EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: Last week Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), and Giovanni Buttarelli, Assistant Supervisor, presented their Annual Report of activities for 2010 to the press. This Report covers the sixth full year of activity of the EDPS as a new, independent supervisory body.
EU News: A proposal to update & improve EU rules to protect workers from electromagnetic fields in their daily tasks has just been put forward by the European Commission. The rules are to protect workers like doctors & nurses giving patients magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI), people working with radar, welders and workers repairing power lines. The proposal would replace the current Directive (2004/40/EC).
The proposal only covers workers during their professional activities. All other categories of people, such as consumers, phone users & passengers, are covered by the existing Council Recommendation 1999/519/EEC for the general public and specific legislation in each Member State.
EU News: Will your city be the next European Green Capital? The search to find the city that will inherit the prestigious title in 2014 has begun. The EGC Award recognizes & rewards cities that are at the forefront of environmentally-friendly urban living and which can act as role-models to inspire other cities.
Entries will be assessed on the basis of 12 indicators and cities can apply via an online application form - the deadline for applications for the 2014 title is 14 October 2011. The title is awarded by an international jury supported by a panel of renowned experts in different environmental fields. The winner will be announced in June 2012.
EU News: A proposed ban on the use of phosphates in household laundry detergents from 1 January 2013 should be widened to include household dishwasher detergents as of 2015, said the Environment Committee last week. Phosphates boost cleaning power, but also encourage the growth of algae at the expense of other aquatic life, causing ‘green tides’.
EU News: The European Commission has requested 9 Member States (including the UK) to adopt national legislation to implement EU rules setting up a vessel traffic monitoring & information system.
The rules in question, an important measure to prevent loss of life & environmental damage from shipping accidents, were due to be implemented by Member States no later than 30 November 2010. If these Member States fail to inform the Commission within 2 months of what measures they have taken to ensure full compliance with the law, the Commission could refer the case to the EU Court of Justice.
The rules in question, an important measure to prevent loss of life & environmental damage from shipping accidents, were due to be implemented by Member States no later than 30 November 2010. If these Member States fail to inform the Commission within 2 months of what measures they have taken to ensure full compliance with the law, the Commission could refer the case to the EU Court of Justice.
EU News: The European Commission has formally requested 8 Member States (including the UK) to fully implement the railway interoperability Directive of 2008 (2008/57/EC) and its 2009 amendment.
They have so far failed to notify the Commission of measure taken to implement both these 2 Directives into national law (the deadline was 19 July 2010). The Commission has requested the Member States in question to remedy the situation within two months, failing which the Commission may refer them to the EU's Court of Justice.
They have so far failed to notify the Commission of measure taken to implement both these 2 Directives into national law (the deadline was 19 July 2010). The Commission has requested the Member States in question to remedy the situation within two months, failing which the Commission may refer them to the EU's Court of Justice.
EU News: The European Commission has requested 10 Member States (including the UK) to implement a Directive on promoting clean & energy-efficient vehicles, in accordance with their obligations under European Union law.
The deadline for implementation of the Directive was 4 December 2010. If the Member States fail to inform the Commission within 2 months of measures taken to ensure compliance with EU law in this respect, the Commission could refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice.
The deadline for implementation of the Directive was 4 December 2010. If the Member States fail to inform the Commission within 2 months of measures taken to ensure compliance with EU law in this respect, the Commission could refer the cases to the EU Court of Justice.
BIS: Chris Grayling, Employment Minister, visited Brussels last week to continue the UK Government’s lobbying on the Pregnant Workers Directive. The Government is concerned that the measures proposed by MEPs for 20 weeks of maternity leave at full pay will result in considerable costs to Member States when they can least afford it. Ministers also believe the proposals to be socially regressive.
PX: Europe must rethink its approach to tackling climate change, according to a new report from think tank Policy Exchange. As the latest round of international climate negotiations came to an end in Bonn last week, the report says European climate policy ‘does little to persuade other countries, especially China and the Unites States, of the need to sign up to ambitious carbon reduction targets’.
The report – Climate Change Policy: Time for Plan B – insists that while the EU should retain its existing 2020 emissions reduction target and its high level of ambition on longer-term decarbonisation, there needs to be a stronger focus on lowering the costs of climate mitigation at global level.
EU News: Are you planning on travelling in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland? If so, don't forget your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The card can help you save time, hassle & money if you fall ill or suffer an injury while abroad. Close to 185m cards are in circulation according to figures published recently by the European Commission.
EU News: ‘Ex-smokers are unstoppable’ is the slogan of the EU-wide campaign launched recently by European Commissioner for Health & Consumer Policy, John Dalli. Tobacco is the single largest cause of avoidable illness in the European Union and the estimated cause of death of over 650,000 people in the European Union every year. 1 in 3 people smoke.
The 3-year campaign launched last week will focus on the positive effects of stopping smoking and will use a coordinated mix of advertising, social media, events and practical tools to reach smokers and help them quit.
EU News: EC Vice-President Neelie Kroes awarded prizes to the winners of the Open Data Challenge and Hack4Europe! competitions at the Digital Agenda Assembly held in Brussels on 16 & 17 June 2011.
Companies, designers, programmers, developers, journalists, researchers and the general public from across Europe participated in the two open data competitions, trying out their ideas for creative reuse of information held by the public sector and open cultural data.
Companies, designers, programmers, developers, journalists, researchers and the general public from across Europe participated in the two open data competitions, trying out their ideas for creative reuse of information held by the public sector and open cultural data.
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