The European Commission is proposing new measures to change the VAT directive. The changes will allow for the increased use of electronic invoicing, will reduce burdens on business, increase support to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and help Member States to tackle fraud.

The proposal simplifies, modernises and harmonises the current VAT invoicing rules. It eliminates the current barriers to e-invoicing in the VAT Directive by treating paper and electronic invoices equally. The proposal is a key element of the Commission's Action Programme to reduce burdens on business by 25% by 2012, and is part of the Commission's strategy to combat VAT fraud more efficiently.

László Kovács, Commissioner for Taxation and Customs, said:  "Current national VAT invoicing rules are excessively complicated and disparate. This has led to unnecessary administrative burdens on businesses operating cross-border and has also facilitated VAT carousel fraud. This important initiative will put forward much simpler, more modern and comprehensive rules for invoicing, whilst allowing tax administrations effective means of control. Paper and electronic invoices will be treated equally which will allow businesses to move to a 100% e-invoicing system and to save up to 18 billion euros across the EU".

See here for further information.

Commission adopts Lisbon Strategy recommendations to build a lasting recovery

The European 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.

See here for further information.

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

The European Commission has set out its proposals for a comprehensive and ambitious new global agreement to tackle climate change and how it could be financed.

See here for further information.

State aid: Commission prolongs film support rules until end 2012

The European Commission has adopted a Communication extending the validity of the state aid assessment criteria for the production of films and audiovisual works until 31 December 2012.

See here for further information.

- 6 February 2009 - Another side to Afghanistan

SAFE (Support for Afghan Further Education), is holding a photographic exhibition entitled "Another Side to Afghanistan" at European Union House, 18 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 from 19 January to 6 February 2009.

It is open to the public and entrance is free.

29 – 30 January: Informal meeting of Development Ministers

Today and tomorrow (January 29 & 30), an Informal Meeting of EU Development Ministers will be held under the auspices of the Czech Presidency in Prague.

30 January: Visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Brussels

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao will meet President Barroso and a number of other Commissioners in Brussels.

2 February: 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 next 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)

2 – 5 February: European Parliament Plenary Session, Strasbourg

Co. Clare farmers taking part in a unique EU-supported project on the Burren came to Dublin this week to help launch a DVD to showcase their work.  The DVD was launched by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government, John Gormley TD, at the European Commission Representation in Dublin.

The Minister praised the role of local farmers in protecting the natural landscape of the Burren.

“The unique landscape of the Burren is not an entirely natural phenomenon, but is the result of farming practices over thousands of years,” he said. “The farmers working the land today are custodians of the Burren for future generations, so it's important that their story is told. This DVD sets out to do this.”

Listen to Minister Gormley [297 KB] speaking at the launch. 

Twenty farms are involved in the five-year farming for conservation project, which involves the active management of priority habitats including orchid rich grasslands, limestone pavements and turloughs. With financial assistance from BurrenLIFE, local farmers are actively managing orchid-rich grasslands to prevent them from being encroached by scrub.

BurrenLIFE is also providing improved access for cattle, enhancing livestock management facilities and helping to repair dry stones walls. BurrenLIFE has developed a specially-formulated feed for cattle to ensure their nutritional needs are met during winter grazing. 'The BurrenLIFE Project – Farming for Conservation in the Burren – has been a highly successful partnership between the European Commission, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Teagasc, the Burren IFA and local farmers'.

Speaking at the launch, the Director of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, Mr. Martin Territt, said the European Commission was delighted to be associated with this unique project in the Burren.

“Farming for conservation is essential in this fragile landscape and the farmer-led BurrenLIFE project has been a great success in showing the way,” he said. “BurrenLIFE is now seen as best practice nationally and across the EU.”

Mr. Michael Davoren of the Burren IFA welcomed the support of the Minister. He stated that the farming community of the Burren is leading the way in terms of conservation farming in Ireland and expressed his confidence that the project would deliver “a workable blueprint for the sustainable agricultural management of the Burren in partnership with the farmers and the conservation authorities.”

Mr. Sean Regan, Environment Programme Manager for Teagasc, congratulated the Project, LIFE farmers and the Burren Beef and Lamb Producers Group on the success of their work to date as celebrated in the DVD. He looked forward to delivering a blueprint for the sustainable agricultural management of the Burren and noted the work of the project has highlighted the potential of such a blueprint to deliver socio-economic, agricultural and ecological benefits to the Burren and its farmers, and set an example for other areas to follow.

The DVD will be made available free to all school children in the Burren and will be used extensively in the Project's own public awareness and information dissemination activities. Copies of the DVD are available by contacting the BurrenLIFE Project office — info@burrenlife.com

See also www.burrenlife.com