EU Council: sanctions against Iran”Our message is clear: the Iranian nuclear programme is creating problems for us”: Catherine Ashton, High Representative for the external policy of the EU, briefly summed up the measures taken against Teheran by the Council of Ministers of the Union on 26 July. The new sanctions (relating especially to the sectors of energy, financial and technological assistance) are aimed at impacting on the Iranian economy and forcing the government to backtrack on its atomic enrichment programme. The last meeting before the summer break of the 27 EU foreign ministers also discussed the establishment of the EU diplomatic service and some political situations in the Middle and Far East and in Africa that are giving rise to concern. The General Affairs Council, for its part, among other points on the order of the day, defined the next steps in the negotiations for Iceland’s membership of the EU. The activity of the Council of Minister will resume in September; the meetings of the 27 heads of state and of government of the European Union have been scheduled for the end of October (28-29) and December (16-17), without prejudice to possible extraordinary meetings. Environment: the Commission funds 210 Life+ projects Protection of nature, environmental policy measures, information and awareness-raising of citizens: the 210 projects that the European Commission has decided to co-finance as part of its Life+ programme, i.e. the European Fund for the Environment, operate in these three main fields. Of the over 600 projects received by the Commission from all over the EU, following an EU competitive tender, a third were selected. To the winning projects will go 250 million euro as contribution from the budget of the 27, but the EU funding will be complemented by other public and private funds for an overall investment of 515 million. Janez Potocnik, Commissioner for the Environment, declares: “The Life+ programme continues to fund innovative projects of high quality. I consider that these new projects, apart from making a significant contribution to the protection of nature, will help to raise citizens’ awareness of the main environmental challenges which we are called to tackle, in particular the loss of biodiversity, shortage of water resources and climate change”. The chosen projects are aimed, for example, at safeguarding some animaI species, enhancing water resources, developing alternative forms of energy, protecting forests, providing measures for protection against noise, better utilization of the soil, and the identification of new strategic approaches for the urban environment. European customs impound counterfeit goodsFrom luxury goods to household objects: the actions taken by European customs at the frontiers to crack down on counterfeit or illegal products was stepped up in 2009. A Report presented by the Commission in recent days shows that in the previous twelve months the customs officers of EU member states conducted no less than 43,500 operations, leading to the impounding of 118 million articles destined for the EU market. Counterfeit cigarettes, clothing, medicines, and brand name goods “represent some of the main articles seized by the customs on suspicion of violation” of EU rules. But the Report further points out that: “A significant percentage of the goods seized are represented by products of daily use potentially harmful to the consumer, such as shampoo, toothpaste, toys, medicines or household appliances”. Algirdas Semeta, Commissioner for the Customs Union, commented: “The role of European customs is to protect our citizens and our businesses. The counterfeit products may constitute a serious risk for the health and safety of consumers, and at the same time cause significant damage to the legitimate manufacturers” of the products in question. The most frequently impounded goods include cigarettes (19% of the total), other tobacco products (16%), clothing and pharmaceuticals.Regions and cities: Open Days, enrolment beginsThe reform of cohesion policy after 2013 (next plurennial financial perspectives of the EU) and the local dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy: these are the two themes placed at the centre of the eighth annual Open Days, in other words the European Week of Regions and Cities, due to be held from 4 to 7 October. The Committee of the Regions, a consultative assembly of the EU composed by the representatives of the local authorities of the 27, together with the European Commission, is organizing the event, which is now open for enrolment. Some 6,000 participants are expected to enrol for the 100 workshops proposed in Brussels. A similar number of events will take place in decentralized venues. The programme consists of a mix of assemblies, exhibitions, opportunities for networking and “two thematic villages which – explain the promoters – will present good practices and local initiatives in the field of climate change and cross-border cooperation in Europe”. The Open Days also involve the European Parliament, businesses in the private sector and financial institutions: “The workshops and seminars will focus on the three central themes of competitiveness, cooperation and cohesion”.
