15 January, 2009

Welcome to news@eu, the e-newsletter of the European Commission's Delegations to Australia and New Zealand.

Condemnation for attacks on UNRWA humanitarian convoys and personnel in Gaza
Framework Agreement signed between the EC and the IMF
What moves Europe? Global crisis and the euro
European demand for oil must be reduced by over 50% by 2050
Director General for Education and Culture in Australia in March
Cinema: EU film support goes global
European Border Breakers Awards 2009: moving music and highlighting creativity
Former New Zealand PM at the European Commission
Euro area and EU27 economic statistics
Upcoming events

Condemnation for attacks on UNRWA humanitarian convoys and personnel in Gaza

The European Commission condemned in the strongest terms the attacks on UNRWA humanitarian convoys and personnel. These attacks have resulted in UNWRA being forced to temporarily halt its staff movements in the Gaza Strip, which affects food distribution across Gaza. European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, stated 'Against the background of repeated attacks on humanitarian aid convoys and staff, we urge immediate compliance with the Security Council resolution of 8 January 2009, which calls for unimpeded provision and distribution of humanitarian assistance to and throughout Gaza and for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire. In particular we call on the Israeli Government to guarantee the free and secure movement of UNRWA staff and assistance in the Gaza Strip. We will continue to make every effort possible to help the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and prevent this humanitarian tragedy from claiming more lives.' The European Commission is the largest donor to UNRWA with an overall annual regular contribution of €113 million in 2008. This figure does not include the humanitarian assistance provided through ECHO: in 2008, the European Commission provided more than €73 million in humanitarian assistance for victims of the ongoing crisis in the Palestinian Territories of which 56% was for relief activities in the Gaza Strip. In the last two weeks alone, the Commission has provided more than €10 million in additional humanitarian aid in a direct response to the increasing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. read more

President Barroso and Mr Dominique Strauss-Kahn sign the Framework Agreement between the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund

A new Framework Agreement between the European Commission and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was signed in Brussels on 12 January by President Barroso and Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the IMF. The agreement is an important tool for collaboration on the technical assistance that both institutions provide globally. It facilitates the conclusion of trust fund agreements by solving administrative issues and providing a user–friendly contract template.

What moves Europe? Global crisis and the euro

Speaking in Bratislava, Commissioner Almunia congratulated Slovakia on becoming the 16th member of the euro area and highlighted the benefits the country can expect from euro membership including enhanced competition, cheaper borrowing and lower transaction costs. He noted that Slovakia has already seen the advantages of the single currency, saying 'the markets' anticipation of euro adoption has acted as an important stabiliser during the onset of the current financial crisis.' As Economic and Monetary Union celebrates its 10th anniversary, the euro is shielding members from the worst of the economic and financial crises in several important ways, for example by eliminating exchange rate turbulence and speculative currency attacks.  2008 will be largely remembered for the major economic and financial crises and '2009 will not bring much respite. We will have to deal with huge challenges as we manage the fallout from these crises,' Almunia said. However, 'Europe is taking decisive action to break the spiral of economic contraction and job cuts,' he said.

The citizens of Slovakia have successfully passed the first week with their new currency - the euro. Six out of ten cash payments are now made in euro and a majority of people have mostly euro cash in their wallets. Seven days after the euro became the currency of Slovakia, three quarters of the citizens have mostly euro banknotes in their wallets and more than 80% have mostly euro coins. Six out of ten customers paid in euro in the first week of January and virtually all of them received change in the same currency. read more

European demand for oil must be reduced by over 50% by 2050

In an opinion requested by the Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee of the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) called for a massive reduction of oil demand in Europe year by year over the next 40 years. The objective is to reduce oil demand by more than 50% by 2050. "The two critical factors which will shape the future of oil over the next decades are the acceleration of climate change, and the growing difficulties of obtaining secure access to diminishing global resources of oil." explained Derek Osborn, member of the EESC's Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and Information Society, adding "The European Union has made a good start on the measures needed within Europe with its Climate Change and Energy package. These can and should be implemented swiftly and vigorously. But, even if that is achieved, the EESC believes that a further set of measures will be needed before we have a fully adequate and comprehensive strategy for Europe. The public must also be engaged more fully in understanding the need for major change and playing their part in bringing it about. Civil society organisations of all kinds need to be involved in the process of spreading awareness and acceptance of the necessary changes, particularly those that will affect lifestyles and behaviour. We need to make these changes swiftly and cooperatively so as to create a European model for transforming our economy to a low carbon base that will be attractive and influential in the rest of the world". read more

Director General for Education and Culture in Australia for Higher Education Conference

Mme Odile Quintin, Director General for Education and Culture at the European Commission, is coming to Australia in March to speak at the Big Skills Conference in Sydney and the inaugural Higher Education Conference which is being hosted by Universities Australia in Canberra. While she is here, Mme Quintin will also host the first EC-Australia Policy Dialogue on Education which was agreed under the Declaration of Intent signed by Commissioner Figel and then Education Minister Julie Bishop in 2007.

The EC and Australia already collaborate on a series of exchange projects aimed to encourage mobility for students between Australia and Europe as well as creating joint study modules to increase inter-institutional linkages.  The policy dialogue will round out this project cooperation and facilitate a valuable exchange of ideas on the reform of the Higher Education sector.  

Cinema: EU film support goes global

The European Commission adopted a new Media Mundus programme, a broad international cooperation programme for the audiovisual industry to strengthen cultural and commercial relations between Europe's film industry and film-makers of third countries. The EU will provide €15 million in funding from 2011-2013 for projects submitted by audiovisual professionals from the EU and third countries, such as Australia and New Zealand. Cooperation with the European film industry is in strong demand around the globe as shown by the initial success of the MEDIA International Preparatory Action under which the EU provided € 2 million of funding for 18 projects involving international partners.

"The international audiovisual landscape has changed significantly over the last two decades, notably through the impact of technological developments like video on demand, internet TV or multi-channel digital television This has created growing demand for more audiovisual content, and we need to 'fill' all these new technologies with new and exciting content," said Viviane Reding, EU Media Commissioner. "I think Media Mundus is the right cultural answer to this global technological challenge. The successes of the current MEDIA programme and MEDIA International have shown the need for a sequel: it's time to go global!" read more

European Border Breakers Awards 2009: moving music and highlighting creativity

Music is so connected to our daily life we sometimes take it for granted. Creative excellence and talent is reflected in the diversity of European music. Artists who succeed in breaking national borders with their debut album and reach audiences throughout Europe and beyond deserve public recognition. That's why the European Union annually rewards artists' border breaking success with the European Border Breakers Awards (EBBA's). The European Commission worked closely with the representatives of Europe's music industry to select this year's award winners and to prepare the Award Ceremony, which will be presented in a TV show hosted by British TV personality Jools Holland. The event takes place in Groningen in the Netherlands on 15 January 2009 on the opening night of the EuroSonic Noorderslag festival. There will be live performances by five of the ten winning acts: AaRON (France), Cinema Bizarre (Germany), Kraak & Smaak (Netherlands), Ida Corr (Denmark) and Lykke Li (Sweden).

22 year old Lykke Li performed at the Falls Festival in Lorne, Victoria, at the end of December, and is currently touring Australia but will return to Europe for the Awards presentation.

Manchester duo the Ting Tings, another 2009 EBBA winner, will be in New Zealand and Australia for the Big Day Out Festivals: Auckland on 16 January, Sydney on 20 January and Melbourne on 28 January 2009.

Helen Clark at the European Commission

While  vacationing  in Europe, former  New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark met Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and  Stavros  Dimas as well as the EU's High Representative Javier Solana. Ms Clark is now the  Opposition spokesperson on foreign affairs.

Helen Clark, on the right, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner

Euro area and EU27 economic statistics

Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.6% in December 2008 against 2.1% in November. In November 2008 compared with October 2008, the industrial producer price index fell by 1.9% in the euro area and by 2.1% in the EU27.

In November 2008 compared with November 2007, industrial producer prices increased by 3.3% in the euro area and by 4.1% in the EU27.

The euro area (EA15) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.8% in November 2008, compared with 7.7% in October, and 7.2% in November 2007.

In the second quarter of 2008, growth rates were -0.2% in the euro area and 0.0% in the EU27. In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP grew in the third quarter of 2008 by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.8% in the EU27, after +1.4% and +1.7% respectively in the previous quarter.

In November 2008, compared with October 2008, the volume of retail trade grew by 0.6% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.3% in the EU27. [All statistics from Eurostat]

• Volume of retail trade up by 0.6% in euro area
• Euro area and EU27 GDP down by 0.2%
• Euro area unemployment up to 7.8%
• Industrial producer prices down by 1.9% in euro area
• Euro area inflation estimated at 1.6%

In Brief

• Extraordinary Council meeting to resolve gas dispute
• EU strongly condemns new cases of execution by stoning in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Gateway to the European Union in New Zealand

http://www.eu.org.nz/

Publications on our website (pdf downloads)

EU-Australia Partnership Framework
Partnership Framework Summary Leaflet (download 287 kbs)

If you would like hardcopies of these publications, please email delegation-australia@ec.europa.eu

Upcoming Events

Australia

New Zealand

EuroFest, 17 May 2009, TSB Bank Arena Wellington. EuroFest is a series of events organised by European Forum Inc showcasing all things European, ranging from cultural performances, arts, crafts and food through to European products and services. euroforum@gmail.com or http://www.eurofest.org.nz

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