When you appoint a muppet…Ex-Council EEAS staff say ex-commission colleagues get preferential treatment by the European Commission’s human resources department, which handles EEAS internal affairs. EU countries cause jealousy by parachuting in diplomats for attractive jobs. And Ashton herself has bad relations with important … Continue reading →http://www.parker-joseph.com/pjcjournal/2011/09/30/when-you-appoint-a-muppet/

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To mark the first-ever Polish Presidency of the European Council and the European Year on Volunteering 2011, Group III will hold an Extraordinary Meeting and conference at the prestigious Presidential Palace in Warsaw on Friday 30 September 2011, in collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland and the European Commission.
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The EESC President Staffan Nilsson met Swedish Prime-minister Fredrik REINFELDT during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw on Friday. President Nilsson underscored once again the key role of civil society’s involvement in the Eastern Partnership. They also touched on the involvement of the EESC in the ongoing combat with the crises in the EU.
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(Version française bientôt disponible)Participants in a high-level conference on volunteering, held today in the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, pledged to spare no effort to sustain the momentum generated by the European Year of Volunteering in a bid to make life easier for volunteers. The conference, which brought together hundreds of civil society and voluntary organisations from the EU and Eastern Partnership countries, was organised by the European Economic and Social Committee’s Various Interests’ Group, in cooperation with the Polish Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland and the European Commission Representation in Poland.
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And so it begins in SpainThe EU has given temporary approval to rescue aid for three Spanish savings banks, NCG Banco, Catalunya Banc and Unnum Banc, the European Commission said Friday. The commission said the aid was needed to increase the banks’ solvency ratio up … Continue reading →http://www.parker-joseph.com/pjcjournal/2011/09/30/and-so-it-begins-in-spain/

This second annual Yearbook on Living and working in Europe 2010 aims to convey the main findings of some of Eurofound’s key currents of research – in particular, results and analysis from its three pan-European surveys on company practices, working conditions and quality of life.
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This report presents the results of a research programme analysing the quality of life in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in EU15 countries based on the European Quality of Life Survey. The findings confirm that material poverty is often combined with higher degrees of social exclusion in such neighbourhoods.
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Today the UN celebrate International Youth Day. The choice of theme for this year, Dialogue and mutual understanding, reflects the UN’s appreciation of the value of dialogue among youth from different cultures as well as among different generations. Eurofound’s recent work on employment issues for young people is highlighted as particularly relevant on this day.
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This report presents an overview of the employment and working conditions of nationals with a foreign background and nationals with a different ethnic affiliation. It highlights the scarcity of relevant data on these groups in EU countries and the different interpretation of EU legislation in debates across the EU27 on ethnic data collection.
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The actual working week of full-time employees was longer than the average normal collectively agreed working week in almost all EU Member States in 2010, according to Eurofound’s latest annual update of working time developments.
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The EU economy continued to grow over the last quarter with more positive data in particular from core economies. Problems of sovereign debt management however persist in several eurozone Member States. This issue also covers public sector restructuring in the UK.
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The unemployment rate for young people aged between 16 and 24 years in the EU27 is twice as high as the overall rate of unemployment. The recession has exacerbated this problem significantly. This issue of Foundation Findings provides pertinent background information and policy pointers for all actors and interested parties engaged in the current European debate on youth employment.
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This report is based on 21 case studies in four sectors (electromechanical engineering, food manufacturing, financial services and insurance activities, and wholesale and retail) in six countries: Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Spain and Sweden. The aim of this research was to investigate whether and how improvement of the quality of work can boost employee and establishment’s performance. Results indicate that the clearest link between quality of work and performance relates to training, skills and employability. Training contributes to improved performance mostly through increased ability to use technology and to meet customer demands. Training is also used when the potential alternative, recruitment, is a less optimal investment. An executive summary is available.
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Ms Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, outlined her ambitions with the Innovation Union Flagship initiative, the research and innovation pillar of the Europe 2020 strategy that aims to boost growth and jobs and tackle Europe’s most pressing societal challenges, during a visit to Eurofound today.
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Creating better jobs and working conditions are key elements of the European social model. Improving the quality of work and working conditions is, however, a new dimension within the European Employment Strategy which previously concentrated on quantitative measures such as increasing employment and reducing unemployment. The Lisbon Agenda implies that improving the quality and productivity of work could lead to more as well as better jobs. This study is based on 23 case studies in four sectors (electromechanical engineering, food, financial activities and insurance services, and wholesale and retail) in six countries (Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, Spain and Sweden). This report is a continuation of an earlier report. An executive summary is available.
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France still had the shortest average collectively agreed working week in 2010, at 35.6 hours. Collective bargaining plays an important role in determining working time in most of the EU, though to a lesser extent in some of the new Member States that joined in 2004 and 2007. Source: Working time developments – 2010
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The proposed guideline will replace guideline CPMP/EWP/612/00-Note for Guidance on Clinical Investigation of Medicinal Products for Treatment of Nociceptive Pain and the CHMP/EWP/252/03-Guideline on clinical investigation of medicinal products intended for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
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The proposed guideline will replace guideline CPMP/EWP/612/00-Note for Guidance on Clinical Investigation of Medicinal Products for Treatment of Nociceptive Pain and the CHMP/EWP/252/03-Guideline on clinical investigation of medicinal products intended for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
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Published on:

30 September 2011

The Scientific Committee reviewed the current state-of-the-science on genotoxicity testing and provided a commentary and recommendations on genotoxicity testing strategies. A step-wise approach is recommended for the generation and evaluation of data on genotoxic potential, beginning with a basic battery of in vitro tests, comprising a bacterial reverse mutation assay and an in vitro micronucleus assay. Consideration should be given to whether specific features of the test substance might require substitution of one or more of the recommended in vitro tests by other in vitro or in vivo tests in the basic battery. In the event of negative in vitro results, it can be concluded that the substance has no genotoxic potential. In case of inconclusive, contradictory or equivocal results, it may be appropriate to conduct further testing in vitro. In case of positive in vitro results, review of the available relevant data on the test substance and, where necessary, an appropriate in vivo study to assess whether the genotoxic potential observed in vitro is expressed in vivo is recommended. Suitable in vivo tests are the mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus test, transgenic rodent assay, and Comet assay. The approach to in vivo testing should be step-wise. If the first in vivo test is positive, no further testing is necessary and the substance should be considered as an in vivo genotoxin. If the test is negative, it may be possible to conclude that the substance is not an in vivo genotoxin. However, in some cases, a second in vivo test may be necessary (e.g. if the first test is negative but more than one endpoint in the in vitro tests are positive, an in vivo test on a second endpoint may be necessary). The combination of assessing different endpoints in different tissues in the same animal in vivo should also be considered.

© European Food Safety Authority, 2011

Scientific opinion on genotoxicity testing strategies applicable to food and feed safety assessment

Published on:

30 September 2011

Outcome of the public consultation on the draft scientific opinion Genotoxicity Testing Strategies

This information day covers aspects of pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacovigilance of most current interest related to the consolidation of European Network of Centres for Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacovigilance (ENCePP). It is covering the ENCePP code of conduct and the guide on methodological standards in pharmacoepidemiology.
This event represents an occasion to receive feedback from representatives from regulatory authorities, industry and academia on the role of ENCePP in post authorisation research.
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The level of positive interest surrounding the EIT in its early stages is powerful evidence of the fact that the EIT and its activities are not only noteworthy but worth pursuing. The results of the Open Consultation show, in the words of the European Commission, “a high level of support to the EIT mission, objectives, and added value”, and the External Evaluation states that “There is a consensus amongst those interviewed for this study that the stated objectives of the EIT are all relevant. Overall, support for the EIT is strong.”

The EIT does not, however, see this as endorsement to rest on its laurels – quite the opposite. It is also very receptive to the constructive criticism mentioned in particular in the External Evaluation. The EIT is very proud, not only to share its accomplishments, but equally importantly, to announce speedy developments since then in setting up the foundations for further progress. In this connection, on 18 May 2011, the EIT Governing Board appointed José Manuel Leceta as Director of the EIT. He took up his duties on 01 July 2011 and has already introduced a series of measures to streamline key business processes, to help implement the Board’s future strategies and, most importantly, to add value to KICs including service offerings beyond grant giving.

The Evaluation recommends that the EIT’s focus up to 2014 should be on consolidation and delivery. This is very much being embraced by the EIT Governing Board as it is building upon the lessons learned to date, is focusing on consolidating the efforts undertaken so far to translate these into concrete outcomes, and on further delivering the results and messages needed to turn the EIT into a globally recognised Institute for innovation excellence, both for its operations and intelligence. Beyond this the EIT will be focussing its efforts on becoming a true innovation impact investor under its new Chairman of the Governing Board Alexander von Gabain, who took up his role on 15 September 2011.

Full statement from the EIT Governing Board

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This workshop is organised by the European Union Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases and the European Medicines Agency. Its objectives are to discuss patient registries including their consequences for regulators. Participants include a panel of international experts, industry and European Commission representatives. Registration closed.
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Yesterday the first KIC Office was inaugurated for Climate-KIC. As outlined in the EIT Regulation, the EIT comprises of three elements: the EIT Governing Board, the EIT Director’s team and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities and it is thus important for the EIT and the KICs to have the option to closely work together.

The office was inaugurated by John Schellnhuber (Chairman of the Climate KIC’s General Assembly) and Alexander von Gabain (Chairman of the EIT Governing Board) in the presence of Mary Ritter (Climate-KIC CEO) and José Manuel Leceta (EIT Director). Representatives from their community were also present to celebrate the piloting style of close collaboration the EIT has with private companies, higher education institutes and research centres from across Europe as members of its KICs. Now the EIT and its KIC partners can really work together under “the same roof” both literally and figuratively.

The inauguration of the Climate-KIC office took place during a busy week for Climate-KIC here in Budapest. The inauguration followed Climate-KIC’s General Assembly and preceded its Innovation Festival.

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This workshop is organised by the European Union Committee of Experts on Rare Diseases and the European Medicines Agency. Its objectives are to discuss patient registries including their consequences for regulators. Participants include a panel of international experts, industry and European Commission representatives. Registration closed.
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Euro area annual inflation is expected to be 3.0% in September 2011 according to a flash estimate issued by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. It was 2.5% in August.
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The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in August 2011, unchanged compared with July. It was 10.2% in August 2010. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.5% in August 2011, unchanged compared with July. It was 9.6% in August 2010.
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In order to avoid some of the mistakes that led to the current crisis, a new economic order must be built in which ethics and morality play a more central role, said participants in the meeting of the European Economic and Social Committee Employers’ Group titled “Business and Ethics”, which was held in Sopot (Poland). The meeting, which gathered EESC Members, business leaders, philosophers and journalists was organised in the framework of the European Forum for New Ideas and under the leadership of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.
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As third step towards reinforcing EU economic governance, the Commission puts forward a package of six regulatory legislative proposals for concrete legal instruments.

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Germany, Estonia and Cyprus approve expanded role for eurozone bailout fundFinancial markets and eurozone leaders responded positively to the news that the Bundestag approved the expanded EFSF, although the FT reports that within the German government the main response was relief. The debate will now turn to whether the EFSF can be increased through bigger guarantees or leveraging its existing funds.http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/summary.aspx?id=2693

Allegation(s)

1) The Commission wrongly refused to reimburse the complainant for the travel expenses her family incurred in order to leave Guinea.

2) The Commission failed to implement an appropriate human resources policy concerning the appointment of its staff in EU Delegations in places considered “difficult” or “very difficult”.

3) The Commission failed to ensure the security of its staff members and their families in places considered “difficult” or “very difficult”.

Claim(s)

1) The Commission should reimburse the complainant for the travel expenses incurred by her family in order to leave Guinea.

2) The Commission should revise its policy concerning the appointmen
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The JRC-organised conference ‘Scientific Support for Food Security and Global Governance’, held on Wednesday 28 September in Brussels attracted 380 participants for a high-level discussion on the need to reconcile the necessity to increase production and competitiveness while respecting sustainable development in the framework of global governance. The conference focused on the links between food security and science, the interdependence between agriculture and environment, and the need for new global governance for improved food availability.

The daylong programme featured 21 speakers with attendees coming from national governments and international organisations EU Institutions, industry and NGOs, and research institutes and universities. Senior officials from the United Nations, the World Bank, the ACP Group of States and the EU presented ongoing initiatives ranging from crops monitoring and forecasting to concrete projects in the food system. Others analysed the sustainability of food production, food price volatility and food supply governance.

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