Raadsconclusies Raad Onderwijs, Jeugdzaken, Cultuur en Sport 10 mei (en)
COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
PROVISIONAL VERSION
PRESSE 185 PR CO 26
PRESS RELEASE
3164th Council meeting Education, Youth, Culture and Sport
Brussels, 10 and 11 May 2012
Presidents Mr Uffe ELB^K
Minister for Culture of Denmark
Ms Christine ANTORINI
Minister for Children and Education of Denmark
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Main results of the Council
Audiovisual and culture
The Council reached a partial general approach on two proposals for regulations:
establishing the "Creative Europe"programme;
establishing the programme "Europe for Citizens".
The Council adopted a decision designating the European Capitals of Culture for the year 2016.
Furthermore, the Council adopted conclusions on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation
Sport
The Council adopted conclusions on combating doping in recreational sport.
Ministers held a public debate on the future challenges in the fight against doping, including in recreational sport.
PROVISIONAL VERSION 10.V.2012
CONTTS1
PARTICIPANTS................................................................................................................................5
ITEMS DEBATED
AUDIOVISUAL AND CULTURE.....................................................................................................8
Digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material.....................................................................8
Programme "Europe for Citizens" (2014-2020)...................................................................................9
European Capitals of Culture...............................................................................................................9
"Creative Europe" Programme...........................................................................................................10
ANY OTHER BUSINESS.................................................................................................................12
SPORT................................................................................................................................................14
Doping in recreational sport...............................................................................................................14
Future challenges in the fight against doping.....................................................................................15
ANY OTHER BUSINESS.................................................................................................................16
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
— Relations with Montenegro....................................................................................................................................17
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAI AFFAIRS
— Financial Assistance to Georgia.............................................................................................................................17
— Risk-sharing instruments.......................................................................................................................................17
VIRONMT
— Biocidal products regulation..................................................................................................................................17
Where declarations, conclusions or resolutions have been formally adopted by the Council, this is indicated in the heading for the item concerned and the text is placed between quotation marks. Documents for which references are given in the text are available on the Council's Internet site (http://www.consilium.europa.eu)
Acts adopted with statements for the Council minutes which may be released to the public are indicated by an asterisk; these statements are available on the Council's Internet site or may be obtained from the Press Office
PROVISIONAL VERSION 10.V.2012
CULTURE
— European Capitals of Culture.................................................................................................................................18
SOCIAL POLICY
— Coordination of social security systems regulation................................................................................................18
INTERNAL MARKET
— Interconnection of business registers.....................................................................................................................19
ERGY
— Ecodesign requirements for glandless stand-alone circulators integrated into products........................................19
TRANSPORT
— Rules on maintenance of light aircraft...................................................................................................................20
— Fees levied by the European Aviation Safety Agency...........................................................................................20
— Air services agreements with Sri Lanka and Macao *...........................................................................................20
— Technical specifications for interoperability of European railways.......................................................................21
VIRONMT
EUEcolabel...........................................................................................................................................................21
HEALTH
— Pharmacovigilance - Enforcement of obligations..................................................................................................22
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
— 37th meeting of the I I A Council..........................................................................................................................22
WRITT PROCEDURES
— Antidumping measures - Sodium cyclamate - China.............................................................................................22
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
PARTICIPANTS
Belgium:
Mr Jean-Claude MARCOURT
Ms Isabelle WEYKMANS Ms Joke SCHAUVLIEGE
Bulgaria:
Mr Sergei IGNATOV Mr Mitko TODOROV Mr Ivan TSOV
Czech Republic:
Ms Alena HANAKOVA Mr Jifi NANTL
Denmark:
Ms Christine ANTORINI Mr Uffe ELB^K Mr Jesper HERMANS Mr Jesper FISKER
Germany:
Ms Annette SCHA VAN Mr Bernd NEUMANN Mr Guido PERUZZO
Estonia:
Mr Rein LANG Mr Gert ANTSU
Ireland:
Mr Ruairi QUINN
Ms Frances FITZGERALD
Mr Michael RING
Mr Jimmy DEIHAN Greece:
Mr Vasileios KOULAIDIS
Mr Ioannis LIVANOS
Mr Andreas PAPASTAVROU
Spain:
Mr José Ignacio WERT ORTEGA Mr Juan Manuel MORO BONILLA Mr Juan Luis SANCHEZ de MUNIAIN
France:
Mr Philippe LEGLISE-COSTA Italy:
Mr Lorenzo ORNAGHJ Mr Marco PERONACI
Vice-President and Minister for Economic Affairs, SMEs,
Foreign Trade and New Technologies
Minister for Culture, Media and Tourism
Flemish Minister for the Environment, Nature and Culture
Minister for Education, Youth and Science Deputy Minister for Culture
Deputy Minister for Physical Education and Sports Minister for Culture
First Deputy Minister for Education, Youth and Sports
Minister for Children and Education Minister for Culture
Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture State secretary, Ministry for Children and Education
Federal Minister for Education and Research Minister of State, Federal Chancellery Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Culture
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education and Skills
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
Minister of State with responsibility for Tourism and Sport
(Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport)
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
General Secretary, Ministry of Education General Secretary, Ministry of Education (Youth) Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education, Culture and Sport State Secretary for Social Services and Equality Minister for Culture, Tourism and Institutional Relationship of the Chartered Community of Navarre
Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Cultural Assets and Activities Deputy Permanent Representative
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Cyprus:
Mr Giorgos DEMOSTHOUS Latvia:
Mr Roberts KlLIS
Mr Juris STALMEISTARS
Lithuania:
Mr Gintaras STEPONAVICIUS Mr Arflnas GELÜNAS
Luxembourg:
Mr Francois BILTG
Ms Michèle EISBARTH Hungary:
Ms Rózsa HOFFMANN Mr Géza SZÖCS Mr Attila CZE
Malta:
Mr Patrick MIFSUD
Netherlands:
Mr Halbe ZIJLSTRA Mr Dirk OLDBURG
Austria:
Mr Norbert DARABOS Ms Claudia SCHMIED Mr Harald GÜNTHER
Poland:
Mr Miroslaw SIELATYCKI
Ms Karolina OSTRZYNIEWSKA
Portugal:
Mr Joao Filipe QUEIRÓ Mr Alexandre MESTRE Mr Francisco José VIEGAS Mr Pedro COSTA PEREIRA
Romania:
Ms Irina CAJAL MARIN Mr Cristian BADESCU
Slovenia:
Mr Ziga TURK
Slovakia:
Mr Stefan CHUBODA
Mr Alexander MICOVCIN Finland:
Mr Tapio KOSUN Ms Marja RISLAKKI
Minister for Education and Culture
Minister for Education and Science Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education and Science Minister for Culture
Minister for Justice, Minister for the Civil Service and Administrative Reform, Minister for Higher Education and Research, Minister for Communications and the Media, Minister for Religious Affairs Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary, Ministry of National Resources State Secretary, Ministry of National Resources State Secretary, Ministry of National Resources
Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science Deputy Permanent Representative
Federal Minister for Defence and Sport
Federal Minister for Education, the Arts and Culture
Deputy Permanent Representative
Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of National Education Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary for Higher Education State Secretary for Young People and Sport State Secretary for Culture Deputy Permanent Representative
State Secretary for Culture and Audiovisual Deputy Permanent Representative
Minister for Education, Science, Culture and Sport
State Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport
Deputy Permanent Representative State Secretary
Deputy Permanent Representative
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Sweden:
Ms Nyamko SABUNI Mr Joakim STYMNE
United Kingdom:
Mr Ed VAIZEY
Ms Shona ROBISON Mr David WILLETTS
Mr Andy LEBRECHT
Minister for Equal Opportunities State Secretary, Ministry of Culture
Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries
Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Minister for Universities and Science) Deputy Permanent Representative
Commission:
Ms Neelie KROES
Ms Androulla VASSILIOU
Vice President Member
The Government of the Acceding State was represented as follows:
CROATIA
Ms Milanka OPACIC
Ms Andrea ZLATAR VIOLIC Ms Marija LUGARIC
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Policy and Youth
Minister for Culture
Deputy Minister for Science, Education and Sport
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
ITEMS DEBATED
AUDIOVISUAL AND CULTURE
Digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material
The Council adopted conclusions on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation (). The conclusions aim to give new impetus to the digitisation process and constitute a response by the Council to the Commission recommendation of October 2011 (), which contains a set of updated and detailed measures for stepping up the digitisation of cultural heritage and its availability online
Furthermore, the conclusions underline that digitisation turns cultural material into a lasting asset for the digital economy, creating huge opportunities for innovation and creativity1 . The Annex of the conclusions includes an indicative roadmap with priorities for the work of member states in this field during the next 3 years
While the objectives set out in the roadmap take into account the limited public resources available, they also want to be ambitious enough in order to promote digitisation, the use of public-private partnerships, improve framework conditions for the on-line accessibility of cultural material and contribute to the further development of Europeana2, the EU online public library launched in 2008. After less than 4 years, it is already allowing access to more than 20 million digitised objects and has become increasingly interactive
Commissioner Kroes called on member states to mobilize the necessary funding for further developing Europeana and underlined the importance of reusing the digital cultural heritage
See also: The Digital Agenda for Europe ( /10). http://www. europeana. eu/
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Programme "Europe for Citizens" (2014-2020)
In public deliberation, the Council reached a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation establishing for the period 2014-2020 the programme "Europe for Citizens" (), which replaces the current programme of the same name that will expire in 2013
Since the proposal is part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (2014 - 2020) currently under discussion, the partial general approach does not include the provisions with budgetary implications. As the proposed legal basis for the regulation is article 352 of the TFEU, the Council must adopt it by unanimity, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament
Member states welcomed in general the proposal, which is a compromise resulting from the work in the Council preparatory bodies (/12) and seeks to increase the programme's efficiency and visibility. The new programme has simplified structure with three strands (Remembrance, Civic participation and Valorisation) and it aims to bring Europe closer to its citizens, as well as to improve citizens' awareness and understanding of the European Union, which should ultimately increase citizens' participation in the EU political life. The Commission proposes a budget of around 229 mil. EUR
European Capitals of Culture
The Council adopted a decision officially designating Donostia-San Sebastian (Spain) and Wroclaw (Poland) as European Capitals of Culture for 2016 ().
The European Capitals of Culture initiative was launched in 1985 in order to highlight in particular the richness and diversity of European cultures, celebrate the cultural ties that link Europeans together and promote mutual understanding between people from different European countries. Since then, over 40 cities have been designated and until 2019 cities from two member states will be designated each year as European capitals of culture
Spanish minister and the mayor of Wroclaw made a brief presentation of their cities. Commissioner Vassiliou underlined that these nominations must be the first step in a long term development strategy for the cities and the region. She also indicated that the Commission has set up a support programme for helping cities to prepare their year activities
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
"Creative Europe" Programme
In public deliberation, the Council reached a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation establishing the "Creative Europe" Programme for the period 2014-2020 (), and bringing together the three current independent programmes: CULTURE, MEDIA and MEDIA Mundus. Since this regulation is part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (2014 - 2020) currently under discussion, the partial general approach does not include the provisions with budgetary implications ().
This agreement constitutes a political mandate for succeeding Presidencies to engage in informal negotiations with the European Parliament during the second half of 2012 and hopefully reach overall agreement on the proposal early in 2013
The main objectives of the programme are to promote cultural diversity and enhance the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors. The programme proposes a budget allocation of 1,8 billion EUR and is organized around three strands:
-
-a cross-sectoral strand, including a new financial facility for the cultural and creative
sectors and measures promoting transnational policy cooperation;
a CULTURE strand;
a MEDIA strand
Activities supported by the programme shall present a potential European added value, and the programme will contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy and its flagship initiatives
Member states in general welcomed the structure of the programme as proposed by the Commission, provided that the cultural part and MEDIA-related part will be treated as separate strands, each having its own priorities, measures and budget. They also endorsed its specific objectives, such as the promotion of the transnational circulation of cultural and creative works and cultural workers, as well as the focus on audience development and improving the access to European cultural and creative works
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Several member states underlined that the intrinsic value of culture must be preserved and that the overall programme should be re-balanced towards a more non-profit, cultural dimension. Some considered that the Culture strand should only fund small scale, non-commercial projects
A number of member states called for adjustments to the comitology provisions, in order to strike a balance between the required flexibility in the programme's implementation and the need to ensure the appropriate involvement of member states
Commissioner Vassiliou underlined that it would not be fair to exclude from funding every profit making cultural or creative organization, since this would not only discourage them to search additional sources of financing but also to try to be successful
Ministers were also invited to have an exchange of views on the new Cultural and Creative Sectors Facility proposed in the programme, on the basis of a discussion paper prepared by the Presidency (). This loan instrument was designed to facilitate their access to finance of cultural and creative enterprises, 80 % of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. This should also be seen in the context of the general focus on the contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises to jobs and growth
Member states were in general favourable to this new instrument, considering it a step in the right direction but several member states pointed out that most SMEs in the Cultural and Creative Sectors would need to help in applying for financing and should have equal access to the Facility
A number of member states expressed concerns that this new lending Facility would replace grants and be economically and not to culturally orientated
Some member states were of the view that the Facility could lessen small and medium-sized enterprises dependence on public subsidies in some cases, while opening up new sources of revenue in others
Many member states underlined the need for clear criteria, as well as the importance of a geographical balance regarding access to loans. Several ministers called for complementarity between the Facility and national and European subsidies
The Commission underlined that the European Investment Fund was a guarantee in the financial sector. It also indicated that the Facility would not replace grants and that already 55% of grants in this sector already go to SMS with less than 10 employees
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
-
-Better Internet for Children
Commissioner KROES presented its communication on a European Strategy for a Better Internet for Children (), as a follow up to the Safer Internet Programme1 that will expire at the end of 2013. This communication is to be seen jointly with the proposal for a Connecting Europe Facility () and is structured around four main actions:
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-promoting high-quality content online for children and young people;
-
-stepping up children parents and teachers awareness and responsibility;
-
-creating a safe environment for children online by strengthening controls;
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-fighting against child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation
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-The Audiovisual Media Services Directive
The Commission presented its first report ( + ADD 1) on the application of directive /EU 2 ("the Audiovisual Media Services Directive"), which aims to ensure the free circulation of audiovisual media services as an internal market instrument, while at the same time ensuring the protection of important public policy objectives. Article 33 of the directive requires the Commission to publish a report on its application every 3 years
The first part of the report makes therefore an assessment of the implementation of the directive directive for the period of 2009-2010 and the second part addresses in a prospective way the influence of important technological changes on the regulatory framework
l
Decision /EC. OJL95, 15.4.2010
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Commissioner Kroes warned on the risks of fragmentation of European market and underlined the need for Europe to take the lead and not miss decisive opportunities. Commissioner also announced that the Commission had set up a Media Future Forum to analyse the trends in this field
State aid for films and other audiovisual works
The Council took note of information from the Austrian, French, German and United Kingdom delegations () regarding the draft Commission communication on state aid for films and other audiovisual works 1, which was published in March this year and is expected be adopted by the Commission during the second half of 2012. Its aim is to set criteria to assess the compatibility of national, regional and local film and audiovisual support schemes with EU state aid rules
These delegations are concerned with the impact of this communication on the competitiveness of European film industry. Several delegations underlined that this is a cultural good that needs to be supported and cannot simply be covered by the general state aid rules. Furthermore, it generates jobs in Europe. One member state voiced concerns on the consequences for the European linguistic diversity, in particular in smaller countries. These member states are invited to a meeting with the Commission in the beginning of June to discuss these issues
Work programme of the incoming Presidency
The Council took note of information from the Cypriot delegation on its programme for the second half of 2012 in the culture and audiovisual field. The main priorities of the future Presidency will be:
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-Enhance the intrinsic the value of culture and reinforce culture governance;
-
-Promote culture as a means of social inclusion;
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-Develop the Europe for Citizens programme;
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-Preservating of cultural and linguistic diversity and cultural heritage;
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-Preparing a recommendation on the European cinema in the digital era
1 http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_state_aid_films/draft_communication_en.pdf
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
SPORT
Doping in recreational sport
The Council adopted conclusions on combating doping in recreational sport (), with a view to raising awareness and defining a common framework on this matter, as well as to identifying best practices
The fight against doping in professional and elite sports continues to be a key element in securing the integrity of sport. Unfortunately, doping problems have also spread to recreational sports, to competitive amateur sports, fitness centres and even beyond the sporting sphere
The international fight against doping in elite and professional sport aims at achieving fair play in sport by way of control and sanctions. However, in the field of recreational sports, the goal of anti-doping measures is different: the focus being to secure the health of the exercising population and the integrity of recreational sport environments. In addition, trafficking of doping substances targeted at users in recreational sports makes this an issue of international concern
In particular, the conclusions call for:
-
-the development of educational programmes, information campaigns or other preventive measures regarding doping in recreational sport;
-
-close cooperation between public authorities, the sport movement and the fitness sector on developing joint projects, guidelines and regulations;
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-a framework of effective and appropriate national measures for the investigation and sanctioning of the production, trafficking, distribution and possession of doping substances in recreational sport
Furthermore, the conclusions also suggest that the mandate of the Expert Group on Anti-Doping established under the EU Work Plan for Sport 2011-14 1 should be extended to cover the fight against doping in recreational sports. This work would focus mainly on prevention, education and exchanging best practices
.
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Future challenges in the fight against doping
Ministers held a public debate on the future challenges in the fight against doping, including in recreational sport, on the basis of a Presidency discussion paper (). The aim of the debate was to provide guidelines for future EU cooperation in this field
This matter was also discussed at lunchtime during the "structured dialogue" between the Presidency, the extended troika, Commissioner Vassiliou, representatives of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, and representatives of the sports movement ( in particular, the International Olympic Committee, WAD A, the European Elite Athletes Association, the European Health and Fitness Association, the European Non-Governmental Sports Organisation and the International Sport and Culture Association)
Ministers discussed the legal, ethical and operational dimensions, such as issues associated with athletes' privacy and legal rights, proportionality of anti-doping measures, how to make most effective use of resources and if and how international cooperation between public authorities and international bodies can be strengthened to overcome these problems
The Commission recalled that the EU has taken an active role in the fight against doping in sport and the fight against doping in professional and elite sports already has well-established practices and traditions within the Council1. EU cooperation in the fight against doping is also closely linked to the work carried out within the Council of Europe, of which all EU members states are members, as well as in the framework of the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport
Most member states acknowledge that this is a public health problem and that there is a direct link between recreational and elite sports in terms of doping. Therefore the focus should be on prevention and information campaigns, starting as soon as possible with young athletes, since it's important to establish healthy habits from the beginning. Some member states also underlined that sports organizations must also assume their responsibilities in tackling this problem
Many member states underlined the importance of the revision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2 Code currently under way in order to dispose of an harmonized set of international rules
l
See also:
2
White Paper on Sport (COM(2007) 391 final)
Commission communication : "Developing the European Dimension in Sport" (). http://www. wada-ama. org
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
A number of member states also welcomed the good work developed by the expert group and were of the view that it should have an important role to play in coordination and cooperation within the EU, as well as in the exchange of best practices
Several member states expressed concerns on the exchange of athletes private data with countries which don't have the same level of guarantees on protection of private data as those applicable in the EU
Some member states also alerted for the fact that since new doping methods and substances are constantly being developed costs of testing are also increasing and proposed to increase cooperation with the pharmaceutical industry
Finally, Commissioner Vassiliou recalled that the provisions on sports of the new "Erasmus i for all" Programme also constituted an important tool to address this problem
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
-
-Work programme of the incoming Presidency
The Council took note of information from the Cypriot delegation regarding its programme for the second half of 2012 in sport related matters. The priorities of the future presidency will be, in particular:
-
-Promoting health enhancing activities;
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-Contributing to the revision of the WADA Code
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
OTHER ITEMS APPROVED FOREIGN AFFAIRS Relations with Montenegro
The Council decided to publish in the Official Journal decision No 1/2011 of the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council, see /11 REV 1. The decision, adopted on 21 June 2011, amended the rules of procedure of the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Agreement in view of setting up two joint consultative committees
ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
Financial Assistance to Georgia
The Council adopted a decision providing further macro-financial assistance to Georgia (ADD 1)
Risk-sharing instruments
The Council adopted a regulation amending Council regulation as regards certain provisions relating to risk sharing instruments for Member States experiencing or threatened with serious difficulties with respect to their financial stability (PE-CON)
VIRONMT
Biocidal products regulation
The Council adopted today 1 a regulation concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products (PE-CONS 3/12), which include insecticides, disinfectants and repellents, but not medicines or agricultural pesticides. The regulation shall apply from 1 September 2013 with a transitional period for certain provisions. (See press release, )
At the meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council, the Danish delegation voting against and the Austrian and Czech delegations abstaining
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
CULTURE
European Capitals of Culture
The Council adopted a decision on the practical and procedural arrangements relating to the nomination by the Council of the two members of the selection panel and the monitoring and advisory panel for the 'European Capital of Culture' Community action for the period 2013-2015
().
According to the decision establishing a Community action for the European Capitals of Culture 1 the first step in this nomination process is the selection, through a voluntary draw of two member states that will recommend one expert each. The Council confirmed that Austria and Estonia have been selected at the meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee on 25 April 2012
SOCIAL POLICY
Coordination of social security systems regulation
The Council adopted a regulation amending regulations and on the coordination of social security systems following an agreement in first reading with the European Parliament (PE-CON+COR1+REV1)
The amendments aim inter alia at providing a satisfactory solution in the case of wholly unemployed formerly self-employed frontier workers who were insured in their country of activity against unemployment and who returned to their member state of residence, where no insurance against the risk of unemployment exists
l
Decision (OJL 304, 3.11.2006).
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
INTERNAL MARKET Interconnection of business registers
The Council adopted a directive setting up a system for the interconnection of central, commercial and companies registers aimed at improving access to up-to-date and trustworthy information on companies (5/12 and ADD J).
Under the new directive, all EU member states engage in making possible electronic communication between registers and transmitting information to individual users in a standardised way, by means of identical content and interoperable technologies, throughout the Union
For more information see press release . ERGY
Ecodesign requirements for glandless stand-alone circulators integrated into products
The Council decided not to oppose adoption by the Commission of its regulation amending Commission regulation (EC) No as regards ecodesign requirements for glandless standalone circulators integrated into products ().
The draft regulation is subject to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. Now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adopt it, unless the European Parliament objects
PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
TRANSPORT
Rules on maintenance of light aircraft
The Council decided not to oppose adoption by the Commission of a regulation updating the rules on maintenance of light aircraft so as to better adapt them to the design and type of operation of such aircraft ().
The draft regulation, which amends the regulation of 2003 on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft, is subject to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny; now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adopt it, unless the European Parliament objects
Fees levied by the European Aviation Safety Agency
The Council decided not to oppose adoption by the Commission of a regulation updating the rules on the fees and charges levied by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) (). The update reflects the extension of the scope of the agency's activities by regulation on EASA and introduces more detailed rules on the way those fees and charges are to be paid
The draft regulation is subject to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny; now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adopt it, unless the European Parliament objects
Air services agreements with Sri Lanka and Macao *
The Council authorised the signing and provisional application of agreements on certain aspects of air services with Sri Lanka (Council decision: : text of agreement: ) and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (Council decision: : text of agreement: ).
The agreements supersede or complement the existing bilateral agreements that individual EU member states have with Sri Lanka and Macao, bringing their provisions into line with EU law. The issues covered include in particular non-discriminatory access of all EU air carriers to routes between the EU and Sri Lanka or Macao, competition rules, and, as far as Macao is concerned, the taxation of aviation fuel
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
Technical specifications for interoperability of European railways
The Council decided not to oppose adoption by the Commission of three decisions updating technical specifications for interoperability of the trans-European rail system relating to rolling stock, control-command and signalling, infrastructure, energy, operation, traffic management, safety in railway tunnels and persons with reduced mobility (, , ).
The draft decisions are subject to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny; now that the Council has given its consent, the Commission may adopt them, unless the European Parliament objects
VIRONMT
EU Ecolabel
The Council decided not to oppose the adoption of a Commission decision establishing the ecological criteria for the award of the EU Ecolabel for printed paper ().
The EU Ecolabel was established by regulation 66/20101 and is awarded to products with a reduced environmental impact during their entire life cycle
The draft decision is subject to what is known as the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. Now that the Council has given its consent the Commission may adopt it, unless the European Parliament objects
OJL27, 30.1.2010
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PROVISIONAL VERSION
10.V.2012
HEALTH
Pharmacovigilance - Enforcement of obligations
The Council decided not to oppose the adoption by the Commission of a regulation amending regulation concerning financial penalties for infringement of certain obligations in connection with marketing authorisations of medicinal products for human and veterinary use in the EU ().
The draft regulation is subject to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. Now that the Council has given its consent the Commission may adopt it, unless the European Parliament objects
EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA
37th meeting of the EEA Council
The Council established the European Union's common position for the 37th meeting of the European Economic Area Council which will be held on 14 May 2012
WRITT PROCEDURES
Antidumping measures - Sodium cyclamate - China
On 7 May, the Council adopted a regulation amending regulation imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of sodium cyclamate originating in, inter alia, China ().