Food aid for the needy The EU allocated 480 euros of food aid for 2011. The budget is the same as for the 2009 and the 2010 plans. A plan for the free distribution of food to the neediest people in the Community – with the financial support of Member States working with charities and/or local social services – was launched as an urgent measure during the harsh winter of 1986/1987, when surpluses of agricultural products were given to charities in the Member States for distribution to those who needed them. This measure has since become a permanent feature with the Commission adopting a new plan each year in favour of “people living in poverty, including families in difficulties, elderly people with insufficient means, the homeless, the disabled, children at risk, the working poor, migrant workers and asylum seekers”, states the Commission. Dacian Ciolos, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development (the program draws from existing intervention stocks, provided for by the Common Agricultural Policy) said: “The Aid for the Needy Scheme is a further sign that the Common Agriculture Policy is not just for farmers, but for all EU citizens. Last year – Ciolos remarked – an estimated 13 million people benefited from the various national programmes”. Research, JCR seeks 270 new “talents” The EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) launches a recruitment drive addressed to young researchers and talents in EU27. Candidates can apply on-line between 30 September and 4 November at: www.eu-careers.eu. The JRC is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. Its mission is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies. Over 270 successful candidates will be recruited in the following fields: chemistry, biology and health sciences; physics; structural mechanics; quantitative policy analysis; spatial sciences; environmental sciences; energy sciences and communication/information technology. JRC’s research institutes are located in Italy (Ispra), Spain (Seville), the Netherlands (Petten), Germany (Karlsruhe) and Belgium (Geel). European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: “The JRC has a unique position at the centre of European science and of EU policy making: an exciting working environment for researcher. I welcome the launch of these competitions and I’m confident we will attract some of Europe’s best talents”.EU Commission: common action to counter cyber-attacksEurope seeks new ways to defend itself from cyber-attacks. A few days ago the Commission unveiled two new measures: a directive and a proposal for a regulation. The former is to deal with new cyber crimes, such as large-scale cyber attack, while the latter aims to strengthen and modernise the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA). The two initiatives are foreseen by the Digital Agenda for Europe and the Stockholm Programme to boost trust and network security. Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, in charge of Home Affairs, said: “Crime is finding new ways. With the help of malicious software, it is possible to take control over a large number of computers and steal credit card numbers, find sensitive information or launch large-scale attacks. It is time for us to step up our efforts against cyber crime, also often used by organised crime”. The proposals we are putting forward today are one important step, as we criminalise the creation and selling of malicious software and improve European police cooperation”. Under the proposed Directive, “the perpetrators of cyber attacks and the producers of related and malicious software could be prosecuted, and would face heavier criminal sanctions”. Member States would be also obliged to quickly respond to urgent requests for help in the case of cyber-attacks, “rendering European justice and police cooperation in this area more effective”. Strengthening and modernising ENISA would also help the EU, Member States and private stakeholders “develop their capabilities and preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to cyber-security challenges”. Both proposals will be forwarded to the European Parliament and the EU’s Council of Ministers for adoption.
