EU web links

A collection of links to web sites of the European Union institutions and other European business web sites.

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Novel Foods - EU Authorisations — 14 January 2008, 14:19 CET

European Commission Decisions authorising the placing on the market of novel food.

GM Food & Feed — 14 January 2008, 14:18 CET

EU legislation covering genetically modified (GM) Food & Feed.

State Aid reform — 10 January 2008, 17:00 CET

This European Commission webpage provides information on current draft legislation and reform projects in the field of state aid. You will also find background information such as links to policy papers and Council conclusions on state aid. See also a section on Studies and Reports in general and the new version of the Vademecum on State Aid in particular.

Programme and Priorities of the Slovenian EU Presidency — 08 January 2008, 15:10 CET

The five main priorities of Slovenian presidency are: The future of the Union and timely entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; Successful launching of the new Lisbon Strategy cycle; A step forward in addressing climate-energy issues; Strengthening of the European perspective of the Western Balkans; Promoting the dialogue between cultures, beliefs and traditions in the context of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008) — 04 January 2008, 17:59 CET

The European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (EYID) 2008 recognises that Europe’s great cultural diversity represents a unique advantage. It will encourage all those living in Europe to explore the benefits of our rich cultural heritage and opportunities to learn from different cultural traditions.

Content Online — 03 January 2008, 15:49 CET

On 21 December 2007, the European Commission adopted a Communication on Creative Content Online which launches further actions to support the development of innovative business models and the deployment of cross-border delivery of diverse online creative content services.

Freedom to travel - Schengen — 21 December 2007, 00:56 CET

European Commission FAQ on the Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Convention - objectives, controls, the Schengen acquis, visas.

Treaty of Lisbon - text of EU Reform Treaty — 13 December 2007, 17:41 CET

The Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community was signed in Lisbon on 13 December 2007 by the representatives of the 27 EU Member States. In accordance with its Article 6, the Treaty will have to be ratified by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements and will enter into force on 1 January 2009, provided that all instruments of ratification have been deposited, or, failing that, on the first day of the month following the deposit of the last instrument of ratification.

CAFE Programme - Implementation of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution — 13 December 2007, 12:54 CET

Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) is a programme of technical analysis and policy development that underpins the development of the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution under the EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme. The aim of CAFE is to develop a long-term, strategic and integrated policy advice to protect against significant negative effects of air pollution on human health and the environment.

Industrial relations in the EU, Japan, US and other global economies — 07 December 2007, 00:05 CET

Spotlight on temporary agency work, SMEs and industrial relations in the EU, Japan and US - the report is published by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), the Dublin-based EU Agency. The report provides an overview of developments in the field of industrial relations in the EU and other global economies with a view to informing social dialogue and preparing decision makers for the challenges of globalisation.

Air passengers' complaints up in 2006 - European Consumer Centre Network report — 06 December 2007, 18:47 CET

The European Consumer Centre Network's Report on Air passenger complaints handled by their centres in 2006 analyses problems handled by the ECC centres across Europe. It finds that the main problems concerned: luggage problems-33%, cancellations-26%, delays-16%.

ITER — 29 November 2007, 17:08 CET

ITER is a joint international research and development project that aims to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. The partners in the project - the ITER Parties - are the European Union (represented by EURATOM), Japan, the People´s Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA. ITER will be constructed in Europe, at Cadarache in the South of France. Fusion is the energy source of the sun and the stars. On earth, fusion research is aimed at demonstrating that this energy source can be used to produce electricity in a safe and environmentally benign way, with abundant fuel resources, to meet the needs of a growing world population.

Opening public procurement to SMEs — 29 November 2007, 16:36 CET

The public procurement market in the EU – covering all levels of government and public agencies – is estimated to be worth around one-sixth of total GDP in the EU. This represents a huge market, and one from which Europe’s SMEs ought to be deriving a significant share. Yet although SMEs are not specifically excluded, the procedures and practices used in many tenders have the effect of disadvantaging SMEs over larger competitors. This situation is expected to improve with the ongoing implementation by Member States of the 2004 Directives reforming public procurement rules. The European Commission is further contributing to the process by pooling Member States and stimulating the exchange and dissemination of SME friendly practices.

Audiovisual without Frontiers EU Directive — 29 November 2007, 16:04 CET

The European Commission unveiled on 9 March 2007 a consolidated text of the modernised "Television without Frontiers" Directive. After a first reading in the European Parliament and the Council, there is now broad agreement with the Commission about the future legal framework for Europe's audiovisual sector. The new rules, which have been called for especially by the European Parliament, are a response to technological developments and create a new level-playing field in Europe for emerging audiovisual media services (video on demand, mobile TV, audiovisual services on digital TV). European TV- and filmmakers will be given more flexibility to produce digital content which they can then make freely available to consumers thanks to advertising. The new Directive reaffirms the pillars of Europe's audiovisual model, which are cultural diversity, protection of minors, consumer protection, media pluralism, and the fight against racial and religious hatred,. The Commission also proposes to ensure the independence of national media regulators.

New Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) — 29 November 2007, 01:30 CET

This EU Regulation updates the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV), which is the EU-wide classification system for public procurement contracts - Commission Regulation adopted on 28 November 2007 amending Regulation (EC) N° 2195/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) and Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on public procurement procedures, as regards the revision of the CPV.

Development of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) — 27 November 2007, 20:04 CET

European Qualifications Framework (EQF) - detailed presentation. The Commission formally published the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) as a Staff Working Document on 8 July 2005. This page describes the development of the EQF from its adoption as a Staff Working Document to its adoption as a formal proposal on 5 September 2006.

Services to citizens in the EU in facts and figures — 27 November 2007, 18:46 CET

How many EU households have only mobile phones? For how long do they talk per day on their mobile phones? How many inhabitants are served by each post office in the Member States? How many Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) are there per inhabitant in the EU? How do Europeans prefer to pay for their purchases? - Answers to these questions and many more can be found in the publication "Consumers in Europe – facts and figures", jointly published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities and the General Directorate Health & Consumer Protection of the European Commission. This third edition of "Consumers in Europe" focuses on network industries providing services of general interest to the European consumers. These services are utilities such as transport, energy, water, electricity, telecommunications, internet, postal services and banking services, which play a fundamental role in the economic and social lives of citizens.

EU climate change policies — 27 November 2007, 16:49 CET

Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet. The EU has been taking serious steps to address its own greenhouse gas emissions since the early 1990s. Monitoring data and projections indicate that the 15 European Union members at the time of the EU's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in 2002 (EU-15) will reach their Kyoto Protocol target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This requires emissions in 2008-2012 to be 8% below 1990 levels.

Restructuring Forum — 26 November 2007, 23:49 CET

The European Commission set up the 'Restructuring Forum' in 2005. Based on work already done by existing organisations, the Forum's mission is to keep in regular touch with ongoing changes and to ensure that the various initiatives are properly dovetailed; this requires the participation of the Commission, the other EU institutions, the social partners and outside specialists. The Restructuring Forum brings together high level representatives from European institutions, governments, cross industry and sectoral social partners, academic experts, promoters of good practices, business support providers such as chambers of commerce and industry, regional development agencies and the European Business and Innovation Centres.

EU Budget for 2008 — 24 November 2007, 14:39 CET

Ecofin (Budget) agreement on EU Budget for 2008, including Galileo and European Institute of Technology.

Towards a low carbon future: European Strategic Energy Technology Plan — 22 November 2007, 19:26 CET

The European Commission on 22 November 2007 adopted a proposal for a European Strategic Energy Technology Plan. Energy technology will be a key element of Europe's plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and move towards a low-carbon future. But there are structural weaknesses in the current energy research system (see MEMO/07/469 – Why Europe needs a Strategic Energy Plan). The SET-plan should help the European Union position itself to develop the technologies it needs to meet its political objectives and at the same time ensure its companies can benefit from the opportunities of a new approach to energy.

EuroSafe — 21 November 2007, 20:14 CET

EuroSafe, the European Association for Injury Prevention and safety Promotion, is the network of injury prevention champions dedicated to making Europe a safer place. Its mission is to reduce both intentional and unintentional fatal and non-fatal injuries through increased coordination and strategies that combine and build upon existing strengths and capacities.

Access to essential medicines — 19 November 2007, 17:22 CET

Infectious diseases are responsible for almost half of all deaths in developing countries, and half of these diseases are caused by HIV (AIDS), tuberculosis and malaria. More than 2 billion inhabitants of the world do not have regular access to adequate treatment and cure. AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria alone kill 5 million people each year mostly in developing countries.

Texts of EU Telecoms Reform proposal — 13 November 2007, 18:59 CET

On 13 November 2007 the European Commission adopted proposals for a reform of the EU telecoms rules. With the reform, the Commission wants to enable citizens, wherever they live and wherever they travel in the EU, to benefit from better and cheaper communication services, whether they use mobile phones, fast broadband internet connections or cable TV. To achieve this, the Commission proposes strengthening consumer rights; giving consumers more choice by reinforcing competition between telecoms operators; promoting investment into new communication infrastructures, in particular by freeing radio spectrum for wireless broadband services; and making communication networks more reliable and more secure, especially in case of viruses and other cyber-attacks. A new European Telecom Market Authority will support the Commission and national telecoms regulators in ensuring that market rules and consumer regulation are applied consistently, independently and without protectionism in all 27 EU Member States. To become law, the Commission proposals will now need to be approved by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers.

European Court of Auditors — 13 November 2007, 16:37 CET

The mission of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) is to audit independently the collection and spending of European Union funds and, through this, to assess the way that the European institutions discharge these functions.