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News from the Commission
22 December 2006

Fishing deal agreed

The EU has agreed new fishing quotas for the North Sea in a bid to both protect stocks and ensure fishermen can continue to make a living. The agreement at the Council of Ministers in Brussels this week was welcomed by UK fisheries minister Ben Bradshaw who said British fishermen could look forward to healthy incomes for the third year in a row. A 14% cut in the North Sea cod quota and a reduction in the number of days boats are allowed to go fishing was agreed, but some other quotas were increased. Mr Bradshaw said that high prices for fish meant the industry could look forward to increased incomes in 2007. Head of the European Commission in the UK Reijo Kemppinen said it was important to reach a balance between the need to protect stocks and the interests of fishing communities. Other highlights for the UK include: 20% quota increase for South West England hake; 17% quota increase for Irish Sea prawns; 13% increase for mackerel; 10% quota increase for North Sea and West of Scotland monkfish; 6% quota increase for South West England monkfish; a six-fold quota increase for Rockall haddock.

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Emissions trading scheme extended to aviation

The European Commission has unveiled legislation to bring greenhouse gas emissions from civil aviation into the EU emissions trading scheme. The proposed directive will cover emissions from flights within the EU from 2011 and all flights – including international ones – to and from EU airports from 2012 by both EU and foreign aircraft operators. Like the industrial companies already covered by the emissions trading scheme (ETS) airlines will be able to sell surplus allowances if they reduce their emissions and will need to buy additional allowances if their emissions grow. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “Aviation too should make a fair contribution to our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Bringing aviation emissions into the ETS is a cost-effective solution that is good for the environment and treats all airlines equally.” Emissions from aviation currently account for about 3% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions, but they are increasing fast – by 87% since 1990 – as air travel becomes cheaper without its environmental costs being addressed. For example, someone flying from London to New York and back generates roughly the same level of emissions as the average person in the EU does by heating their home for a whole year. Without action, the growth in emissions from flights from EU airports would by 2012 cancel out more than a quarter of the 8% emission reduction the EU-15 must achieve to reach its Kyoto Protocol target.

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Click here for the background.

European values

The most important values for Europeans are peace, respect for human life and human rights, according to a new poll of the 25 member states. Margot Wallström, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for institutional relations and communication strategy, said the survey showed that on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaties, citizens clearly identified the Union with a number of universal values. She said that support was also growing for the reform of the way the Union worked and people had high expectations for the EU. The survey, carried out during September and October this year, dealt with a wide range of attitudes towards issues including the perceived benefits of EU membership, constitutional change, and enlargement.

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Praise for chemicals vote 

The European Parliament’s vote in favour of a comprehensive new approach to the way we deal with chemicals has been praised by UK Government Minister Jeff Rooker. The REACH (registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals) legislation puts in place measures promoting the safer use of chemicals and includes incentives for the use of low-risk substitutes where possible. Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, who is responsible for enterprise and industry policy, and Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, also warmly welcomed the vote. Mr Rooker, UK Minister of Sustainable Farming and Food, said the UK had always been a strong supporter of the move: "REACH contains some good news for business - it removes 40 existing pieces of law, it will encourage innovation, and make the market work better.” Once in force, REACH will require the registration, over a period of 11 years, of some 30.000 chemical substances in use today - a process that will fill information gaps on the hazards of substances and identify appropriate risk management measures to ensure their safe use. The day-to-day management of the new requirements will be carried out by the new European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) which will be established in Helsinki.

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Green light for Euro licence

The European Union has approved a new measure to combat driving licence fraud. The European Parliament has voted to replace the 110 different paper and plastic permits currently in use across the EU with a standard credit-card sized photocard. EU transport commissioner Jacques Barrot said the changes were vital to fight fraud, especially the practice of "driving licence tourism'', which allowed those disqualified in one country to move to another, and obtain a new licence there. Following a phase-in period of seven years, all new EU licences will meet the new standard. The plastic photocard may if member states wish, bear a microchip to make them computer readable. Individual EU countries can decide the length of validity – either 10 or 15 years for car drivers and motorcyclists. For trucks and buses the licence will be valid for five years. The new directive will harmonise the existing classes of vehicles. For motorcycles, a "step-up approach" will become obligatory in all member states. This means that riders must accumulate experience on smaller motorcycles before moving up to larger engines. The age for direct access to the most powerful engines will be raised to 24 years. To improve safety for the youngest riders, a theory test for moped drivers will become compulsory. Rules for training and retraining of driving examiners, setting out basic qualifications, quality assurance and regular retraining programmes will also be established.

Climate change: Commission takes legal action

Four member states have been warned by the European Commission that they will face Court action unless they submit national allocation plans for the second period of the EU emissions trading scheme. Final written warnings have been issued to Austria, Denmark, Hungary and Italy for failing to submit their plans for the period 2008 – 2012. The countries received a first warning in October this year after missing the June 30th deadline October. Stressing that member states must meet their obligations, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "The European emissions trading scheme (ETS) plays an important role in fighting climate change and for reaching the EU Kyoto targets. For the good functioning of scheme we will have no choice but to take them to court if they do not send their allocation plans soon." The Commission will take the matter to the European Court of Justice if any of the member states fails to respond to the final written warning, or if it is unsatisfied with the response.

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Bulgaria, Romania Prepare to Join EU in 2007

The European Union's historic 5th enlargement, which included many former communist countries, will be completed on January 1 with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania into the EU.

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Slovenia to Join Euro Area on January 1

Slovenia will become the 13th member of the euro area on January 1, 2007, making it the first of the 10 Member States that joined the European Union in 2004 to adopt the EU's single currency.

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Europe’s footballing greats to mark EU’s 50th birthday in UK in March 2007

The best of European football will be on show in Manchester next March, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome that marked the creation of the European Union. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of their participation as the first English team to play UEFA’s European club competition, Manchester United will play a European Union XI to be coached by Italian World Cup winner Marcello Lippi, on 13 March at Old Trafford.

The European Commission will join with UEFA and Manchester United in organising the event. Lending his personal support to the initiative, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said: “The best of European football will be on show at the “Theatre of Dreams” in Manchester next March, to mark the 50th Anniversary of the creation of the European Union. There is no better way to showcase the European Union at 50 than through Europe’s favourite sport that unites Europeans in a unique way, through a passion we all share and a language we all speak.”

25th March 2007 will mark the 50th anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Rome that founded the modern-day European Union. The football match in Manchester will be one of the highest profile of the many events being planned in the UK and throughout Europe to celebrate the date.

Fittingly it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first time an English club entered European football club competitions under the auspices of European Football’s governing body, UEFA.

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Want to know what is coming up?

The Commission publishes background notes for journalists every Friday for the weeks ahead.

Click here for the provisional agenda for 23 December - 21 January. This week the Commission has also published a special “winter edition” of  News Ahead – see here.

The German Presidency runs from 1 January - 30 June 2007. Click here for the Presidency website.

Diary dates  

  • Agriculture & Fisheries Council 8 January(Brussels)

  • European Commission / Germany Presidency 9 January (Berlin)

     

 
Last update: 30/10/2010  |Top