11 February, 2009

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

Introducing new Head of Delegation
Windows on Europe Film Festival 2009
Reminder: Europe Street, Saturday 7 February
EUVP applications now open  
Crossing Borders: Promoting Regional Law Enforcement Cooperation
EMApac for Erasmus Mundus students
Proposals for global pact on climate change at Copenhagen
Launch of Google Ocean
EU Calendar launched
European Union pledges over $2M [Fiji dollars] to support flood affected schools
Vice-President Jacques Barrot: Data Protection Day
European Commission doubles audiovisual coverage of events
In Brief
Upcoming events: President Barroso's visit postponed

Introducing new Head of Delegation

Irishman David Daly arrived in Canberra's January heat, with his wife Aideen and three children, to take over the reins as Head of the European Commission Delegation to Australia and New Zealand. Following his return from a posting to Budapest in 2000 he was responsible for policy towards Albania, Bosnia & Herzogovina, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia until 2005. Until December 2008, David was the Head of the negotiating team for Croatia's accession to the EU and also acting Director covering Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey at the time of his appointment.

David is a career diplomat, commencing his career with the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland, serving in Dublin and India. He joined the European Commission in 1989. Mr Daly will present his credentials in Australia on 10 February, and in New Zealand on 17 February.

Windows on Europe Film Festival 2009

All patrons of the Windows on Europe film festival in Canberra, which takes place from 7 to 15 February, will be in a draw to win a trip for two in the EU balloon. The festival is a window on the wonderful world of European cinema, and is brought to you by the European Union in Australia, sponsored by Dendy Cinemas with movies provided by the EU Member States. From paranoia in Belgium to betrayal in Romania, from rescuing wolf cubs in Finland to saving a horse called Mississippi in Germany, from murders in France to training for the Winter Olympics in Hungary, and everything imaginable in between, the Festival has something for all cinematic tastes. Details of all films and screening times

Reminder: Europe Street, Saturday 7 February

20 Member States and the European Commission Delegation will form Europe Street at the National Multicultural Festival on Saturday 7 February. Europe Street will again be located in Ainslie Avenue, Canberra, and will feature country information, information on travelling and studying as well as some giveaways. Cuisines featured at the Food and Dance Spectacular will include Spanish, Cypriot, German, Hungarian, Dutch, Italian, Belgian and Irish.

EUVP applications now open  

EUVP participants are selected by a committee chaired jointly by officials of the European Parliament and of the European Commission. A limited number are selected from Australia and New Zealand each year. The Delegation is currently accepting applications for EUVP places in 2010, with final selections made by the end of May 2009. The European Union Visitors Program (EUVP) invites aspiring leaders from countries outside the European Union to visit Europe to gain a first-hand appreciation of the EU's goals, policies and people, and to increase mutual understanding between professionals from non-EU countries and their EU counterparts.  The EUVP is jointly sponsored and administered by the European Parliament and the European Commission and has been in operation since 1974.  An EUVP visit consists of an individual five- to eight-day program of meetings with EU officials at the EU institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg and/or Luxembourg. Those eligible to participate are government officials (local, state and federal), journalists, trade unionists, educators, officials of non-profit, non-governmental organisations and other professionals in their mid-twenties to mid-forties with career-related interests in the European Union. Participants are required to have completed their university education or equivalent training and to have been employed for several years in their chosen career/field.  read more

Crossing Borders: Promoting Regional Law Enforcement Cooperation

Held on 8 and 9 April 2009, and hosted by the National Europe Centre, the Conference aims to bring together academics, public policy and legal practitioners and law enforcement officials from Europe, Australia and the Asian-Pacific region to examine the pressing problems impeding cross-border policing and law enforcement. The Conference will provide opportunities to review common problems and to explore innovative solutions from around the world. Enquiries should be directed to: National Europe Centre Tel.: +61 2 6125 8100 Email: borders@anu.edu.au read more

EMApac for Erasmus Mundus students

Based in Australia, the regional initiative "EMApac" for the Pacific Region aims to lay the foundation for a regional home for the Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association, and provide resident or visiting EMA members with local professional and social support. Students, and education and research institutions can find information on the Erasmus Mundus program. Visit their website www.EMApac.eu or join the ErasmOz/EMApac Facebook group.

Commission sets out proposals for global pact on climate change at Copenhagen

The European Commission set out its proposals for a comprehensive and ambitious new global agreement to tackle climate change and how it could be financed. The new pact is due to be concluded at the Copenhagen UN climate conference in December 2009. The Commission believes that developing countries will require substantially higher funding from the developed world and multilateral institutions to help them shoulder their contribution to addressing climate change. It also advocates the creation of an OECD-wide carbon market by 2015 and innovative international funding sources based on countries' emissions and ability to pay.

To have a reasonable chance of achieving the '2 degree' objective, global emissions must peak before 2020 (excluding the land use, land use change and forestry sector) and halve by 2050. Developed nations as a whole should commit to reducing emissions by 30% from 1990 levels by 2020, and that developing nations, with the exception of the very poorest, limit emissions growth 15 – 30% from business as usual.

Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “Tackling the causes and impacts of climate change will require significant private and public investment over coming decades, though these investments will cost far less than letting climate change continue its destructive course. The European Economic Recovery Plan and similar measures being taken around the world to address the economic crisis are a chance to advance the low-carbon investment needed and stimulate growth, innovation and job creation at the same time. However, further financing solutions will be vital for getting agreement in Copenhagen . Today's Communication makes a key contribution by putting forward a comprehensive set of proposals for scaling up finance and investment.” read more

Launch of Google Ocean

Joe Borg, Member of the Commission Responsible for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, speaking at the press conference on the launch of Google Ocean in Brussels on 2 February said that “ Increasing awareness of the seas and knowledge of the oceans is a central objective of the EU Integrated Maritime Policy. In this respect, Google Ocean is a tool which is in line with our own objectives of making marine knowledge more accessible to the interested or concerned citizen as well as other stakeholders. I would therefore like to express my thanks and gratitude to Google.” In order to respond to the challenges – and opportunities – that our seas provide us with, the European Union has set forward a new way of policy making through the Integrated Maritime Policy. For its part, the European Commission is therefore setting up a Network to process fragmented data on seabed geology, living species and chemical pollution in order to build up complete sea-basin pictures. Later this year, the European Commission will publish a prototype "European Atlas of the Seas". to raise awareness of Europe 's maritime heritage, of economic opportunities existing in sea-related activities, and the fragility of our marine environment. EMODNET and the European Atlas of the Seas are both complementary projects to Google Ocean. read more

EU Calendar launched

The European Commission has launched the EU Calendar, a new Internet tool that allows people anywhere in the world to check the agenda of the European institutions. "The EU Calendar gives journalists access to the same information as the Brussels' press corps. The public can of course see it too. An excellent example of "going local", said Vice-President Margot Wallström, responsible for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy. The EU Calendar is a web tool that aims to help journalists and information professionals to find their way through the continuous flow of information available on EU matters. It is a unique entry point for advance information (texts, links and images) on upcoming legislation, actions and events prepared or organised by the EU institutions. All the information is available within 3 mouse clicks: http://europa.eu/eucalendar/

European Union pledges over $2M [Fiji dollars] to support flood affected schools

The European Union (EU) gave over F$2 million in development assistance to the country in support of Fiji 's rehabilitation efforts following the recent floods. The Head of the European Commission (EC) Delegation for the Pacific, Ambassador Wiepke van der Goot, presented a cheque for $F2,036,500 to the Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Filipe Jitoko. The development funding will assist 41 schools and over 15,000 primary and secondary school students in the country's worst affected flood areas. The funds will be channelled to schools via the EU-financed Fiji Education Sector Programme (FESP). read more

Vice-President Jacques Barrot: Data Protection Day

Data protection laws are in place throughout the European Union to ensure that personal data is handled under very clear conditions and to give EU citizens the right to challenge any mishandling of their data. But without awareness, effective protection is impossible. Legal rights and protection regimes are only effective if people know that they exist and know how to use them. Data Protection Day is an excellent opportunity to raise such awareness in Europe and worldwide. Special emphasis is given this year to young people. In the 15 to 24 age group, only 33% are aware of their rights in relation to their own personal data. Only 18% know of the existence of national data protection supervisory authorities. However, it is precisely this age group which increasingly uses new technologies to communicate, exchange information and socialize through the online social networking sites, such as Facebook. They are exposing their every day life online without being aware of the risks the online activities could entail now and in the future for their own privacy. It is therefore crucial that those young people are educated how to surf the internet in a privacy-friendly way. "But data protection does not stop at national borders. That is why on this day, 28 January 2009, the United States of America and the European Union are celebrating Data Protection Day together for the second time, passing jointly the message that in the information age fundamental rights of all individuals on both sides of the Atlantic are to be protected." said Vice-President Barrot. read more

European Commission doubles audiovisual coverage of events

EbS+, a new addition to the Europe by Satellite (EbS) service was launched in January to provide more EU-related audiovisual content to journalists and other users worldwide. Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström said "Doubling the capacity will increase transparency in the EU and reporting of EU issues." EbS provides broadcast-quality, up-to-the-minute and free-of-charge audiovisual coverage of EU news to media professionals around the world. It is also available to the public. EbS offers live transmissions of EU events and edited news via digital satellite and live webstreaming in up to 23 languages. It also provides archived material (memoclips), video stockshots, infoclips and video news releases (VNRs). Website: http://ec.europa.eu/ebs

In Brief

Commission adopts Lisbon Strategy recommendations to build a lasting recovery The Commission has adopted "country chapters" and recommendations under the Lisbon Growth and Jobs Strategy. These will also help ensure the European Economic Recovery Plan is implemented in a way that builds for the future as well as responding to the economic crisis. read more

EU and China sign nine cooperation agreements In the margins of the 2 February meeting between the EU Commission and the Chinese government, nine cooperation agreements were signed. These agreements are: the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window; EU-China Policy Dialogues Support Facility; the Civil Aviation Cooperation Programme; the Europe-China Clean Energy Centre; the Bilateral Coordination Mechanism on Forest Law Enforcement and Governance; the Memorandum of Understanding on Occupational Health and Safety; the Action Plan on Customs Cooperation between the European Community and China with regard to enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights; and the EC-China Agreement on Drugs Precursors. read more

Western Balkans: enhancing the European perspective – update 2009 Progress in visa liberalisation, more scholarships, and more opportunities in research – the Commission updates its initiatives to support the political and economic development in the countries of the Western Balkans, thus helping to accelerate their progress on the road towards EU membership. read more

EU to ban dimethylfumarate (DMF) in consumer products The use of the biocide (DMF) dimethylfumarate - which has caused severe allergic reactions in hundreds of consumers, because of its use in every day consumer products such as couches and shoes - looks set to be banned across the EU. read more

Obama - the first 'Tech President' In a speech on 29 January, Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission, praised the new US President Barack Obama as the “first Tech President” as he used a novel approach to communication during his campaign for the Presidency. "What's interesting about Barack Obama in this respect is that he raised most of his finance not from a few big donations but from millions of small ones, via the Internet. This makes him much more independent, which I think is an excellent thing for America – and the world! In a radical departure from this approach, Barack Obama has turned to the internet, including the new social media. His own website is particularly powerful but he also used free public sites such as YouTube, Facebook and MySpace as well as making extensive use of mobile phone technology. Whether online or face to face, whether in the old media or the new, both in the EU and the US, what democracy needs is a real conversation, in plain language, between the people and the politicians. A conversation that shapes policy. Politics from the bottom up rather than top down. That's the kind of democracy I believe in. And so does Barack Obama." says Commissioner Wallström. read more

New book The Proceedings of the first European Union Centres Network conference in New Zealand have been published in two volumes by the Edwin Mellen Press in the US, Canada and the UK : http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?aid=6605&pc=10 . The EUCN holds a conference each year on research on the European Union.

Euro area inflation estimated at 1.1%: Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 1.1% in January 2009 according to a flash estimate issued by Eurostat. It was 1.6% in December 2008.

Household saving rate up in the euro area: In the third quarter of 2008, the seasonally adjusted gross saving rate of households was 14.4% in the euro area 4 (EA15). It was 14.0% in the second quarter of 2008. In the EU27, the household saving rate was 10.7% in the third quarter of 2008, compared with 10.6% in the second quarter of 2008.

The euro area (EA15) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.0% in December 2008, compared with 7.9% in November. It was 7.2% in December 2007. The EU27 1 unemployment rate was 7.4% in December 2008, compared with 7.3% in November. It was 6.8% in December 2007.

Economic sentiment weakens further in both the EU and the euro area: In January 2009, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) for the EU and the euro area declined again, but less sharply than in the last three months of 2008. It fell by 3.3 points in the EU and by 1.5 points in the euro area, to 64.9 and 68.9, respectively.

Business Climate Indicator reaches a new all-time low in January: The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area fell again in January, though marginally so, and reached its lowest since January 1985.

Statistics from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.For detailed data and methodology, please see Eurostat's website at: http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/sectoraccounts

Upcoming Events

President Barroso's visit to Australia and New Zealand postponed

President Barroso's visit to Australia and New Zealand has been postponed to a later date still to be decided. Regrettably, issues related to the global financial crisis prevent President Barroso coming to Australia and New Zealand on this occasion.

Australia

New Zealand

Gateway to the European Union in New Zealand

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

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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