European Commission

Involvement of civil society organisations crucial to effectively run EU funds, says EU-Commission

The European Commission responds to a civil society open letter by assuring its determination to defend the objectives of the European Code of Conduct on Partnership. In November 2012 the Platform of European Social NGOs sent an open letter to the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission supporting the proposal on the Partnership principle in the regulation on structural funds. The letter voiced concerns on a existing trend towards weakening participation of socio-economic and (...)

Consultation for the review of the European policy on organic agriculture

Organic farming and production play a significant economic role in the EU’s agricultural landscape. They can provide a market-oriented alternative for agricultural producers wishing to respond to the increasing demand for high-quality, eco-friendly products. In this consultation, the European Commission would like your views on how organic farming should be best developed. The Public Consultation is available on the website of the European Commission Background - organic farming (...)

[Seminar report] Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing

The event ’Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing’ focused on the connection between health inequalities and affordable housing. It emphasised that investment in good quality housing can bring returns in health and environmental outcomes. Evidence shows that decent housing is an important social and environmental determinant of health These determinants lie outside of the health sector . Nevertheless, neither health professionals nor health policymakers (...)

Eurobarometer reports: Discrimination in the EU 2012 (1) & Accessibility (2)

European anti-discrimination legislation is among the most extensive in the world. In 2000, the European Union adopted two very far-reaching laws [Directive 2000/43/EC and Directive 2000/78/EC] to prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. As far as racial and ethnic origin is concerned, this legislation extends to other aspects of daily life, such as education and social services. These reports (...)

Unemployment Remains at Alarming High level: Euro unemployment rate rose tot 11.8%. EU27 to 10.7%

Unemployment rates remain at record high levels. The euro area (EA17) unemployment rate was 11.8% in November 2012, up from 11.7% in October. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.7% in November 2012, stable compared with October. Figures hit new highs and risk to undermine social protection systems in southern Europe. Eurostat estimates that more than 26 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 18 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2012, which is the highest level (...)

Public Consultation on ensuring sustainable development globally: EU follow-up to Rio+20.

The Rio+20 World Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in June this year and followed previous related UN summits - Stockholm (1972), Rio de Janeiro (1992) and Johannesburg (2002). The aim of Rio+20 was to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development by assessing progress to date, identifying remaining gaps in the implementation of past commitments, and addressing new and emerging challenges. Background The Summit’s focus was on two intertwined themes: "a Green (...)

European Commission taken to Court over privileged access for corporates in EU-India free trade talks

Corporate Europe Observatory launched a legal action against the European Commission for witholding information related to the EU free trade negotiations with India, while sharing the same information with corporate lobbyists. The European Court of Justice will hear the case on January 11 2013. CEO accuses the Commission of discriminating in favour of corporate lobby groups and of violating the EU’s transparency rules. The lawsuit (T-93/11) concerns 17 documents related to the (...)

Clear the smoke in Brussels - ALTER EU Petition to request more transparency

The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) has just launched an online-petition demanding the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to end the secrecy and release the full facts about “Dalligate” - a scandal described as the biggest interference of the tobacco lobby in European politics to date. Sign and share Under the right to ’Freedom of Information’, ALTER EU requested meaningful information from the European Commission (...)

[Press Release] Economic policies must address the real impact of crisis on people living in Europe

Brussels, 30 November – The 3rd Annual Growth Survey (AGS), setting out what the European Commission believes must be the EU’s priorities for the coming 12 months in terms of economic, budgetary policies and reforms to boost growth and employment, was released on November 28.(1) The European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) welcomes the survey as it recommends moving away from austerity policies (2), which are difficult for European populations and economies, and places an (...)

The fine art of lobbying - Lobbying the EU in Times of Crisis

EPHA attended the 13 November 2012 meeting on ’EU-Lobbying in Zeiten der Krisen’ organised by the permanent representation of Lower Saxony to the EU.