EP able to block EC implementing powers  On 6 July 2006 the European Parliament approved a report on the conclusion of an interinstitutional agreement taking the form of a joint statement concerning the draft for a Council decision amending Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the […]

The Finnish minister for European Affairs Paula Lehtomäki presented on May 31st the website and the logo of the Presidency of Finland in the Council of the European Union.  The Finnish presidency will start on July 1st and end in December 31st 2006. The web address of the Finnish Presidency is www.eu2006.fi. According to the priorities […]

The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council met in Brussels on 1-2 June 2006. The Council adopted, by qualified majority, at first reading, a directive on food additives. The Council also reached political agreements on: A draft regulation establishing a European Institute for Gender Equality A draft Decision establishing the Guidelines for the […]

On May 3rd the European Commission published a Green Paper on the European Transparency Initiative (ETI), as part of the campaign that was launched on November 9th 2005. Simultaneously, a public consultation on the Green Paper has been commenced and will run until August 31st 2006. The Green paper and the consultation are focusing on […]

In view of the European Council meeting in Brussels on 15-16 June, the European Commission held a two days seminar in order to discuss the status quo of the European Constitution and the future of Europe in general. The Commission is trying to find a way forward on the stagnant issue of the European Constitution […]

An informal meeting of European Foreign Ministers was organized by the Austrian Presidency of the European Council on May 27-28 at Klosterneuburg Abbey in Austria, as groundwork for the upcoming June Council Meeting. Europe’s Foreign Ministers have discussed the status of the European Constitution and the future of the EU. Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik […]

The European Parliament approved on May 17th the so called Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management for the period 2007-2013, in short the Budget of the European Union for the years 2007-2013. The agreement passed by a large majority of 440 votes, 190 against and 15 abstentions and was subsequently signed by […]

Dr Andrzej Rys has been appointed public health director in the Commission health and consumer affairs directorate-general. Dr Andrzej Rys graduated from Medical School in Cracow, specialized in radiology. In 1991 he established and run till 1997 the School of Public Health of Jagiellonian University, first such institution in CEEC. Dr Rys worked served as […]

The EU Solidarity Fund was first introduced in 2002 after the catastrophic floods in central Europe, as a way to ensure financial support and effective reaction to major disasters or public health emergencies in Europe. A new proposal for the EU solidarity fund was introduced in April 2005 and will come into force in 2007. […]

The Commission has published on February 8th a Report on the Functioning of the Transitional Arrangements set out in the 2003 Accession Treaty, covering the period from1 May 2004 to 30 April 2006. The report focuses on the effects of workers’ mobility from the new EU member states to the old EU 15. According to […]