EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
EU News: Recently the European Commission welcomed the successful conclusion of the multilateral negotiations to address the global threat posed to human health & the environment by mercury.
This follows the decision of the Governing Council of UNEP in February 2009 to develop a global legally binding instrument on mercury and the subsequent creation of an International Negotiating Committee to conclude on the text of a mercury Treaty that held its final meeting recently.
This follows the decision of the Governing Council of UNEP in February 2009 to develop a global legally binding instrument on mercury and the subsequent creation of an International Negotiating Committee to conclude on the text of a mercury Treaty that held its final meeting recently.
The Treaty covers all aspects of the mercury life cycle, from primary mining to waste disposal, including trade provisions, rules for artisanal & small scale gold mining, products containing mercury and mercury emissions to air. It also contains provisions allowing for the future development of the Mercury Treaty in order to provide for further targeted action to be taken.
EU News: Recently, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) published his 2013 work programme in the area of legislative consultation, including his strategic planning document, the Inventory. With this document, the EDPS identifies issues of strategic importance that will form the cornerstone of his consultation work for 2013.
Defra: It will be quicker & easier to apply for Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) schemes under a new integrated online payment system, Farming Minister David Heath announced last week. From scheme year 2015, Defra will introduce a single computer system for all CAP funding in England, irrespective of the delivery body the funding was claimed through.
As part of the Farming Regulation Task Force drive to cut red tape in farming, recipients will only have to enter their details once online to a single point of contact rather than for each CAP scheme they apply for. It will also reduce running costs, improve targeting of farm inspections and make it easier adapt to future changes.
EU News: Public procurement ‘concession’ contracts, which enable public authorities to transfer the economic risk of projects such as building roads bridges or sports arenas to the private sector, will be subject to uniform EU-wide rules voted by the Internal Market Committee on last Thursday.
These concession contracts enable the authorities to transfer the economic risks of building infrastructure or supplying services to the contractors that supply them, without giving up their rights to the goods or services supplied.
Press release & links
Press release & links
EU News: The European Commission is referring Bulgaria, Estonia and the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fully transpose the EU internal energy market rules. To date Bulgaria, Estonia and the UK have only partially transposed the Electricity and Gas Directives. The Directives had to be transposed by the Member States by 3 March 2011.
For the UK, the Commission requests the Court to impose a daily penalty payment of €148,177.92 for each of the partially transposed Directives.
For the UK, the Commission requests the Court to impose a daily penalty payment of €148,177.92 for each of the partially transposed Directives.
EU News: EU farm policy reform must distribute EU funding more fairly, make "greening" measures mandatory but flexible, better equip farmers to cope with market challenges and cut red tape. So says the Agriculture Committee's opening position for negotiations with EU member states, as set out in texts voted on last Wednesday.
This will be the first Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reformshaped by Parliament as a full co-legislator with member states. Committee chair Paolo De Castro said; “Any further cuts to the CAP budget are simply in-acceptable".
This will be the first Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reformshaped by Parliament as a full co-legislator with member states. Committee chair Paolo De Castro said; “Any further cuts to the CAP budget are simply in-acceptable".
