December 18, 2008
Biodiversity targets slip
The EU’s intention of halting biodiversity decline by 2010 is highly unlikely to be achieved according to a pessimistic mid-term progress review of the Biodiversity Action Plan published by the European Commission on 16 December. This is the first comprehensive assessment of progress at both Community and Member State levels under four main policy areas: biodiversity in the EU, the EU and global biodiversity, biodiversity and climate change, and the knowledge base. It shows that intensive efforts will be required in the next two years if Europe is even to come close to achieving the biodiversity goal. Accordingly, priority measures for the coming years ranging from more action to manage and restore Natura 2000 sites to restoring ecosystem health and services in the countryside and in freshwater and marine environments are highlighted.
More positively, the report notes that the Natura 2000 network has been significantly extended and progress has been made in the protection of marine and freshwater ecosystems, particularly with the adoption of a marine strategy directive in May. However, the failure to adopt a draft directive on soil protection leaves a major legislative gap. In October, the European Environment Agency warned that European nature conservation sites were failing to protect vulnerable species and habitats. Less than half of species and habitats protected under EU and national schemes are safe according to the agency.
Posted by iroronan at December 18, 2008 03:01 PM
December 16, 2008
Globalisation Fund revised for economic crisis redundancies
A 16 December European Commission proposal (part of the 26 November European Economic Recovery Plan) to extend the scope of the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF) could help those made redundant as a result of the economic and financial crisis. The revision aims to make EGF operations, which have directly financed individual up-skilling for more than 15,000 newly redundant workers in its 2 years of existence, more responsive as an early intervention instrument to help more people to find their way back into the labour market.
The EUR500 million per annum fund - a figure likely to be increased - was established to support those losing their jobs as a result of changes in world trade patterns but is to be temporarily broadened to take recent developments into account. Other proposed emergency changes to the Fund are:
- lowering the eligibility threshold for applications for support from 1000 to 500 lay-offs in a given sector, region or single industry;
- doubling the support period to 2 years;
- increased EU contribution to 75%.
Posted by iroronan at December 16, 2008 03:17 PM
December 16, 2008
Energy to get its own DG
Energy is quickly moving up the EU's list of priorities, as evidenced by the recent EU Council commitment to (and subsequent European Parliament approval of) the ambitious 'climate package' on boosting renewable energy, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing EU energy efficiency. This has been underlined with the 3 December announcement by Commission President Manuel Barroso of the creation, over the next year, of a dedicated energy directorate-general. Currently, energy and transport share a single 'hybrid' DG under Commissioners Andris Piebalgs and Antonio Tajani respectively. Speculation is growing that Member States will create a new Commissioner portfolio in charge of ''energy and climate change'' after the European Parliament elections in June. However, as of now, climate change remains as a unit within the larger DG Environment.
Posted by iroronan at December 16, 2008 03:16 PM
December 14, 2008
State Aid targeting improving
The latest EU State Aid Scoreboard (for 2007) shows that Member States are increasingly using the possibilities offered by recently revised rules to better target their aid. Member States awarded on average 80% of their aid to horizontal objectives of Community interest, such as R&D and environmental aid in particular but also employment, regional development, and training as opposed to supporting individual companies or sectors (the figures for Ireland are slightly below average). This is significantly increased from the 50% average in the mid-1990s.
In fact, over the last 25 years, the overall level of State Aid has fallen from more than 2% of GDP in the 1980s to around 0.5% in 2007. Whilst highlighting this continuing trend for more focused aid, the Scoreboard notes that following the recent financial crisis, the share of rescue and restructuring aid is likely to increase significantly for some countries in 2008.
Scoreboard and Member States analysis:
Posted by iroronan at December 14, 2008 03:21 PM
December 12, 2008
EU energy label proposed
Public authorities' purchasing of products that have a significant impact on energy consumption looks likely to be determined by compliance with certain efficiency thresholds. This is due to recently launched EU proposals which could see a widening of the applicability of the existing EU energy label for household appliances. This legislation forms part of the Commission's vision to improve sustainable consumption and production in the EU.
Although products will be labeled on a case-by-case basis there will be certain benchmarks such as an indication of consumption of energy and of ''water, chemicals or any other substance''. The Commission also proposes minimum efficiency standards for green public procurement and incentives to buy greener products.
Posted by iroronan at December 12, 2008 03:12 PM
December 11, 2008
Green law implementation
Plans to improve the application of the EU's 200 or so laws on environmental protection have been set out by the European Commission as part of a wider ongoing strategy for better implementation of EU legislation.
The Communication stresses the need for close cooperation with Member States to ensure that national implementing rules are correct and adopted on time, and that shared goals are effectively achieved. This includes preparing taking implementation aspects fully into account when devising laws.
To encourage better performance across Europe, the Commission will publish more legal compliance studies and issue scoreboards comparing Member State performance in specific areas. Where serious or systematic infringements persist - such as tolerance of illegal landfills or multiple failures to treat urban wastewater - the Commission will favour strategic legal action over a piecemeal approach.
Posted by iroronan at December 11, 2008 03:08 PM
December 09, 2008
Open Days 2009 launched
'Global challenges, European solutions' is the subtitle of the 2009 edition of Open Days, the Brussels week of ideas exchange and networking between local, regional, national and European decision-makers and experts. The designated themes this time around are regions and climate change; restoring growth through innovation; territorial cooperation; and the impact and the future of EU Cohesion Policy.
Within these parameters, the Committee of the Regions will select 30 seminars to take place under the Open Days banner on shared issues as defined in applications by multinational consortia of regions and cities. Additionally, the intention is to sanction a similar number of thematic networking activities to bring together regional/local actors, business and financial institutions. Bids for joint events to be included in the programme must meet a 13 March deadline. An Information Pack for potential participants is available from this office or at http://cor.europa.eu/.
Workshops by DG REGIO will form another element of the week as will a regional development forum for academics. To complement the Brussels week, 'local events' to showcase European themes and projects are also welcomed during October.
Posted by iroronan at December 9, 2008 03:09 PM
December 09, 2008
South-East 'Spirit of Enterprise Forum' recognised
The South-East Spirit of Enterprise Forum initiative has been endorsed by Enterprise Ireland to go forward as Ireland's nomination for the Entrepreneurship Promotion category of the European Commission's European Enterprise Awards 2009 which recognise and reward outstanding initiatives that support entrepreneurship at regional and local level.
The Forum, which includes the annual South-East Enterprise Week, is an initiative to harness the collective expertise of over 50 organisations plus the business community to work collaboratively towards a goal of creating one of the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based regional economies in the EU. ''The Forum does not rely on any one individual or organisation. It is this collective partnership that provides its core strength and benefit to the region'', according to Cllr. Michael Fitzgerald, Cathaoirleach of the South-East Regional Authority, one of the primary instigators in the Forum's establishment. ''Its activities to date provide opportunities and direction to all those in enterprise and local/regional development. I am particularly pleased to see that such a diverse grouping of authorities, agencies and groups can work together regionally'' he added.
European Enterprise Awards:
Spirit of Enterprise Forum:
Posted by iroronan at December 9, 2008 03:04 PM
December 08, 2008
Kerry VEC 'EU Villages'
Kerry Education Service (KES), the VEC in that county, has been lauded for its involvement in a transnational pilot project with the shared objective of creating ''meeting points for ordinary people across Europe''. The recognition for the EU Villages project with a 2008 European Regional Communication Champions Award reflects active efforts to engage the public and increase knowledge, understanding, cooperation and solidarity between EU citizens.
The initiative, funded under the Europe for Citizens programme, was part of KES's Community Education Programme. The Kerry element operated from the Adult Education Centre in Causeway and created local mechanisms to allow groups of residents to participate in exchanges with counterparts in Sweden, Cyprus and Romania to collectively explore agreed themes relating to community development matters and the potential/relevance of different EU themes and structures. Topics included participation and democracy; national and European identities; intercultural dialogue; sustaining community buildings; and the impact of Regional Policies on society. One of the outcomes is a mooted project based on Youth and Mental Health to involve secondary schools within the partner regions.
Kerry VEC ‘EU Villages’
Kerry Education Service (KES), the VEC in that county, has been lauded for its involvement in a transnational pilot project with the shared objective of creating “meeting points for ordinary people across Europe”. The recognition for the EU Villages project with a 2008 European Regional Communication Champions Award reflects active efforts to engage the public and increase knowledge, understanding, cooperation and solidarity between EU citizens.
The initiative, funded under the Europe for Citizens programme, was part of KES’s Community Education Programme. The Kerry element operated from the Adult Education Centre in Causeway and created local mechanisms to allow groups of residents to participate in exchanges with counterparts in Sweden, Cyprus and Romania to collectively explore agreed themes relating to community development matters and the potential/relevance of different EU themes and structures. Topics included participation and democracy; national and European identities; intercultural dialogue; sustaining community buildings; and the impact of Regional Policies on society. One of the outcomes is a mooted project based on Youth and Mental Health to involve secondary schools within the partner regions.
Posted by iroronan at December 8, 2008 03:19 PM
December 07, 2008
A Green Paper on the management of bio-waste in the EU was presented by the European Commission on 3 December. Bio-waste involves biodegradable garden, kitchen and food waste, typically accounts for around one third of municipal waste and has major potential impacts on the environment due to its methane content.
While waste management in the EU is governed by a substantial body of regulation, it is felt that there may be room for further improvement in this particular area - particularly given bio-waste’s potential advantages as a source of renewable energy and recycled materials. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas commented that ''we need to work with stakeholders to ensure that the waste management options we choose bring the greatest benefits to our environment.''
The discussion paper explores the socio-economic and environmental benefits and drawbacks of current practices as well as the impact of existing regulatory measures and is intended to stimulate a debate among stakeholders to contribute towards an assessment of the degree of need for additional EU action to direct more bio-waste towards recycling and energy recovery.
The Public Consultation will remain open until 15 March.
Posted by iroronan at December 7, 2008 03:11 PM
December 05, 2008
Energy efficiency in low-income homes
On 3 December, the Commission adopted a proposal to allow all Member States to invest their national Structural Funds allocations in initiatives favouring energy efficiency and renewable energy in homes. This proposal, which would amend the current 'ERDF' Regulation (1080/2006) as regards eligibility of investment, is part of the European Economic Recovery Plan, and targets low-income households, as defined in the legislation of each Member State. In current Community legislation, only the newer Member States may make use of ERDF support in the housing sector. The proposal would extend this across the board as well as entailing fewer restrictions on the types of buildings and geographical zones concerned. Specifically, these measures are designed to target low-income homes.
Posted by iroronan at December 5, 2008 03:03 PM
December 05, 2008
2020 Regional challenges vulnerability assessment
The findings of the Regions 2020 report, which provides a prospective analysis of the likely medium term regional impact of some of the main challenges facing Europe, have been published. Using a series of indicators, the report maps out a ''vulnerability index''', identifying the degree of exposure faced by regions due to the impact of globalisation, demography, climate change and energy use and supply. This offers a first look at the potential patterns of disparities that these challenges will generate across Europe and will feed into the ongoing reflection process to determine the future shape and investment priorities of Cohesion Policy. Commenting on the analysis, Commissioner Danuta Hubner highlighted that ''it is clearer than ever that we need flexible, forward-looking policies in the EU in order to adapt to changing times and new pressures. The big challenges we are facing will affect Europe’s regions in different ways and to varying degrees.''
By and large the report sets out a stark contrast between the prospects of northern and western Europe as against those of the southern and eastern parts of the continent. This is especially illustrated with the globalisation index - based on factors such as estimated productivity, employment, and education levels - which indicates that regions (particularly those with major urban centres) with the basis for competitive and innovative economies will benefit while those lacking the capacity to develop along these lines are likely to be more exposed.
For Ireland as a whole, the most obvious area of concern among the four themes examined is exposure to the volatility of international energy markets – a weakness that places this country markedly at odds with its most immediate neighbours. The report concludes that all regions will need to find local solutions tailored to meet the combination of challenges which they face and that the European policy framework must be adapted to assist.
Regions 2020 report:
Posted by iroronan at December 5, 2008 02:53 PM