EU Legislation, Initiatives, etc.
Defra: Britain has held talks with Sweden & Denmark on how to make sure Europe radically reforms the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), ahead of the European Commission’s publication of proposals for change. The 3 countries share ambitious plans for reform over the long term, centred on better value for money for taxpayers, a more competitive agriculture sector and better incentives to improve the environment.
EU News: An EU-funded project is aiming to make self-service terminals, such as public transport ticket vending machines or public information kiosks & cash dispensers, more accessible for the 1 in 6 Europeans who have a disability or the 87m Europeans aged 65 & over.
The European Commission is contributing €3.41m, half of the overall budget, to the ‘APSIS4All’ project which aims to design & validate personalised interfaces, including contactless cards, to help overcome existing accessibility barriers. Trials will begin in cash dispensers in Barcelona, Spain from September 2011 and at ticket vending machines in Paderborn, Germany from January 2012, and will run for 3 years.
PC&PE: The European Commission is sleepwalking into a potential commercial disaster over animal welfare regulations that could result in unfair competition for UK egg producers, warns the UK Parliament's Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (Efra) in a report.
New rules, which come into force on 1 January 2012, are designed to improve conditions for caged ('battery') hens. In a report examining the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive, Efra warns that around one third of Europe's egg production will not comply with the new welfare standards when this legislation comes into force., are designed to improve conditions for caged ('battery') hens.
Press release & links
Press release & links
EU News: Secondary schools can now enrol pupils for the annual EU Young Translator Contest known as ‘Juvenes Translatores’ (Latin for 'young translators’). The registration runs until 20 October and the online application form is available in all official EU languages. The contest will be held on 24 November at the same time in all selected schools. It is open to pupils born in 1994 and more than 750 schools can take part.
