Highlights

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European Commission

European Foundation Statute to support causes across the EU pdf

08/02/2012

The proposal foresees a statute to reduce costs and simplify cross-border activities for national public benefit purpose foundations through a single European legal form, recognised across the bloc.

Abstract representation of a network © iStock/Andrey Prokhorov
European Commission

EU makes progress in innovation, but growth slowing

07/02/2012

The 2011 innovation scoreboard shows improved performance in almost all countries. The EU still has not closed gaps with the US, Japan and South Korea. The largest gap is in private sector innovation.

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Council of the European Union

European Stability Mechanism treaty signed

02/02/2012

The new treaty to create a European Stability Mechanism (ESM) was signed on 2 February by the eurozone countries' ambassadors in Brussels.

Latest developments

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European Central Bank

Euro area interest rates stable

09/02/2012 |  Economy, finance and tax

The European Central Bank keeps the interest rates on the main refinancing operations, the marginal lending facility and the deposit facility at 1%, 1.75% and 0.25% respectively.

Business District, Corporate Buildings in London © iStock/Andrea Zanchi
European Commission

Consultation on financial conglomerate regulation pdf

09/02/2012 |  Economy, finance and tax

The Commission is seeking views on how financial conglomerates are regulated. The results will feed into a review report on their supervision, due for autumn. The deadline for comments is 19 April 2012.

Plastic Surgery Patient Examines Breast Implant © iStock/DenGuy

Implants: EU countries urged to tighten controls for medical devices

09/02/2012 |  Public health and healthcare

Commission calls for immediate action to increase surveillance and restore consumer confidence. A revision of the current EU rules on medical devices will be tabled before the summer.

A farmer feeding cows © EU

EFSA report on likely scenarios of Schmallenberg virus pdf

09/02/2012 |  Agriculture, fisheries and food

The EU’s Food Safety Authority provides scenarios on how the virus, that has recently infected sheep, cattle and goats in five member countries, could develop. More data will be needed to assess the impact.

Nuclear power plant in the countryside with two steaming cooling towers © iStock/RelaxFoto.de

Decommissioning of nuclear plants faces €2.5bn funding shortfall

08/02/2012 |  EU explained

The European Court of Auditors says the Commission should provide an overall financing plan to tackle the shortfall facing Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia. The EU has already provided €2.85bn.

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Sahel region: Commission scales up humanitarian aid to €123.5m

08/02/2012 |  External relations and foreign affairs

The additional funding will help five countries - Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger - deal with the looming food crisis. Some 12 million people are at risk of hunger.

Man with glass of wine © EU

New EU rules on organic wine agreed

08/02/2012 |  Agriculture

Starting from the 2012 harvest, producers can use the term “organic wine” on their labels. The new rules cover wine-making practices and strengthen the position of EU organic wines internationally.

Fishermen emptying nets full of fish © EU
European Commission

EU and Greenland agree on new fisheries partnership

07/02/2012 |  Agriculture, fisheries and food

The three year protocol enters into force on 1 January 2013 and foresees that Greenland provides the EU with a total fishing opportunity of 85,765 tonnes in return for €17.8m annually.

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The News: Political dwarf - Combating homophobia

MEPs want the EU to have a more assertive international role, while the EP reiterates its commitment to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Is the EU a global nonentity?

In a rapidly changing world, MEPs want the EU to be more assertive on the world stage but several Member States prefer to defend their own interests.

No to homophobia

The EP is set to mark next week's International Day Against Homophobia, but much remains to be done to ensure Member States respect sexual diversity in Europe.

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EU Calendar

09/02/2012
Conference on diabesity - a worldwide challenge

10/02/2012
EU studies fair

16/02/2012
Conference on smart use of ICT in transport and logistics

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