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December 16, 2010
The first parliamentary report on human rights drafted after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty calls for the emergence of a politics of human rights in the EU strong and for effective guarantee and greater consistency between its internal and external policies. MEPs stress the fact that several countries have a poor score as regards human rights: including China, Russia, Iran, Congo and Cuba.
December 16, 2010
On 16 December 2010, MEPs approved a new control mechanism as for the exercise of implementing powers conferred to the Commission, a device that guarantees the right of scrutiny of Parliament on draft implementing measures and requires the Commission to review them. The monitoring mechanism should come into force on 1 March 2011.
December 15, 2010
As part of the Digital Agenda, the European Commission presented a programme of cooperation with national authorities to facilitate access to public services across the EU. Thus, by 2015, the eGovernment Action Plan is expected to strengthen European competitiveness and allow governments to offer better services at lower cost. Individuals and businesses should then be able to carry out procedures online, like register a business, apply for and access social security and health benefits, enrol in a university or bid to provide goods and services for public administrations. This new action plan should meet one the objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe by putting to 50% and 80% respectively utilization of eGovernment services by citizens and businesses within five years .
December 15, 2010
As part of efforts towards a low carbon economy, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted at its plenary session in December, its opinion on the energy strategy for 2011-2020. He said the EU should move towards more ambitious CO2 reduction target while being careful about the risk of reducing its energy competitiveness in the near future. This review is a response to the request of the European Commission to carry out work on a medium term energy strategy.
December 15, 2010
On December 13, ministers for foreign affairs stressed the urgency of reaching a solution in the peace process between the two states in the Middle East. According to the timetable set by the Quartet, the EU would be willing to participate within 12 months to develop a negotiated solution on final status issues.
December 15, 2010
On December 15 the Commission adopted the Regulation on the European Citizens' Initiative (CEI) which would allow citizens to directly suggest new EU legislation. The innovation comes from the Treaty of Lisbon. Thus, any group of at at least one million citizens from at least one quarter of EU Member States can invite the European Commission to bring forward legislative proposals in areas where the it has the power to do so. The procedure is as follows: a citizens' committee composed of at least seven people who are residents of at least seven different Member States have one year to collect signatures; the Commission will then have three months to discuss the initiative and decide what action it should take. First initiatives will then be reviewed in 2012, one year after publication in the Official Journal.
December 14, 2010
The Closure of the 2010 International Year for Biodiversity event aims to establish a more practical communication for businesses, consumers and local actors about the vital nature and value of biodiversity to society. This is about familiarizing European citizens about the sustainable use and socio-economic value of biodiversity and making concrete proposals for the European Commission, and launch a new initiative.
December 14, 2010
From November 26, 2010 to February 17, 2011, the Commission has launched an online consultation to gather opinions from different stakeholders to identify ways to enhance the success of the financing of Natura 2000. Indeed, by mid-2011, the European Commission intends to publish a new Communication on financing Natura 2000 in collaboration with Member States to determine whether the approach to financing Natura 2000 was sufficient for effective implementation of the network.
December 14, 2010
On December 13 in Brussels, the president of the Committee of the Regions announced to the foreign ministers of the partner countries the launch of the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of the Eastern Partnership and the European Union. The objective of this conference is to address them recommendations on local and regional dimension of the initiative. Associated with its implementation since 2009, the Committee of the Regions intends to support the legitimacy and the active role of local and regional authorities in the Eastern Partnership.
December 14, 2010
Currently, the national costs of validation and translation of patents in Europe have a negative effect on research, development and innovation and undermines Europe's competitiveness. Indeed, a patent costs ten times more in Europe than one in the United States. To remedy this situation, the Commission presented a proposal on December 14 for the creation of a unitary patent protection. This system would allow Member States that so desired to agree to establish a patent, valid in all participating countries. In June 2010 the Commission had already submitted a proposal on the provisions relating to the translation of EU patent. But as the Council of Ministers of the European Union could not reach unanimous agreement on the language requirements for certification of patent in the EU, the Commission tabled a proposal to allow "enhanced cooperation" in this field, in accordance to European Treaties.
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