On 5 April 2010 the new EU Visa Code became applicable, concerning short-stay visas (for 90 days). The Visa Code affects third-country nationals, who want to travel to the 22 EU states and the three non-EU members of the Schengen area, without internal border controls. More than 10 million visas were issued in 2008.
MAIN FOCUS: Europe stands by Greece | 26/03/2010 from euro|topics The Eurogroup countries on Thursday evening agreed a rescue package for Greece that entails a mixture of bilateral loans and International Monetary Fund help. According to the press the plan demonstrates Europe’s will to overcome the crisis as a group, but also calls the monetary … Read more
Source: Pro Inno Europe
From Europa Press Release:
Most EU Member States until 2008 were steadily improving their innovation performance. The economic crisis may, however, be hampering this progress, according to the 2009 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) published today. Early indications show that the worst hit are Member States with lower levels of innovation performance, potentially reversing the convergence process witnessed over recent years. Meanwhile, the latest statistics show that the EU is having difficulty in catching up with the US in innovation performance, although it maintains a clear lead over the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China, despite rapid improvements in China.
Report on equality between women and men 2010
Source: European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
From Main Developments:
Combating persisting gender inequalities in all spheres of society is a longer-term challenge, since it entails structural and behavioural changes and a redefinition of the roles of women and men. Progress is slow, and gender gaps persist as regards employment rates, pay, working hours, positions of responsibility, share of care and household duties, and risk of poverty.
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The financial ministers of the Eurozone countries have not as it turns out presented a concrete bailout plan for Greece, but merely agreed at the beginning of the week on “technical modalities” for the approval of such a plan. The Eurozone countries lack a strong leadership, say some commentators, while others see progress and call for still more cooperation.
Introduced by the Lisbon Treaty, the European External Action Service is intended to give the Union a greater role in foreign policy. Yet its scope and competences are the subject of fierce debate among EU countries.
If implemented, the strategy should bring “at least 2% growth” to Europe, Barroso said, presenting his proposals in Brussels on Wednesday (3 March).
In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There?s a dyin? voice within me reaching out somewhere,
20 women who run the EU (blogosphere) by Julien Frisch In the German blogosphere, we have recently seen a controversial debate (started by annalist) about the question why only men were among the so-called “alpha bloggers” in a video series about important bloggers, a debate that has led to the inclusion of female bloggers in … Read more
Halal burgers raise French hackles from FT.com – World, Europe A chain of fast-food restaurants is in a pickle after saying some branches will use different ingredients to attract more Muslim customers French politicians in a stew over fast-food chain’s halal menu from FT.com – World, Europe A chain of French fast-food restaurants has got … Read more
EU finance ministers gathered in Brussels yesterday to formalise a timetable for the Greek government to reduce its budget deficit from 12.7% to 3% by 2012.
Europeans broadly satisfied with their lives, but survey highlights concerns over the future of the economic and social situation
Source: Europa
From press release:
Europeans are on average broadly satisfied with their personal situation, but less satisfied when it comes to the economy, public services and social policies in their country, according to an opinion survey released today. The Eurobarometer on the social climate in the EU also found large differences between countries, with people in the Nordic countries and the Netherlands generally most satisfied with their personal situation. The survey forms part of the European Commission?s Social Situation Report, also released today, which examines social trends in Europe, this year focusing on housing?.
Command and control? Planning for EU military operations Source: Institute for Security Studies Summary: This paper assesses the effectiveness of the European Union?s capability for the planning and conduct of military operations. Given the fact that the planning and conduct phases of an operation can never be fully isolated from each other, the paper does … Read more
If you believe the comments of bloggers from all over Europe, the Kücükdeveci case (C-555/07) in front of the European Court of Justice might have been both, another milestone in the legal primacy of EU law over national law and a precedent for the importance of the Charta of Fundamental Rights after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.