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EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: The European Climate Adaptation Platform (CLIMATE-ADAPT), an interactive web-based tool on adaptation to climate change, went online recently at the European Environment Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen.
It is a publicly accessible, web-based platform, designed to support policy-makers at EU, national, regional & local levels in the development of climate change adaptation measures & policies. Adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause.
EU News: The European Commission has formally requested the United Kingdom to amend its legislation providing for exit taxes on companies. The UK legislation at stake results in immediate taxation of unrealised capital gains in respect of certain assets when the seat or place of effective management of a company is transferred to another EU/EEA State.
However, a similar transfer within the UK would not generate any such immediate taxation and the relevant capital gains would only be taxed once they have been realised.
However, a similar transfer within the UK would not generate any such immediate taxation and the relevant capital gains would only be taxed once they have been realised.
ScotGov: Scotland is a step closer to having its own rural parliament to ‘empower rural communities and give them a greater opportunity to influence decision-making, network and share expertise’.
A recent report highlights the experiences of countries which already have rural parliaments, including the benefits & potential pitfalls, success stories and the various formats used. The next step will be a meeting in May with representatives from existing European rural parliaments.
A recent report highlights the experiences of countries which already have rural parliaments, including the benefits & potential pitfalls, success stories and the various formats used. The next step will be a meeting in May with representatives from existing European rural parliaments.
EU News: The European Commission recently proposed new rules to ensure that European ships are only recycled in facilities that are safe for workers & environmentally sound. More than 1,000 large old commercial ships, such as tankers & container vessels, are recycled for their scrap metal every year, but many European ships end up in substandard facilities on the tidal beaches of South Asia.
The new rules, which will take the form of a Regulation, propose a system of survey, certification & authorisation for large commercial seagoing vessels that fly the flag of an EU Member State, covering their whole life cycle from construction to operation & recycling.
EU News: The EU is tightening the requirements of the Seveso directive in order to prevent accidents with hazardous chemicals such as fireworks. In the near future, EU citizens will be able to access information on Seveso sites in their neighbourhoods and see how to react in an emergency from the comfort of their homes by the click of a mouse. The rules will enter into force in 2015.
Also, with the new rules European citizens will be able to go to the courts when they think their views have not been taken into account if a new Seveso site is established to close to their homes.
EU News: The European Commission has authorised UK plans to grant a £1,1155m network subsidy to the UK Post Office Ltd aiming to keep open & modernise non-commercially viable offices.
EU News: Cyber attacks on IT systems would become a criminal offence punishable by at least 2 years in prison throughout the EU under a draft law backed by the Civil Liberties Committee last week.
Possessing or distributing hacking software & tools would also be an offence and companies would be liable for cyber attacks committed for their benefit.
Possessing or distributing hacking software & tools would also be an offence and companies would be liable for cyber attacks committed for their benefit.
