EU news you can use, 15 January 2009

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EU news you can use, 15 January 2009

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Commission approves recapitalisation of Anglo Irish Bank

Limerick may qualify for EU funding after Dell pullout

€52.7 million aid to Dell Products Poland under EU Commission Investigation

News in brief

Agenda

Public consultations

Spotlight on: New Year brings good news for consumers

	Commission approves recapitalisation of Anglo Irish Bank The European Commission has approved, under EC Treaty state aid rules, an emergency recapitalisation worth €1.5 billion that the Irish authorities intend to grant to Anglo Irish Bank. The Commission found the measure to be in line with its Guidance Communications on state aid during the current financial crisis. The measure constitutes an adequate means to remedy a serious disturbance in the Irish economy while avoiding undue distortions of competition and is therefore compatible with Article 87.3.b. of the EC Treaty. In particular, the measure is limited in scope, requires an adequate remuneration and provides safeguards to minimise distortions of competition. Listen to this item explained [355 KB] . See here for further information.
	Limerick may qualify for EU funding after Dell pullout European Commission and Irish Government officials have started informal discussions to see if redundant Limerick Dell workers could benefit from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). The fund provides one-off, short term support to workers and regions affected by globalisation. The principal objective is to get laid off workers back into full time employment as quickly as possible. Vladimír Špidla, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, commented on the situation by saying, "The European Commission is extremely concerned about the proposed job losses at the Dell plant in Limerick. Our first priority is to get workers made redundant back into new jobs as quickly as possible. The European Globalisation fund can be used for just that purpose, and we would look favourably on any application for assistance made by the Irish Authorities." While uncertain if redundant Dell workers can qualify for this support, the Commission is ready to advise and help throughout any application process, and meet Irish officials at any time. Listen to this item explained [2 MB] . See here for further information.
	€52.7 million aid to Dell Products Poland under EU Commission Investigation Meanwhile, the EU Commission is undertaking an in-depth investigation under EC Treaty state aid rules into €52.7 million aid for a project of Dell Products Poland for the establishment of a new manufacturing plant in Łódź (Poland). The Commission has doubts as to its compatibility with the rules on regional aid for large investment projects and in particular needs to verify more closely the definition of the market for the products to be made at the plant, the extent of the increase in production capacity resulting from the investment and the extent to which demand for these products is in decline. The in-depth investigation gives interested parties the possibility to comment on the proposed measure. It does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure. The Commission intends to make a final decision in the first half of 2009. See here for further information.
	News in brief Presidency and Commission urge resumption of gas supplies in joint letter The Czech EU Presidency and the European Commission strongly urge Russia and Ukraine to immediately resume full gas supplies to the European Union. In a joint letter this week Martin Říman, the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, and Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Energy, said that EU monitors were at all relevant sites and that natural gas flows should be supplied in full volume. Listen to this item explained [332 KB] . See here for further information. Czech Presidency plans to hold a donors’ conference for Gaza Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg is prepared to call an international donors’ conference to deal with the urgent humanitarian situation of the inhabitants of Gaza. See here for further information. Making your baby's first steps the safest - EU Commission introduces new rules on baby walkers New European safety standards for baby walkers have been introduced this week by the EU Commission. Baby walkers are responsible for thousands of accidents every year throughout the EU and the new rules should see these reduced significantly. As many of the accidents happen when the baby using this device falls over or down stairs, there is a significant chance of head trauma. Listen to this item explained [360 KB] . See here for further information. Lights, camera, action! - New funding programme for European cinema The European Commission will provide €15 million in funding for films from EU and non-EU countries as part of a new funding programme for cinema which will run between 2011 and 2013. The MEDIA MUNDUS programme will fund training, film co-production and distribution and will strengthen cultural and commercial relations between Europe's film industry and film-makers from non-EU countries See here for further information. European Parliament marks ten years of the euro EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering this week welcomed ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, Eurogroup chair Jean-Claude Juncker, Economics Commissioner Joaquín Almunia and former French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing for a formal session marking ten years of the euro. See here for further information. Irish band, The Script, to receive 2009 European Border Breaker Award Irish band, The Script, is one of ten bands from around Europe that will be presented with a European Border Breaker Award in a televised show presented by British TV personality Jools Holland on 15 January. The European Border Breakers Awards reward artists who succeed in breaking national borders with their debut album and reach audiences throughout Europe. Former Irish winners include Damien Rice and Dolores O'Riordan. See here for further information.
	Agenda 15 – 16 January: Informal Meeting of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs, Prague. Minister for the Interior of the Czech Republic Ivan Langer and Minister for Justice of the Czech Republic Jiří Pospíšil will officially welcome their counterparts from all EU Member States in the Prague Congress Centre today and tomorrow. 16 January: Meeting of EU and Ukraine delegations in Kiev 18 – 20 January: EU Informal Workshop on Climate Change 19 January: Publication of Interim Economic Forecast for all Member States 19 January: Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels 19 - 23 January 2009 - Another side to Afghanistan SAFE (Support for Afghan Further Education), will hold a photographic exhibition entitled "Another Side to Afghanistan" at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 from 19 to 23 January 2009. It will be open to the public on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm. Entrance is free. 20 January: Ecofin Council, Brussels 22 – 24 January: Informal Meeting of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs The Informal Meeting of Ministers for Employment and Social Affairs will take place in Luhačovice on 22 – 24 January. Chaired by Minister Petr Nečas, EU Members will discuss the mobility of workers and the Working Time Directive. - 23 March 2009: Séamus Heaney Lecture Series 2008-2009 St Patrick’s College Drumcondra is currently hosting the fifth Seamus Heaney Lecture Series. The theme for the series is “All changed? Culture and identity in contemporary Ireland'. The next lecture is on Monday, 2 February at 8pm: Cultúr na Gaeilge nó Pobal na Gaeilge? Irish Language and Identity from Douglas Hyde to Des Bishop (Dr Máirín Nic Eoin)
	Public consultations European Citizens Consultations The 2009 European Citizens’ Consultations, a pan-European debate among citizens from every EU Member State was launched in Brussels in December with websites in all 27 Member States. The National Forum On Europe is the Irish partner and is inviting people to join the online debate which is focusing on what the EU can do to shape our economic and social future in a globalised world. The websites dedicated to the debate in Ireland are: www.european-citizens-consultations.eu/ie or www.comhairliuchan-eorpach-do-shaoranaigh.eu Public consultation on hedge funds The European Commission has launched a public consultation on hedge funds. Responses are invited from all interested parties on questions relating to the activities of hedge funds, their impact on financial markets, and their interactions with investors and other market participants. This consultation is part of a wide-ranging review by the European Commission on the regulatory and supervisory framework for all financial market actors in the European Union. The results of the written consultation will be discussed at a high-level conference in Brussels in early 2009. The consultation runs until 31 January 2009. See here to participate in the consultation and for further details. Public consultation on the management of biodegradable garden, kitchen and food waste The European Commission has launched a public consultation on how "bio-waste" (biodegradable garden, kitchen and food waste) can be managed. Each year the EU is estimated to produce between 75 and 100 million tonnes of food and garden waste. The main threat from bio-waste is the methane generated in landfill sites. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide and a major contributor to climate change. The views of all stakeholders, including the public, are invited. The consultation runs until 15th March 2009. See here to participate in the consultation and for further details. Public consultation on the future of Europe's workforce for health On 10 December 2008, the Commission adopted a Green paper on the EU Workforce for Health and launched a consultation on the same subject The public consultation process sets out to obtain stakeholders' views on a wide range of issues connected with the healthcare workforce and preparing for the care of an ageing population. The results of the consultation will feed into our consideration of what the EU can do to support Member States in tackling these challenges. The consultation runs until 31 March 2009. See here to participate in the consultation and for further details.
	Spotlight on: New Year brings good news for consumers Since 1 January 2009, a new small claims procedure has been put in place for people across the European Union to deal with cross-border consumer complaints. Like the Irish Small Claims Court system, the new procedure is for dealing with disputes concerning goods or services of €2000 or less. And it will make it simpler for people to resolve complaints against traders based in another EU country. This means that if, for instance, you feel you have been ripped off by a website based in another EU country or if you have bought shoddy goods in a shop somewhere in the EU, you can take a small claims action to get your money back. And you can do it from home, in English, or Irish. The way it works is this: You have to get a standard application form, available at www.courts.ie or from your local District Court. You fill it out and send it back. Once the form is sent, the Registrar will decide whether you have sufficient grounds for your complaint. If you have, the form gets sent to the trader in the other EU Member State within 14 days. They then have 30 days to respond. If the trader disagrees with your claim, the Registrar will try to negotiate an amicable solution between the parties. If this fails, your claim will be referred to the District Court (in Ireland) for judgement. Neither of you have to appear in court, but you can request an oral hearing if that's what you want. This judgement is binding on the other party and must be enforced in the relevant member state. The new system will make it much easier for consumers to resolve disputes as they will not have to pursue the trader through the courts of a foreign country but can just do it from home and in their own language. All this is part of EU consumer protection in a single market, where people are buying goods and services in other countries, either on-line or in person. While cross-border shopping can work well for the bargain-hungry consumer, there also has to be a simple way of resolving any disputes which arise. And for Irish businesses selling across Europe: don't forget that your foreign customers could use this procedure to make a claim against you. So it's best to resolve complaints early on and save everyone a lot of hassle. If you do have a problem with goods or services purchased from another European country, and cannot resolve it yourself, you should contact the European Consumer Centre on 01 8090600 or at www.eccireland.ie The European Consumer Centre is funded by the European Commission and the National Consumer Agency.