The European Commission has today adopted two Regulations aimed at reducing and controlling the prevalence of Salmonella in poultry and eggs across the EU.

The first Regulation lays down targets for the reduction of Salmonella in laying hens, which in turn should lead to less Salmonella contamination in eggs. Every Member State will have to work towards reducing the number of laying hens infected with Salmonella by a specific minimum percentage each year, with steeper targets for Member States with higher levels of Salmonella. The first target deadline is set for 2008, although Member States will have to submit national control programmes on Salmonella reduction in laying hens to the Commission by early 2007.

The second Regulation sets out rules on the methods used to control Salmonella in poultry, including mandatory vaccination from 2008 onwards for laying hens in Member States with a Salmonella prevalence of 10% or more.

Thee Commission is also currently looking into the possibility of introducing a trade ban on eggs from Salmonella infected flocks as soon as possible. This is in light of the recent findings in the preliminary EFSA report on Salmonella levels in laying hens. A Commission proposal for certain trade restrictions has already been presented to Member States and the options will be discussed further with national food safety experts in the autumn.

Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: "Salmonella is one of the most prevalent food-borne diseases in the EU, affecting thousands of people every year, sometimes with very serious consequences. However, simple measures can greatly cut down the risk this disease poses to public health. Reducing the incidence of Salmonella at farm level will lower its incidence through the rest of the food chain, and help meet the ultimate objective of protecting EU consumers. For this reason, I urge all Member States to do their utmost to meet the targets we have set today."

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The European Commission has adopted a package of legislative proposals which would introduce harmonised EU legislation on food enzymes for the first time and upgrade current rules for flavourings and additives.

Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, said: "Food additives, flavourings and enzymes play an important role in the production of food for today's mass market and can offer benefits to the consumer in terms of keeping food fresh and tasty. Clear, harmonised rules on the safety approval and marketing of these substances serve to protect the consumer and boost public confidence in the food produced with them. Today’s proposal ensures that these rules are based on sound scientific advice and that consumers are afforded the same level of safety, wherever they are in the EU."

The new rules aim to clarify and update current legislation in this area and to create a simplified common approval procedure for food additives, flavourings and enzymes, based on scientific opinions from the European Food Safety Authority. For additives and flavourings, which are already covered by EU legislation, the proposals bring the rules into line with the latest scientific and technological developments and will improve the clarity of the legislation. With regard to food enzymes, the draft Regulation proposes replacing divergent national legislation with new, harmonised EU rules.

More information.

The European Commission could launch proceedings before the European Court of Justice against Ireland in relation to its treatment of public bodies as non-taxable. Before considering court proceedings, the Commission has requested that Ireland amend its legislation within two months.

This case arises from a complaint by a private-sector operator and specifically refers to off-street car-parking facilities.

Irish public bodies are not deemed to be ‘taxable persons’ under Irish VAT legislation. Accordingly, when they engage in the supply of goods and services, they neither charge VAT nor are they entitled to deduct the VAT arising on their costs. Irish VAT legislation provides that only the Minister of Finance may decide that public authorities can register for and charge VAT.

However, EU law states that public bodies should not be exempt from VAT when they engage in the same activities as private operators. If they were, this would lead to a distortion of competition, meaning private companies would not have a level playing field in the market. If Ireland considers that other public services fall under the same rules as this particular case, it should also amend the legislation pertaining to them.

If Ireland does not amend its legislation, this case will be referred to the European Court of Justice. A ruling there would then apply to all public services engaging in the same activities as private operators.

Nevertheless, because public authorities are not currently registered for VAT, they cannot claim a deduction for VAT paid by them. Being registered for VAT means that they would be able to claim ‘input credit’, so the full VAT charge would not be passed on to consumers.

"The Commission understands concern that prices for public services may rise. However, experience has shown that when there is proper competition in a market, prices decline and consumers save money,” said Valerie Rampi, a spokesperson for the European Commission. "It is also important to note that some public service activities, including waste management, also qualify for a lower VAT rate of 13.5%."

The European Commission has published guidance on how public authorities should award contracts of low monetary value fairly. These contracts account for the vast majority of public contracts in the EU – over 90% in some Member States. Although they are not covered by the EU Directives on public procurement, it is well established that their award should nevertheless comply with the internal market principles of transparency and non-discrimination.

The Commission's guidance contains suggestions on how public authorities should comply with these principles, together with examples of innovative ways to award contracts in a modern, transparent and cost-efficient manner. The guidance also applies to certain services not fully covered by the EU Directives on public procurement.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said: "Individually these contracts may be of low value, but together they are worth billions. Restricting them to local bidders means that companies across the EU are missing out on potential opportunities and governments aren't getting value for money. And ultimately it's the taxpayer who loses out. The guidance we have issued today will help to ensure that in future public authorities award low-value contracts fairly and transparently."

Low-value contracts present significant opportunities for European businesses, in particular for small- and medium-sized enterprises and start-up companies. Competition for these contracts would allow public authorities to choose from a broader range of potential suppliers and to gain from better-value offers.

The detailed rules of the public procurement directives do not apply to these contracts, as they have a value of less than €211,000 in the case of services or supplies contracts, or €5,278,000 in the case of works contracts. Nevertheless, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has developed minimum standards of transparency and non-discrimination for the award of these contracts. However, in many instances public authorities continue to award these contracts directly to local providers without any competition.

The Commission's new Interpretative Communication provides guidance to contracting authorities to help them comply with the standards developed by the ECJ, in particular in the following areas:

Advertising: The Communication explains how to ensure that low-value contracts are advertised adequately and transparently. It gives specific guidance on how widely the contract should be advertised, various methods of advertising that could be used, and which elements the advertisement should contain.

Contract award: The Communication also provides guidance on how public authorities can ensure a fair and impartial procedure for awarding a contract. The principles of such a procedure include a transparent and objective approach, appropriate time-limits, mutual recognition of written evidence between different Member States, equal access for economic operators from all Member States, and non-discriminatory description of the subject-matter of the contract.

Review procedures: Finally the Communication explains how bidders can request a review of the impartiality of decisions taken in the course of an award procedure.

More information. 

The European Commission is cracking down on hidden charges for airline passengers, under a new proposal adopted today. The proposed regulation says fares shown to passengers must include all taxes and charges. It also streamlines EU legislation on air travel, making sure all airlines are governed by the same rules across the Union. It is aimed at strengthening the Single Market for aviation, allowing Europeans to have more choice and letting airlines compete fairly.

“The liberalisation of air transport is a European success story: citizens enjoy more travel opportunities and lower fares than ever before. We want to consolidate this success by removing all restrictions to the free provision of air services and ensuring fair competition between airlines,” said Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of transport.

The liberalisation of air transport has been one of the EU’s biggest successes. In the last 10 years, the number of airlines has risen by more than 60% and fares have become more and more affordable. But passengers do not always reap the full benefit of this success because of unclear information on fares or different prices for people based on where they live.

At the moment, the price the consumer is first presented with by an airline is then augmented with taxes, various charges and fees. Big variations can be seen in what airlines charge on the same route. Even external elements, such as airport charges, vary between airlines. In order to help passengers better compare fares, the proposed regulation says that fares should include all applicable taxes, charges and fees.

Many passengers have complained to the European Commission about airlines charging different prices for exactly the same ticket, depending on where the buyer lives. Most of these were made after attempting to reserve flights on airline websites, which refused the sale the moment they input their credit card number (which identifies their place of residence). The proposal will mean that the price of a ticket for any particular flight should be the same no matter where the passenger lives in the EU.

The proposal must now be approved by the European Parliament and national governments before coming into force.

For more information.

Ireland has played a key role in the development of a consultation paper on a new integrated maritime policy for the European Union, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs Joe Borg said today at the Virginia Law of the Sea Conference in Dublin Castle.

The European Commission recently adopted a Green Paper launching a one-year public consultation on Europe’s interaction with the oceans and seas.

“The idea behind this is to develop an all-embracing policy aimed at enhancing Europe’s maritime economy in an environmentally sustainable manner,” said Commissioner Borg. “The Green Paper calls for a collective and collaborative oceans strategy by decision-makers. It also seeks to involve people at all levels and from different maritime sectors and industries.”

The Green Paper, called ‘Towards a future Maritime Policy for the Union: A European vision for the oceans and seas’, is a response to the growing awareness of the vital role which the sea already plays as a driver of Europe’s prosperity, and of its potential for providing more jobs and greater well-being. The results of this exercise will help the Commission define a new vision for an Integrated Maritime Policy.

The main question asked by the Green Paper is: can Europe afford to manage its seas and oceans in a sectoral, unconnected, way, or has the time come to establish a truly integrated Maritime Policy which will release untapped potential in terms of growth and jobs while strengthening the protection of the marine environment? If so, how should we go about it?

“Ireland, and the Marine Institute, in particular, have made significant contributions to the development of this Green Paper. In fact, the Galway Declaration agreed at the EurOcean 2004 Conference, hosted by the Marine Institute during the Irish EU presidency, proved to be one of the key factors stimulating this initiative,” said the Commissioner.

He added that the Marine Industries Global Market Analysis (2005), published by the Marine Institute as part of the process to develop a new Marine Knowledge, Research & Innovation Strategy for Ireland (2007-2013), provided the most up-to-date profile of the prospects for global marine business and is cited in the Green Paper.

“We share Ireland’s vision: a vision of economic growth which depends on the oceans as a resource, while simultaneously preserving and protecting the marine environment,” said Commissioner Borg.

For more information, visit the Commission's Maritime Affairs website.

Many Irish people are unsure about the proposed European Constitution, a new survey by the European Commission has revealed, yet people remain totally committed to membership of the EU.

The Eurobarometer poll shows that most Irish people have heard of the Constitution, but two-thirds admit they know very little about its contents. Some 48 percent of Irish people are in favour of the Constitution, says the survey, while 12 percent say they are opposed. A large proportion of Irish people have yet to be convinced either way, as 40 percent of people did not express an opinion. On the other hand, almost eight out of every ten Irish people before Ireland's membership of the EU is a "good thing".

“These results highlight the need for a sustained effort to inform Irish people about the EU,” says Martin Territt, Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland. “The Commission is also putting a clearer focus on producing concrete results to improve people’s lives. This is the time to make sure everyone in Ireland understands what’s happening at a European level, how it will affect them and how they can express their opinions about it. We now have the time to re-double our communications efforts at all levels, the Commission, the European Parliament, national government - right across the political spectrum.”

The Constitution brings together all the treaties on which the EU is based and sets out the European Union’s powers. It proposes a basis for stronger action in the areas of justice and foreign policy and sets out a charter of fundamental rights, among other proposals. The Irish government played a key role in getting the 25 EU Member States to agree the text during its presidency of the EU in 2004.

Despite the uncertainty over the Constitution, most Irish people are in favour of membership of the European Union, according to the survey. Seventy-three percent feel that being part of the EU is a ‘good thing’, 87 percent say that the country has benefited from EU membership and 73 percent have a positive image of being part of the European Union.

However, Dr Fiachra Kennedy of the UCD Geary Institute, who conducted the Irish part of the EU-wide survey, warns that Irish support for the EU should not be taken for granted. “People are committed to Ireland’s membership but are somewhat cautious about the more far-reaching aspects of integration, such as political union and the Constitution,” he says.

For more information:

• Executive summary of the Irish section of the Eurobarometer report
• Full report of the Irish section of the Eurobarometer report
• First results of the EU-wide Eurobarometer report plus annexes

The European Commission today adopted a set of proposals called 'Towards an EU strategy on the Rights of the Child'. This is the first time the Commission has taken such a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach to children’s rights. It concerns both internal and external EU policies, covering areas such as civil and criminal justice, employment, development cooperation, trade negotiation, education and health.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: “The rights and values we bestow on future generations are the true demonstration of our commitment to fundamental rights. I hope that the process we have launched today provides a series of practical actions to reinforce children’s rights.”

Vice-President Franco Frattini, Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, pointed out that "Children’s rights are still far from being generally respected, and their basic needs are sometimes not being met. The European Union can and should bring essential and fundamental added value in the field of children’s rights.”

Building on its long tradition and legal and political commitments with regard to human rights in general and children’s rights in particular, the EU has the necessary weight to push children’s rights to the forefront of the international agenda and can use its global presence and influence to effectively promote universal children's rights at national level worldwide. It can also promote and support attention to children’s needs, drawing on Europe’s values of social protection and on its policy commitments and programmes in different fields.

In the short term, and especially due to the urgency of certain challenges, the Commission will, in particular, take the following additional measures:

• To attribute one single six-digit telephone number (beginning with 116: 116-xyz) within the EU for child helplines and another for child hotlines dedicated to missing and sexually exploited children (end 2006)
• To support the banking sector and credit cards companies to combat the use of credit cards to purchase sexual images of children on the internet (2006)
• To launch an Action Plan on Children in Development Cooperation to address children’s priority needs in developing countries (2007)
• To promote a clustering of actions on child poverty in the EU (2007).

The Commission intends to appoint a “Commission Coordinator of the Rights of the Child”, acting as a contact person of the European Commission, making children’s rights more visible, and ensuring coordination of the strategy with all services concerned.

The package outlines seven specific objectives including the necessity to take stock of existing activities, address urgent needs and identify priorities for future EU action. One objective is to ensure that all internal and external EU policies respect children's rights in accordance with the principles of EU law, the provisions of the UNCRC and other international instruments. Another is to improve the effectiveness of activities promoting children's rights and the Communication outlines an appropriate mechanism for this purpose. The Commission also proposes a communication strategy to raise public awareness of children’s rights.

Finally, the package of proposals draws a preliminary inventory of more than 75 EU instruments affecting children’s rights including concrete legislative, non-legislative and financial actions that are to be proposed in 2006-2007.