known as the ‘Brussels I reform’. The draft legislation will now pass to the Council for final adoption, expected to take place at the next Council of Justice Ministers in December 2012.
The reform of rules will help determine, which national court has jurisdiction in cross-border cases and how court judgements issued in one EU country are recognised and enforced in another (also known as the ‘Brussels I reform’. The draft legislation will now pass to the Council for final adoption, expected to take place at the next Council of Justice Ministers in December 2012.
EU News: The emergence of exploration for shale oil & shale gas in some EU countries should be backed up with ‘robust regulatory regimes’, the European Parliament said in 2 resolutions voted last Wednesday. Member states should also be ‘cautious’ about permitting exploitation of unconventional fossil fuels pending further analysis of whether EU-level regulation is appropriate, say MEPs.
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