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| Reporting Europe: 19 January 2012 |
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A weekly newsletter from the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland
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EU News
Barroso: strengthen Euro area, but not at expense of wider EU
European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, has told the European Parliament that the agreement reached by all EU Member States except the UK at the summit on 9 December must not undermine EU institutions. He also told MEPs that Europe needed to add "decisive action on growth" to current austerity measures. President Barroso said in his statement in Strasbourg: "The Euro area must be strengthened, yes, but not at the expense of the wider Union." Turning to the current economic situation, the Commission President said at a press conference: "It is not that we have to choose between fiscal consolidation or growth – we need both. And we must continue to resist the fatalism of those that think Europe is condemned to recession." Mr. Barroso also called for Member States to reach agreement on the European patent: "We have been discussing this for decades. I call on the three Member States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom, who are holding this up over the site of some offices, to swiftly find a compromise."
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A new Animal Welfare Strategy Paper
The European Commission has adopted a new four-year strategy (2012-2015) that aims to further improve the welfare of animals in the European Union. EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner, John Dalli, said: "The recent coming into force of the "laying hens" legislation has shown that problems persist in animal welfare in several Member States. Some efforts are being made, but many issues need to be tackled in a different way in order to achieve more sustainable results. The new strategy will permit appropriate flexibility allowing operators to attain the necessary welfare standards by different routes. Optimising policy coherence and market transparency in a comprehensive animal welfare legislative framework will minimise real or perceived tensions between welfare and economics. Animal welfare measures need to be cost-effective. The proposed dedication of resources to education and training is expected to be highly cost-effective, economically and in welfare terms." The new Strategy identifies the lack of enforcement of EU legislation by Member States in a number of areas as one of the major issues adversely affecting animal welfare in the EU. Another brake on full and even implementation is the fact that the market does not provide sufficient economic incentives for compliance. The Communication also notes that many of the parties involved lack sufficient knowledge about animal welfare, while it points out gaps in EU legislation which make it harder to ensure adequate welfare conditions for some categories of animals. To address these issues and concerns, the Strategy provides for a two-pronged approach: a proposal for a comprehensive animal welfare law and a reinforcement of current actions. For more information please see MEMO/12/18.
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Europeans ready for 'active ageing', new survey says
To mark the start of the 2012 European Year of Active Ageing and Solidarity of Generations, the Commission has presented a new Eurobarometer survey showing that 71% of Europeans are aware that Europe's population is getting older, but only 42% are concerned about this development. This is in stark contrast with the perceptions of policy makers, who regard demographic ageing as a major challenge. For most citizens, people aged 55 years and older play a major role in key areas of society. Over 60% believe that we should be allowed to continue working after retirement age and one third says that they would like to work longer themselves. Surprisingly, people closer to retirement are more likely to share this view than the younger generation. Lázló Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion presented the survey saying: "Today's Eurobarometer survey shows that people are ready to remain active as they grow older. I am confident that the European year will act as a catalyst to mobilise citizens, stakeholders and decision-makers to take action to promote active ageing and to tackle the challenges of ageing in a positive way." The Eurobarometer survey covers five areas which include overall perceptions of age and older people; older people in the workplace; retirement and pensions; voluntary work and support for older people and an age-friendly environment. The European Year 2012 for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations seeks to raise awareness of the contribution of older people to society and to promote measures that create better opportunities for older people to remain active.
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Small companies create 85% of new jobs
85% of net new jobs in the EU between 2002 and 2010 were created by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). This figure is considerably higher than the 67%-share of SMEs in total employment. During this period, net employment in the EU's business economy rose substantially, by an average of 1.1 million new jobs each year. These are the main results of a study on the essential contribution of SMEs on job creation presented by the European Commission this week. With 1% annually, the employment growth for SMEs was higher than for large enterprises with 0.5%. A clear exception is the trade sector, in which employment in SMEs increased by 0.7% annually, compared to 2.2% in large enterprises. This is due to the strong increase of large trade enterprises, in particular in sales, maintenance and repair of motor vehicles. Within the SME size-class, micro firms (less than 10 employees) are responsible with 58% for the highest proportion of total net employment growth in the business economy. Secondly new firms (younger than five years) are responsible for an overwhelming majority of the new jobs. New enterprises operating in business services create more than a quarter (27%) of the new jobs, while the new firms in transport and communication contribute least (6%). Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Entrepreneurship and Industry said: "In this critical time for European economy, we see small enterprises delivering and confirming their role as main generators of new jobs. Their significant share in job creation highlights the greater than ever economic relevance of SMEs and the need to support them at all levels. The small and new enterprises are clearly the key for restoring economic growth".
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News in Brief
EU launches the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations
The European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012 was launched in Copenhagen this week. To mark the start of the year long campaign, the European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the European Union held a two day conference on 18-19 January to focus on how innovation can bring new solutions to the future challenges of Europe’s ageing society within the fields of employment, health and social affairs. The European Year aims to raise awareness about active ageing, especially in the fields of employment, participation in society and independent living of older people. It aims to encourage stakeholders and policymakers to set commitments in these areas and take action to meet their goals. Active ageing is about helping older people to stay in work and share their experience; helping them play an active role in society and to live healthy, independent and fulfilling lives.
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Waste – a short cut to job creation and lower costs
Full implementation of EU waste legislation would save €72 billion a year, increase the annual turnover of the EU waste management and recycling sector by €42 billion and create over 400,000 jobs by 2020 according to a European Commission study published this week. Illegal waste operations in Member States are causing missed opportunities for economic growth, but stronger national inspections and better knowledge about waste management would bring major improvements. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "We need to see waste as a resource – and to bury that resource in the ground is worse than short-sighted. This report shows that waste management and recycling can make a big contribution to economic growth and job creation. If the existing legislation was implemented properly, we could avoid costly clean-up operations, pollution and health problems."
More action to help the stricken Sahel region
EU Aid Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva has called for more action to help the stricken Sahel region. She said in Niger: "Seven million people are already facing food shortages: Nobody should have to live in fear of famine yet within months people will begin to starve unless we act." During a four-day Sahel trip this week, Commissioner Georgieva visited Niger and Chad, two of the five Sahel countries most at risk. The others are Burkina Faso, Mali and Mauritania. The Sahel suffers from a chronic malnutrition crisis but the prospects of a full-scale disaster this year have already been signalled with the governments of all five countries taking the unprecedented step of declaring emergencies and calling for international assistance.
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Your Voice in Europe - consultations
Commission launches debate on corporate restructuring
The European Commission has launched a Europe-wide public debate on corporate restructuring and anticipating change, which aims to identify successful practices and policies in the field of restructuring and adapting to change. The results will feed into the upcoming employment package and should help to improve further cooperation between workers and employers' representatives, government, local and regional authorities and the EU institutions. The consultation will also help identify specific restructuring measures that could help deal with employment and social challenges, and help European companies improve competitiveness through innovation and a fast, but smooth adaptation to change. The consultation will run until 30 March 2012.
Your Voice in Europe is the European Commission’s “single access point” to a wide variety of consultations, discussions and other tools which enable you to play an active role in the European policy-making process. The website address is www.ec.europa.eu/yourvoice.
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Agenda
Denmark assumed the Presidency of the EU from 1 January 2012. For more information, see www.eu2012.dk/en. There will be a meeting of Agriculture and Fisheries ministers on 23 January in Brussels.
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Top News
- European Commission's Top News Agenda from 14 January until 10 February 2012.
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Information on the EU is also available at http://ec.europa.eu/northernireland. For a full list of press releases issued by the European Commission, please go to: http://europa.eu/rapid. For information on any of the above items, please contact Catherine McShane on 028 9024 0708 or email catherine.mcshane@ec.europa.eu.
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