Public consultation on the law applicable to “international divorces”

Thousands of citizens divorce each year in the European Union. Many of these divorces concern marriages between spouses of different nationalities or spouses living in different Member States. However, there are currently no Community rules on the law applicable to divorces. Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 sets out rules on the jurisdiction of courts and provides for mutual recognition of divorce judgements, but does not include conflict-of-law rules.

According to Franco Frattini, Vice-President of the Commission and Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security, “it is currently difficult for an ‘international’ couple who want to divorce to predict which national divorce law the divorce court will apply.” For example, a Portuguese-Italian couple who split up shortly after marrying and move back to their respective Member States may apply for divorce in either Portugal or Italy.

As part of the European Union’s ongoing work to create a common judicial area in the field of family law with the aim of facilitating the daily life of citizens, on 14 March 2005 the European Commission published a Green Paper on the applicable law and jurisdiction in divorce matters concerning spouses of different nationalities or spouses living in a Member State that is not their country of origin. By means of this document, the Commission has launched a public consultation which might lead to legislative proposals.

The Commission asks all interested parties whether they are in favour of harmonising conflict-of-law rules and, if so, which rules should be adopted. It also asks respondents whether a limited possibility should exist for the spouses to choose the applicable law in divorce proceedings. Read the Green Paper on: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/justice_home/index_en.htm. The deadline for submission of comments is 30 September 2005.

 

News from the institutions

Commission approves a Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers

On 11 March 2005, the European Commission adopted a recommendation comprising a European Charter for Researchers and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. These two instruments should help counter the fragmentation of research careers in Europe and allow Europe to make the most of its scientific potential. It is estimated that an additional 700,000 researchers would be required to achieve the declared target of assigning 3% of GDP to R&D and to compensate for the ageing of the workforce in the research sector. The new European Charter for Researchers is expected to contribute to attaining the following objectives: improve Europe’s attractiveness for researchers and strengthen the participation of women researchers; offer researchers long-term career prospects by improving their employment and working conditions, building a positive public attitude towards the researchers’ profession and encouraging all forms of mobility within research careers. The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers aims to improve the recruitment of researchers and to promote more equitable and transparent selection procedures. The document argues that merit should be judged qualitatively as well as quantitatively, focusing on outstanding results within a diversified career path and not only on the number of publications. Consequently, recruiters should use a wider range of evaluation criteria, such as teaching, supervision, teamwork, knowledge transfer, management of research and innovation, and public awareness activities. For more information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/eracareers/europeancharter

EU Action Plan for Sustainable Forest Management

The Commission has recently proposed drawing up an EU Action Plan for Sustainable Forest Management. The need for an Action Plan emerged from a review of the activities implemented in the context of the EU Forestry Strategy since its adoption in 1998. The review shows that forests can provide multiple benefits to modern society and are crucial to fulfilling the Union’s commitment to halt the loss of biodiversity and mitigate climate change. The Commission believes that the development of an EU Action Plan for Sustainable Forest Management could provide the necessary impetus to transform the Strategy into a dynamic process capable of responding to the newly emerging expectations of society. The report also stresses the need to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation as well as coordination and coherence between forest policy and other policies that affect forestry. Furthermore, it reiterates the EU’s support for international processes aimed at achieving sustainable forest management worldwide. The Commission’s Communication highlights that the competitiveness and the economic viability of the “EU forestry model” are increasingly being challenged in the global market place. There are about 15 million private forest owners in the EU who provide a wide range of environmental and social goods and services to society, and whose revenues depend largely on wood sales. According to the Communication, these issues need to be addressed if multipurpose forest management – simultaneously serving economic, social and environmental objectives – is to be maintained in the EU in the future. For more information, visit: http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/publi/reports/forestry/index_en.htm (text of the Communication) and http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/fore/index_en.htm (European Union’s Forest Strategy).

Launch of EU platform for action against obesity

European Consumer Day (15 March 2005) saw the launch, in Brussels, of the “EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health”, which brings together a number of key actors who share a major public health objective: combating obesity. The Platform includes the following institutions and organisations, among others: the European Commission, the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA), EuroCommerce, the European Community of Consumer Cooperatives (EuroCoop), the European Consumers Organisation (BEUC), the European Heart Network (EHN), the European Modern Restaurants Association (EMRA), the European Vending Association (EVA), the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF), the Standing Committee of European Doctors (SCED), the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA), etc. The rising incidence of obesity, particularly among young people, is so alarming that platfortm members are determined to act jointly and devote more resources to promoting healthier diets and more physical activity in order to contain or reverse the current trend. Participation in the Platform’s activities is on a voluntary basis and aims to promote better practices and the adoption of codes of conduct. The European Platform will support national and local initiatives and will serve as a forum to exchange expertise, evaluate the measures taken and monitor the fulfilment of commitments. A Green Paper on public health, diet and physical activity – integrating the European Platform – will be published by the European Commission by the summer of 2005.

 

News from the networks

Fourth World Committee combats poverty and social exclusion

On 5 March last, the Fourth World European Committee (an “Intergroup” in the European Parliament) sent an open letter to the Heads of State or Government of the EU and to the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, requesting them to adjust their approach to the Lisbon Strategy by 1) confirming the EU’s commitment to social inclusion as a priority objective of the Lisbon Agenda; 2) guaranteeing that National Action Plans for inclusion are maintained in order to coordinate anti-poverty policies; and 3) guaranteeing that the Spring Summit and overarching instruments such as the strategic annual report of the Commission, the Community Lisbon action programme and the national action programmes do not only focus on “growth and jobs” but also integrate a balanced vision of the European Social Model. In its letter, the Fourth World European Committee recalls that there are still 68 million people living in poverty in the EU and states its belief that “the fight against poverty and social exclusion should remain an essential component of all EU policies”. According to the Committee, the Inclusion Strategy has shown that poverty is a “multidimensional phenomenon, where difficulties, deprivation and precariousness accumulate and interact, whether in employment, housing, health, education, culture or access to services”. The full text of the letter is available on: http://www.atd-quartmonde.org/europe/deleg_ue/LO0503en.pdf

 

Funding opportunities

Promoting technology transfer

The European Commission has published a call for proposals for indirect RTD actions under the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration: “Structuring the European Research Area”. The aim of the call is to identify new methods of promoting and encouraging transnational technology transfer. Total indicative budget: €10.5 million. Applicants are requested to submit their proposals (only in electronic format) by 15 June 2005. For further information, contact: European Commission, FP6 Information Desk, Directorate-General for Research and Technological Development, B-1049 Brussels, Website: http://www.cordis.lu/fp6. Call FP6-2005-INNOV-7, OJ C 63 of 15 March 2005.

 

Forthcoming events

30 March 2005, Brussels (BE)

The European Patent Office is the executive body of the European Patent Organisation, an intergovernmental body set up under the European Patent Convention (EPC). It plays a central role in managing the flow from technological knowledge to innovation and from innovation to the market place and contributes to the realisation of the Lisbon strategy, establishing the goal for the European Union to become the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. Since its creation in 1977, the EPO has received more than 1.8 million European patent applications and granted nearly 650 000 European patents. On 30 March 2005 the European Parliament will host the first European Patent Office (EPO) Information Day that will include a presentation to the Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE) by EPO President Alain Pompidou and workshops on EPO products and services. For more information, contact: David Sant, European Patent Office, Brussels Bureau, Av. de Cortenbergh 60, B-1000 Brussels, T: +32 2 274 15 91, F: +32 2 201 59 28, e-mail: dsant@epo.org, website: http://www.european-patent-office.org

1-2 April, Brussels (BE)

On 1-2 April, “Les Rencontres” (the Association of European Cities and Regions for Culture) will be holding an event entitled “The City Features at Night”, which aims to increase awareness of Brussels’ cultural nightlife and its protagonists. The event, comprising a number of workshops, will be attended by political and cultural decision-makers, researchers, experts and artists. The Friday evening programme will also offer participants an opportunity to tour Brussels and become acquainted with its varied artistic and cultural life. The workshops’ working languages will be English, French and Dutch (simultaneous translation will be provided). For further information, contact: Angie Cotte, Tel. +33 1 56 54 26 31, E-mail: angie.cotte@lesrencontres.org, Website: http://www.lesrencontres.org

28 and 29 April 2005, Prague (CZ)

The European Learning Network (LNet) is a two-year INTERREG IIIC-funded project aimed at developing new approaches to enterprise and innovation in deprived urban areas and gathering five cities – Amsterdam, Hamburg, London, Milan and Prague. Led by Greater London Enterprise, the Network is developing toolkits and how-to guides to help economic development practitioners and policy-makers promote social enterprise, innovation and enterprise in deprived urban areas. Within this context, LNet is organising its first dissemination seminar in Prague on 28 and 29 April 2005. The first day of this seminar will give participants the opportunity to learn more about LNet, its policy context, its delivery strategy and its learning method, whereas the second day will focus on opportunities and challenges of inter-regional partnerships and projects in an enlarged Europe. This event, which will be translated into Czech and English, has no registration fee. For more information, contact: Delphine Michel, 28 Park Street, London SE1 9EQ, e-mail: LNET@gle.co.uk, T: +44 20 7940 1564, F: +44 20 7403 1742, websites: http://www.thelearningnetwork.net and http://www.gle.co.uk/consulting/AgendaPrague.pdf

 

Publications

Guide to European Union funding for NGOs: Accessing Europe’s Largest Donor

The European Citizen Action Service (ECAS) has just published its 10th edition of the revised and updated “Guide to European Union funding for NGOs: Accessing Europe’s Largest Donor”. It is a 257-page handbook designed for organizations seeking to know all about how the EU’s budget is decided upon or how an organization can receive co-funding from independent foundations and corporations. This guide is also useful for anyone wanting to learn more about Structural and Cohesion funds, Pre-Accession Aid and external and internal budget lines that are open to NGOs. In addition to providing a comprehensive look into European Fundraising, this publication offers an important list of tips and contacts, which will allow stakeholders to easily find their way through the EU funding labyrinth. Price: 29 EUR. For more information and to order, contact: ECAS, rue de la Concorde 53, B-1050 Brussels, F: +32 2 548 04 99, E-mail: publication@ecas.org, website: http://www.ecas.org/Publications/2374/default.aspx?ID=294

"Regions matter"

A new CD was recently published by the Regional Policy Directorate-General. Under the title 'Regions matter' it contains 'everything you need to know about European regional policy' in 19 Community languages. The CD contains the text of the current and proposed regulation, a series of power point presentations, and an interactive map including information on all current programmes by Member State and region. You can order copies by e-mail to: regio-info@cec.eu.int

Your Europe

Companies in the European Union can now access “Your Europe”, a new Internet portal offering extensive practical information on the legislation and administrative procedures in force in EU Member States. Available in 20 Community languages, the portal will enlighten users about such matters as taking over a business, obtaining financial and other assistance, bidding for public contracts, current employment laws, social security provisions, rules applicable to expatriate staff, etc., in addition to providing market information. The site also offers links to other Commission advice and information services, including Europe Direct, the Citizens’ Signpost Service, Solvit, etc. Explore the portal at: http://europa.eu.int/youreurope

 

Announcement

2005 Maximilian Prize

European local and regional authorities are invited to submit nominations for the 2005 Maximillian Prize, awarded each year by the Austrian Province of Tyrol and the City of Innsbruck to a person or institution who has made an outstanding contribution to local or regional politics. This year, special consideration will be given to endeavours to implement the principle of subsidiarity and the Charter of Local Self-government and Charter of Regional Self-government of the Council of Europe. The winner will receive a certificate, a medal and a cash prize amounting to 10,000 EUR. Candidates must submit their proposal for nomination to the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the Committee of the Regions of the EU, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, or the Assembly of European Regions, by 8 April 2005. For further information: http://www.ccre.org/news_detail_en.htm?ID=463

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Responsible at Law: William Van Dingenen - Editor in Chief: Isabelle Mirambet - Editors: Eirini Nikolaïdou, Monique Braem, Stephen Gardner, Wendy Jones, Verónica Catediano.