New Network kick-off replacing EIC and IRC services to European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

EICs and IRCs services definitively come to an end. Following the Decision No.1639/2006/EC, new network services will be grouped to cover business co-operation, internationalization services, innovation, tech transfer and knowledge sectors. The new network is expected to become effective from January 1st 2008.

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Key Energy Players from EU/Mediterranean area

The Conference of Sharm El Sheikh has identified some major issues of trans-regional co-operation in the energy sector for hydrocarbons and renewables in the Mediterranean area, with the specific aim of providing an added value to the existing Euro-Mediterranean energy cooperation and the EU-GCC (Gulf Co-operation Council)...

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Cooperation between transferring development models and rethinking local empowerment

Cooperation is carried out at different levels. In order to avoid a fruitless assistance, we should not narrow down to the idea of giving help upon a request for it, this would mean that there was an emergency. We all know that ACP countries are very rich of natural or mineral resources. In Brazil only a small part of the fertile soil for agriculture is effectively exploited...

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To attract highly skilled migrants the E.U. has recently launched the so-called “blue card” plan. Similar  to the United States Green card, the Blue Card is a visa opening the EU labor market to “highly skilled”  migrants granting them the right to work and live anywhere in the EU. About 20 million workers from Asia, Africa and Latin America could be admitted over the next  two decades. The plan who has been conceived to meet the growing need for skilled workers in the field of science, engineering and computer technology needs now to be approved by the 27 European Union Member States to come into force. The idea behind the plan is to boost economic growth by resorting to highly skilled foreign workers who traditionally prefer the U.S.A., Canada and Australia and to counterbalance the recent years brain drain.

The European Commission has  said OK to the placing on the market of four genetically modified products:  three trains of maze and a sugar beet. The EC’s go-ahead came as consequence for the 27 Member States default to reach a consensus agreement on whether to accept or ban GMOs crops. The authorization does not allow their cultivation in the E.U. but only its importation for food and feed animals for the next 10 years. The Commission and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will guaranty an assessment and labeling and traceability of such products. Since the moratorium on approval of GMOs products was lifted in 2004, 15 genetically modified products have been authorized. The debate over the famous “potato” is still ongoing.

After having gained elections last 21 October, the new Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated his intention to adopt a more moderate foreign policy, in order to  move away from the recent marginalization Poland has suffered because of  outgoing Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski and his highly conservative position. Mr. Tusk expressed his concern about repairing the relationships with Moscow and Brussels. EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso congratulated the newly elected Prime Ministers expecting a “a fruitful cooperation with the next Polish government.". Many others European leaders expressed satisfaction at the victory of a pro-EU liberal leader.

The Lazio Regional Transplantation Agency plans for  gaining more influence on debates and stakeholders consultations related to the new EC directive draft on transplantations. After having organized the first summit of EU National and Regional Transplantations Centers, held in Rome at the end of last June, the President of LRTA Carlo Umberto Casciani says that the new directive should include some governance themes, fostering an effective participation of local Health Authorities to better support the specific aims provided by the announced new settlement: safety and traceability of transplantations. These aims are expected to issue a strong response to illegal "traffics" of organs and related crimes as explained by EU JFS Commissioner Franco Frattini, who participated to the summit.