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Reporting Europe: 1 November 2007
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A weekly newsletter from the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland

Belfast, 1 November 2007

EU fund to support jobs and skills in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is to receive some £114 million (€ 165.7 million) from the European Social Fund (ESF) over the next six years to support job creation and improve workforce skills. The announcement is part of a £3 billion (€ 4.5 billion) European Social Fund allocation for the United Kingdom over the period 2007-2013. In Northern Ireland the ESF money will aim to reduce unemployment and inactivity. A second priority will be to assist the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce by improving the qualifications and skills of workers without essential skills and low or no qualifications. Northern Ireland's European Social Fund programme, which is co-financed by the EU, is expected to receive European Commission approval within the coming weeks. The Department for Employment and Learning is the designated Managing Authority for the programme. Over the next six years, the ESF will contribute some £51 billion (€ 75 billion) to the 27 EU countries. This represents more than 10% of the total budget of the EU. For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/esf

UK on track to receive EU compensation for summer flood damage

European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, has confirmed that the UK's application to the EU Solidarity Fund for compensation following the damage caused by this summer's floods is on track and being finalised. In a meeting with UK Floods Recovery Minister John Healey, Commissioner Hübner said the UK was on track to receive some €160 million in early 2008. All being well, the procedure in the EU Council of Ministers and European Parliament to make budget appropriations available will be completed by January, leading to a payment in early 2008. In order to fast-track the process as much as possible, the Commission and UK authorities will take advantage of the coming weeks to draw up an implementation agreement establishing conditions for use of the grant, that must be in place for funds to be paid out. Click here for further information.

 

New era for EU financial markets and investor protection

On 1 November 2007, the Markets in Financial Services Directive (MiFID) will enter into force. The landmark law will play a central role in creating a robust, common regulatory framework for Europe's securities markets. MiFID will increase competition among exchanges, multilateral trading facilities (MTFs) and investment firms, giving them a "single passport" to operate throughout the EU on the basis of authorisation in their home Member State. Investors will not only have access to a greater number of trading venues, but also a more robust and comprehensive framework ensuring high levels of investor protection. Significant market developments are already underway in anticipation of this new, more competitive environment. For more information, see: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/securities/isd/mifid_en.htm

IP/07/1625

Promoting mobility and lifelong learning

The European Parliament has voted in favour of the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning (EQF), proposed by the Commission in September 2006. The EQF will act as a translation device between Member States' qualifications systems in order to help employers and individuals compare and better understand citizens' qualifications and thus support mobility and lifelong learning. Following the agreement the EQF will be formally adopted by EU ministers in the coming weeks. Click here for further information or see MEMO/07/427

IP/07/1601

Commission to amend electromagnetic fields legislation

The European Commission is proposing to postpone until 30 April 2012 the deadline for introducing legislation on workers' exposure to electromagnetic fields. This will allow enough time to prepare a substantive amendment to the Directive in order to take account of recent research findings on the possible impact of the exposure limits on the use of technologies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). MRI is currently the leading technique for detecting brain tumours and many other serious conditions.

IP/07/1610

Opportunity Europe 2007

This year's Opportunity Europe fair and exhibition for post-primary pupils is being held on 13 and 14 November in St George's Market, Belfast. Now in its fourth year, the event brings a taste of Europe to Belfast through food, music, dance and language. The two-day fair and exhibition highlights Northern Ireland's European links and provides information about working, studying, volunteering and travelling throughout Europe. Opportunity Europe is supported by the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, the Northern Ireland Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research, Language Network Northern Ireland, Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister and the European Movement in Northern Ireland. Click here for the Opportunity Europe leaflet.

Mock Council of the European Union 2007

This year's Mock Council of the European Union took place at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Wednesday 17 October. 28 schools from across Northern Ireland, England and Slovenia came together to debate and vote on topical issues affecting the EU. To find out more about this event, you can watch a streamed video on the European Commission Office's website http://ec.europa.eu/northernireland or on the British Council's website www.britishcouncil.org/nireland.

EU Business

  • The Portuguese Presidency continues with a Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8-9 November in Brussels. The Portuguese Presidency website is www.eu2007.pt

 

For information on any of the above items, please contact Catherine McShane on 028 9024 0708 or email catherine.mcshane@ec.europa.eu.

 

PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to reduce our Carbon Footprint we would encourage our readers to receive Reporting Europe by email. If you would like to switch from paper to screen please email: jeanette.thornton@ec.europa.eu

Last update: 30/10/2010  |Top