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EU NEWS YOU CAN USE
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European Commission in Ireland
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In this issue
- 30 November
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Top News
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Future of CAP - EU Commission wants flexible, fair and sustainable reform
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Simpler rules and a more flexible approach will ensure the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) delivers real results in supporting farmers and leads the sustainable development of EU agriculture. These are the cornerstone ideas of the Communication adopted this week by the European Commission on "The Future of Food and Farming", outlining the ways to ensure that the oldest EU common policy remains future-proof. Allowing Member States greater responsibilities to choose how and where to invest their CAP funding in order to meet ambitious common goals on environment, climate change and sustainability is the flagship initiative.
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New EU tools to combat VAT fraud
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The Commission has unveiled new tools to make the EU's VAT system more fraud-proof and close loopholes which can lead to large-scale VAT fraud. The new rules aim to build trust between Member States so that they can exchange more information and boost cooperation between national tax authorities and law enforcement authorities. Estimates show that in excess of €50 billion is lost to VAT fraud every year in the EU.
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All-Ireland electricity capacity - EU approval
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The European Commission has approved a joint electricity capacity for Ireland and Northern Ireland. This is part of building a joint all-island electricity market. The joint operation had to be signed off by Commissioner Margrethe Vestager under the EU's State aid rules. Commissioner Vestager said: "The joint Irish and Northern Irish capacity mechanism will help ensure security of electricity supply in the years to come. I think it is a good thing that this mechanism is operated across national borders and fosters competition among all potential capacity providers, to the benefit of consumers."
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State Aid: Irish SME support scheme gets EU approval
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The European Commission has found a €10 million Enterprise Ireland aid scheme for restructuring SMEs to be in line with EU State aid rules. The scheme will help SMEs in financial difficulty restore their competitiveness, whilst preserving competition in the EU's Single Market. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy said: "Small and medium sized companies are the backbone of our economy and it is good that we have been able to endorse this Irish scheme to support SMEs that get into difficulties. These smaller companies employ a lot of people and this scheme should help them preserve jobs without unduly distorting competition."
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Glyphosates: 5 year renewal agreed
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EU Member States this week voted to renew the approval of glyphosate for five years. Commenting on the vote, EH Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said: "Today's vote shows that when we all want to, we are able to share and accept our collective responsibility in decision making." The Commission will now adopt the decision before the current authorisation expires on 15 December
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Record number of Irish students take part in ErasmusPlus
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Almost 3,200 Irish students and trainees took part in ErasmusPlus in the 2015/16 academic year, up from 1,836 in 2008/09, with the most popular destinations being France, Spain and Germany. The number of students and trainees coming to Ireland was also up, from 5,151 in 2008/09 to 7,675 in 2016. A further 349 staff from Irish educational institutes took part while over 800 staff came to Ireland. The top sending institutions were the University of Limerick, UCD and TCD. The Erasmus programme celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.
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Other news
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New EU rules on drones agreed
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The first ever EU-wide rules for the civil use of drones have been agreed. Currently, drones lighter than 150kg, which is in fact most of them, fall under the jurisdiction of national authorities and therefore EU manufacturers and operators are subject to different design and safety requirements. Under the new rules, the design and manufacture of drones will have to comply with EU basic requirements on safety, security and personal data protection.
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Irish households pay 4th highest electricity costs
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New figures show that electricity prices in Ireland are the fourth highest in the 28 States of the EU. Only Denmark, Germany and Belgium have higher prices, according to Eurostat. Denmark's high electricity prices, however, were largely due to the very high share (67%) of taxes and levies included. On household gas prices, Ireland at €6.30 per 100 kilowatt hour is ninth highest, a little above the EU average of €5.80 per 100 kilowatt hours.
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Just over half of Irish people aged 65+ receive flu vaccine
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New Eurostat figures show that 56% of Irish people aged 65+ received the flu vaccine in 2015, fifth highest in the EU. The UK had the highest rate of vaccination at 71% while Poland, Latvia, Bulgaria and Estonia had the lowest (all under 10%). The EU average was 35%. The figures also show that take up of the vaccine among people aged 65+ was down in Ireland (from 64% in 2009) along with the majority of other EU countries. Meanwhile the share of deaths from respiratory diseases in Ireland was second highest in the EU (12% in 2014 compared to an EU average of 7.7%).
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Protecting intellectual property rights
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The Commission has put forward new measures to protect Intellectual Property rights in order to encourage European SMEs and start-ups to invest in innovation and creativity. Stepping up the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, ensuring an EU-wide high level of legal protection and a predictable judicial framework across the EU are key. At present, 5% of goods imported into the EU (worth €85 billion) are counterfeited or pirated. The Commission also wants to create a fair system for Standard Essential Patents.
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5 top Irish researchers awarded ERC grants
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Five Irish researchers are among 329 top European researchers who were this week awarded European Research Council (ERC) consolidator grants to a total value of €630 million. The five researchers are based in TCD (2), UCD (2) and UCC (1). Consolidator grants are open to researchers with 7-12 years of experience since completion of their PhD. The grants are worth up to €2 million over a period of 5 years. The UK has the highest number (60) of new ERC grant winners.
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Getting people into the labour market: Eurofound
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Although unemployment in the EU continues to fall, more than one in four of the EU’s working-age population are economically inactive; meaning they are not working and are either not seeking work or are not available for work. However, most economically inactive people say they would like to work in some form. The new Eurofound report finds that in Ireland there is a higher proportion of people with disabilities and homemakers who are inactive, and that a lack of childcare represents a significant barrier to labour market entry. Ireland has taken steps to boost employment of the inactive population as a whole, notably the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy which aims to bring the long-term excluded from the labour market into employment.
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Dublin Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board win VET award
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Dublin Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board have won the Training at Work award at this year’s Europe Vocational Skills Awards. They won the award for their Skills for Work Programme, a government-funded initiative that supports the educational needs of the workforce. The award was presented by Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Labour Mobility, on the closing day of the European Vocational Skills Week in Brussels last Friday (24 November).
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215,000 violent sexual crimes recorded in the EU in 2015
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New Eurostat figures show that 215,000 violent sexual crimes were recorded by police in the EU in 2015, including 80,000 incidents of rape. In Ireland, over 2,100 sexual crimes were recorded in 2015 including over 500 rapes. Both in Ireland and across the EU, over 90% of victims of rape and over 80% of victims of sexual assault were women and girls. Relative to the population of each Member State, Sweden recorded the highest number, with 178 violent sexual crimes per 100,000 inhabitants, ahead of Scotland (163), Northern Ireland (156), England & Wales (113) and Belgium (91). The figure for Ireland was 46 violent sexual crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. These figures only concern crimes reported to the police.
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3 Irish projects among key 2017 EU energy projects
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The Ireland-UK interconnection between Wexford and Pembroke, the "Greenlink" Cluster Ireland—UK Interconnection and the Celtic Interconnector between France and Ireland have been chosen as key infrastructure projects. This means they can benefit from streamlined permit granting procedures, streamlined environmental assessment and a single national competent authority (one-stop-shop) coordinating all permit granting procedures.
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Agenda
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Thursday 30 November and Friday 1 December: Competitiveness Council, Brussels
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On the agenda: a single digital gateway, or 'one stop shop' for citizens and businesses to solve problems and exercise their rights in relation to the EU's internal market; industrial policy; and the EU space programmes. Click on the link below for more information.
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Monday 4 December: Eurogroup meeting, Brussels
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On the agenda: Greece's adjustment programme: state of play, post-programme surveillance: Cyprus and Spain, tax wedge on labour, draft budgetary plans and overall budgetary situation, Eurogroup work programme and the election of a new president and deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union.
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Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 December: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, Brussels
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The Council is due to agree a general approach on an updated mandate for the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communication (BEREC). Ministers will also look at the progress made on a proposal to update privacy rules for electronic communications (ePrivacy). On transport, the Council is due to adopt three sets of conclusions: on the progress in trans-European transport networks (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), on the digitalisation of transport and on the mid-term evaluation of the Galileo, EGNOS and the European GNSS agency.
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Tuesday 5 December: Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels
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The Council will be called on to approve an EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions, as part of ongoing efforts to prevent tax fraud and to promote good governance worldwide. Before the Council, ministers will hold a breakfast meeting to discuss the economic situation. They will also discuss the annual report of the European Fiscal Board, an advisory body that assesses implementation of the EU's fiscal rules. It is expected to adopt conclusions on the taxation of profits in the digital economy, with a view to discussions at international level.
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Wednesday 6 December: Press conference with Michel Barnier
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On Wednesday morning 6 December at 11 am (Irish time) there will be a press conference with Michel Barnier on the Commission's recommendation to the Council re. "sufficient progress" on the Brexit negotiations. You can follow the press conference live on the link below.
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Thursday 7 December: Debt enforcement and EU Consumer Law, Dublin
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The Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL) is hosting a short evening conference on Consumer Law, with leading Irish and international speakers, including Dutch Judge Prof Dr Mr Sjef van Erp . This often neglected area of law has risen to prominence in recent times with the decision of Mr Justice Barrett in AIB v Counihan and the upcoming judicial review of a decision of the Laois County Registrar in the Grant case. Both of these cases deal with the role of consumer protection in debt enforcement. This timely event will hear how the Dutch courts deal with unfair terms and the obligation on national courts to carry out own motion assessments. The event takes place at the Distillery Building, Church Street, Dublin 7 starting at 4.30 pm and finishing at 6.30 pm.
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Thursday 7 December: 2017 International Organisations Career Fair, Dublin Castle
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The European Commission Representation and the European Parliament Information Office in Ireland will host a stand at the International Organisations Career Fair in Dublin on Thursday 7 December. The event takes place in the Printworks, Dublin Castle, from 10 am to 4 pm.
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Thursday 7 December: Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels
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The agenda for this meeting will be available in due course at the link below.
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Monday 11 December: Information session - Freelance translation for the European Commission, Europe House, Dublin 2
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This information session is aimed at freelance translation companies and freelance translators seeking further information about freelance translation for the European Union. The event takes place in Europe House, Dublin 2, from 1 to 5 pm. For further information, click on the link below.
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Wednesday 13 December: Citizens' Dialogue on the Future of Europe, Dublin
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The EU Commission Representation in Ireland will host a Citizens' Dialogue on the Future of Europe on Wednesday 13 December in Dublin. The keynote speakers at this event will be European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics, and Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee TD. The moderator will be Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin. The event takes place at the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 starting at 12 noon.
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Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December: European Council, Brussels
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The agenda for the European Council meeting will be available in due course at the link below. It is expected that progress on Article 50 negotiations with the UK will be considered.
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Public consultations
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Pharmaceuticals in the environment
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The consultation seeks views on possible actions to address the risks from pharmaceuticals in the environment. The consultation is open until 21 February 2018.
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European Labour Authority, as well as a European Social Security Number
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The European Commission has launched a public consultation to gather views of the broader public on setting up a European Labour Authority and the introduction of a European Social Security Number. The aim of the public consultation is to collect the views and opinions of interested parties on these issues in order to inform the impact assessment process. The consultation runs until 7 January 2018.
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Job opportunities
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Applications open for secretaries and clerks in the EU institutions
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The EU institutions are recruiting highly motivated secretarial and clerical staff to fill more than 300 roles either in Brussels or Luxembourg. This is a great chance to join a fast-paced, multilingual working environment, in departments across any of the European Institutions. Applicants must be citizens of an EU member state and have knowledge of at least 2 official EU languages, one at minimum C1 level (thorough knowledge) and the other at minimum B2 level (satisfactory knowledge). The deadline to apply is 12 December 2017 (11 am Irish time).
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Statistics officer (AD5) at the European Institute for Gender
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The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is organising a call for applications with a view to establishing a reserve list for the post of Statistics Officer. The registration of applications will close on 5 January 2018. Based in Vilnius, Lithuania, EIGE is a regulatory agency of the European Union (EU) entrusted with specific objectives envisaged to contribute and strengthen the promotion of gender equality.
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Competitions
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Horizon Prize for Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid
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The European Commission has launched the first of six European Innovation Council (EIC) Horizon Prizes, on Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid. The Prize on Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid will reward the best, proven, cost-effective, tech-based solutions for Humanitarian Aid. The prize of €5 million will be divided equally into five categories: shelter and related assistance; water, hygiene and sanitation; energy; health and medical care; and an "open" category. Technologies include – but are not limited to - nanotechnologies, advanced materials or 3D printing.
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