Regulation against air pollution The procedures concerning the new EU regulation on air quality lasted over two and a half years. The document, definitively approved on April 14, will be published on the Official Journal in May and will be enforced in 2011. It covers the Executive’s proposal of September 2005 almost entirely and “shows the Union’s commitment in the improvement of air quality through the establishment of binding limits to fine particle emissions”. Commissioner Stavros Dimas reiterated “citizens’ concern for air pollution which affects the environment and human health. This directive responds to their worries since it fixes high but realistic standards to eliminate” the smog caused by fine particles (health-hazardous fine dust PM10 is regulated already by specific legislation). The directive encompasses previous measures. It envisages that Member States reduce by 20% exposition to fine particles by the year 2020. European Space for researchThe European Commission has appointed the 22 members of the European Research Area Board (Erab) which includes scholars and experts from the academic, research and enterprise environments, appointed to provide counsel and expertise in the scientific field, “in view of the creation of a European Research space”. “The debate upon our Green Book highlighted the need to step-up the Community dimension of research”, explained commissioner Janez Potocnik. “This objective will be pursued only with the support of Member States, scientists, enterprises and of a large number of interested parties”. Members of Erab include Robert Aymar (Cern – Centre européen pour la recherche nucléaire, Switzerland); Karol Musiol, (University of Krakow, Poland); Lena Treschow Torell (Royal Swedish Academy); Georg Winckler (European University Association, Belgium); John Wood (Imperial College London, United Kingdom).Globalization and European social model”The European social model is more than ever valid. It should however be improved to face the challenges of globalization”. Following the outcome of a survey presented a few days ago, the EU Commission organized an international conference in Brussels on April 16 to discuss the social implication of globalization processes and “how these can translate into opportunities for the European Union”. The Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla explained: “A number of European citizens are concerned about their jobs and their pensions. However, a strong social model and fulfillment within globalized economies are not antithetical. They should instead progress on an equal footing”. An attempt to respond to concerns put forward by European citizens was made by the survey “Is social Europe ready for globalization?” according to which such concerns “are ungrounded”. According to the research conducted by the Centre for European Political Studies chaired by Iain Begg (London School of Economics), “some of the most flourishing economies in Northern Europe combine high employment rates with income equity rates which are much higher than in other parts of the world, preserving at the same time an important and efficient public sector”. The survey stresses the need to modernize social policies, invest in human resources, and enable economies to face up with population ageing, “the new competitive sources” and climate changes. Will 2011 be the EU year of volunteer work?Approximately 100 million EU citizens “of all ages, beliefs and nationalities are committed in volunteer work”, while according to an Eurobarometer survey, 80% of Europeans consider volunteer work as “an important aspect of Europe’s democratic life”. Furthermore, “according to research, volunteer work represents 5% of the GDP of national EU economies and develops innovative action aimed at identifying, expressing and satisfying societies’ needs”. This is the object of a statement submitted to the Euro-Parliament which “solicits the Commission, with the support of all EU institutions, to proclaim the year 2011 the European Year of Volunteer Work”. If it will be signed by the majority of MEPs by July, the statement will become the official position of the Assembly. In the past few months the request was endorsed by a number of organizations active in the field of volunteer work including Caritas Europe, the European Centre of Volunteer Work, the European Youth Forum, the Association of volunteer work organizations (Avso), World Scout Movement and the EU Red Cross Office.
