scholarly journals Contaminated Sites in Europe: Review of the Current Situation Based on Data Collected through a European Network

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panos Panagos ◽  
Marc Van Liedekerke ◽  
Yusuf Yigini ◽  
Luca Montanarella
Keyword(s):  
Soil Contamination ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Industrial Wastes ◽  
Contaminated Sites ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Thematic Strategy ◽  
Observation Network ◽  
The Eu

Under the European Union (EU) Thematic Strategy for Soil Protection, the European Commission has identified soil contamination as a priority for the collection of policy-relevant soil data at European scale. In order to support EU soil management policies, soil-related indicators need to be developed which requires appropriate data collection and establishment of harmonized datasets for the EU Member States. In 2011-12, the European Soil Data Centre of the European Commission conducted a project to collect data on contaminated sites from national institutions in Europe using the European Environment Information and Observation Network for soil (EIONET-SOIL). This paper presents the results obtained from analysing the soil contaminated sites data submitted by participating countries. According to the received data, the number of estimated potential contaminated sites is more than 2.5 million and the identified contaminated sites around 342 thousand. Municipal and industrial wastes contribute most to soil contamination (38%), followed by the industrial/commercial sector (34%). Mineral oil and heavy metals are the main contaminants contributing around 60% to soil contamination. In terms of budget, the management of contaminated sites is estimated to cost around 6 billion Euros (€) annually.

scholarly journals The Pact on Migration and Asylum as a the foundation of the new migration policy of the European Union

2021 ◽  
pp. 70-82
Author(s):  
Andrew Vyacheslavovich Rybakov
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Effective System ◽  
Significant Step ◽  
The Eu

The relevance of the selected topic is substantiated by the fact that in modern world migration has become a significant factor in the development of both accepting countries and countries of origin. Europe hosts the largest number of migrants. Since 2015, the EU member-states have been experiencing strong migration pressure. The existing migration stands in need for reform. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum should be a significant step towards creating a reliable and effective system for regulation of migration. The subject of this research is the institutional and legal characteristics of the EU New Pact on Migration and Asylum. The article analyzes the proposals of the European Commission regarding the migration policy reform, as well as the political-legal mechanism for their implementation; contradictions between the member-states in the course of the relevant discussions. The following conclusions are made: 1) It must be admitted that the new approach of the European Commission is comprehensive and aimed at integration of the internal and external aspects of migration policy. 2) The structure of the Pact corresponds to the goals of migration policy and consists on three levels – external, namely relations with the countries of origin and transit of migrants; control over the external borders of the EU; a new system of permanent solidarity. 3) As an annex to the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the European Commission has presented a roadmap for implementation of various proposals. However, by the end of 2021, the schedule for the adoption of legal documents is not being maintained. 4) The only common denominator between the different groups of countries is the orientation towards external actions aimed at curbing migration movements prior to their arrival to Europe. 5) The plan of the European Commission on adoption of rules obligatory for all member-states currently seems untenable, considering the clashing interests.

scholarly journals Enhancing Civilisational Dialogue between Malaysia and the European Union

ICR Journal ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-189
Author(s):  
Christoph Marcinkowski
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Business Community ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Preferential Treatment ◽  
Trade Surplus ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Important Trading Partner ◽  
The Eu

Cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Malaysia started with the 1980 European Commission-ASEAN Agreement which has made it possible for Malaysia to benefit from a number of ASEAN and Asia-wide cooperation programmes. The EU Delegation to Malaysia was opened in 2003 and since then dialogue, policy interaction and cooperation with both federal and state authorities, the Malaysian and EU business community as well as the civil society has increased progressively. Moreover, Malaysia is also the EU’s second most important trading partner in ASEAN. No bilateral preferential trade arrangements exist between Malaysia and the EU, but under the new Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), in force since January 2006, the share of Malaysia’s merchandise exports to the EU eligible for preferential treatment rose from 16 per cent to 81 per cent. Over 70 per cent of Malaysia’s exports to the EU now enter duty-free. Malaysia records a trade surplus with most EU Member States.

scholarly journals Positioning of the concept of corporate restructuring in the EU member-states and its approval by the auditor

2021 ◽  
pp. 131-151
Author(s):  
Olga Nikolaevna Sinkina
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Corporate Management ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Eu

The object of this research is the concept of restructuring, which in the conditions of crisis in the European Union is positioned as an instrument for its overcoming and the procedure for its verification by the auditor. The subject of this research is a range of question associated on the peculiarities of positioning of the concept of restructuring in the EU. The article analyzes the criteria for insolvency and tests for the presence of the signs of insolvency according to the national legislation of the EU jurisdiction based on the typical crisis process. The author introduces the definition of the concept of restructuring, its framework and elements. The recommendations of the European Commission on overcoming crisis situations and insolvency of companies are provided; the principles of preventive concept of restructuring are analyzed; the auditor’s procedures pertaining to the concept of restructuring are formulated. The research methodology relies on the fundamental provisions presented in the works of foreign scholars. The main conclusions are as follows: the responsibility of the corporate management in a number of EU member-states includes verification of compliance with the established criteria of insolvency on the regular basis; for this, it is necessary to submit the report to regulatory authorities on the current state of the company and decision on overcoming the crisis, usually in the form of the concept of restructuring approved by the auditor. The scientific novelty of this research consists in: 1) generalization of legal regulation of the criteria of insolvency in the EU member-states, tests for the presence of the signs of insolvency, responsibility of corporate management, outline of the restructuring plan; 2) positioning of the concept of restructuring, formulation of definition of the concept of restructuring, its framework and elements; 3) analysis of the principles of the preventive concept of restructuring of the European Commission; 4) development of audit procedures concerning the concept of restructuring.

scholarly journals Identifying Gaps between the Legislative Tools of Soil Protection in the EU Member States for a Common European Soil Protection Legislation

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 2886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Stankovics ◽  
Gergely Tóth ◽  
Zoltán Tóth
Keyword(s):  
Evaluation System ◽  
Soil Protection ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Soil Sealing ◽  
Thematic Strategy ◽  
Protection Legislation ◽  
The Individual

To ensure an adequate level of protection in the European Union (EU), the European Commission (EC) adopted the Soil Thematic Strategy in 2006, including a proposal for a Soil Framework Directive (the Directive). However, a minority of Member States (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Austria, and The Netherlands) could not agree on the text of the proposed Directive. Consequently, the EC decided to withdraw the proposal in 2014. In the more than 10 years that have passed since the initial proposal, a great number of new evidences on soil degradation and its negative consequences, have proved the necessity of a common European soil protection Directive. This study is aimed at specifying the possible obstacles, differences, and gaps in legislature and administration in the countries that formed the blocking minority, which resulted in the refusal of the Directive. The individual legislations of the opposing countries on the matter, were summarized and compared with the goals set by the Directive, in three highlighted aspects: (1) soil-dependent threats, (2) contamination, and (3) sealing. We designed a simple schematic evaluation system to show the basic levels of differences and similarities. We found that the legislative regulations concerning soil-dependent degradation and contamination issues in the above countries were generally well defined, complementary, and thorough. A common European legislation can be based on harmonised approaches between them, focusing on technical implementations. In the aspect of sealing we found recommendations, principles, and good practices rather than binding regulations in the scrutinised countries. Soil sealing is an issue where the proposed Directive’s measures, could have exceeded those of the Member States.

scholarly journals Skills building seminar: How to improve vaccination coverage in the European Union?

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Vaccine Hesitancy ◽  
Policy Options ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Eu Countries ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Eu

Abstract In recent years, the European Union (EU) has been facing several serious outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles. Vaccination coverage rates for the first dose of the vaccine against measles vary from 85% in Italy to 99% in Luxembourg and Hungary, with the average for the EU (93.6%) falling below what is required to ensure herd immunity. Similar variations can be seen for other vaccinations, including influenza immunization programmes targeting older adults who are at greater risk of severe complications. Of particular concern is that in a number of EU countries anti-vaccine groups, aided by social and mainstream media, and sometimes populist politicians, are gaining traction and have started to influence public and health worker attitudes towards the safety and effectiveness of vaccinations. The EU has started to respond to these developments in a number of ways. In his 2017 State of the Union address, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, has called for action to increase vaccination coverage and to ensure that everyone in the EU has access to vaccines. This was followed by a number of new policy and research activities initiated by the European Commission. The workshop provides an overview of some of these activities. It starts with an introductory presentation on recent initiatives of the European Commission to support national vaccination efforts. This is followed by a presentation on the work of the Expert Panel on effective ways of investing in Health and their report on vaccination programmes and health systems in EU countries. A third presentation presents EU-funded research on vaccine hesitancy in EU member states, based on the largest ever study on attitudes to vaccines and vaccination in the EU. A final presentation explores a study undertaken for the European Commission by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies on the organization and delivery of vaccination programmes in EU member states, based on detailed country fiches. The workshop will provide opportunity for the audience to comment on and discuss presentations and to consider current policy options in Europe to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination coverage through health system interventions. It will be of interest to public health researchers, practitioners and policy-makers from across Europe. Key messages The workshop provides a forum for discussing European initiatives to overcome vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination coverage. It explores policy options at the European and national level.

scholarly journals Sygnalizacja problematyki związanej z optymalizacją podatkową pojmowaną jako pomoc publiczna na przykładzie decyzji Komisji Europejskiej w sprawie Apple

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 11-20
Author(s):  
Damian Dobosz ◽  
Anna Niziołek
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
State Aid ◽  
The Other ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Corporate Tax ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Basic Concepts ◽  
The Eu

The notification of the issues connected with tax optimization perceived as state aid on the example of the decision of the European Commission in the case of the Apple groupThis article will attempt to indagate the decision of the European Commision EU 2017/1283 of the 30th of August 2016 on state aid implemented by Ireland to Apple. According to the statement of the European Commission, whilst issuing tax ruling practice which allowed the companies Apple Operations Europe hereinafter referred to as „AOE” and Apple Sales International hereinafter referred to as „ASI” to determine their corporate tax liability in the years when they were in force, Ireland has unlawfully granted state aid to AOE, ASI and the Apple group. Consequently, Ireland was required to recover the receivables. This study will be concerned with the basic concepts related to tax optimization. The discussion also delves into the most significant thesis of the aforementioned decision of the European Commission as well as to the other investigations referring to the issue of the unlawful state aid. In this essay an examination will be made to outline that the tax practices of the global concerns might have a strong impact on the stabilization of the internal market, especially whilst the competition and consumer protection law is concerned. Further analysis devotes to the negative outcomes for the EU member states and the European Union itself.

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AS THE GUARDIAN OF THE TREATIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (05) ◽  
pp. 160-163
Author(s):  
Sevil Aliheydar Damirli ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Member State ◽  
European Commission ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Community Law ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Guardian ◽  
Eu Commission ◽  
The Eu

As in any community, coexistence and cooperation only works if it is well organized. In the EU, there are EU bodies for this purpose. We all know that living together of different members can often lead to a dispute. In the European Union, the subject of dispute can not only be the violation of primary law, but also the violation of secondary community law. In order to better understand the important role of the Commission in the EU, we examine in this paper its composition and Tasks. We know that the European Union is based on the rule of law. This means that every EU activity is based on treaties that have been accepted by all EU Member States on a voluntary and democratic basis. A contract is a binding agreement between the EU member states. It sets out the objectives of the EU, the rules governing the EU institutions, the decision-making process and relations between the EU and its Member States. Therefore it is important to adhere to these treaties to carry out community policy. According to Art. 258 and 259 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, actions for breach of contract can be filed against a Member State by the EU Commission or another Member State (1, Art.258-259). For the European Commission, as the «Guardian of the Treaties», this option is a particularly important instrument of power politics that it can use against member states' governments that do not recognize or do not comply with the norms of Community law. In practice, the infringement procedures requested by the Commission are of particular importance for ensuring compliance with Community law by the Member States. In no other area does the Commission have so much power and independence against the Member States. Now we should take a closer look at the EU institution and especially the EU Commission.

scholarly journals The European Fiscal Board: supranational de novo body or orchestrator?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Tobias Tesche
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Fiscal Rules ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Member States ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
The Eu

Abstract The European Fiscal Board (EFB) is a supranational fiscal council advising the European Commission on the European Union (EU) fiscal framework. It was created as a response to the EU member states' repeated non-compliance with the EU fiscal rules and the emergence of national fiscal councils. Non-compliance with EU fiscal rules was often left unpunished and required a new expert body to regain some of the lost credibility of the EU's fiscal framework through enhanced fiscal monitoring. This article argues that the European Commission created the EFB in response to the new intergovernmental dynamics. A supranational fiscal watchdog that depends on the Commission for financial resources and access to information would deflect member states from delegating more competences away from the Commission. Thus, the Commission was able to counter a potential threat to its authority in EU fiscal governance by creating a supranational de novo body that it controlled.

Introduction, 1 An Introduction to European Antitrust Criminalization and Its Theoretical, Legal, and Practical Challenges

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whelan Peter
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Current Literature ◽  
National Level ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Criminal Punishment ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Criminal Sanctions ◽  
National Competition ◽  
The Eu

This chapter provides an overview of the European antitrust criminalization debate. Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) contains, inter alia, the EU's prohibition on cartel activity, which is enforced by the European Commission and the national competition authorities (NCAs) and courts of the EU Member States. Traditionally, within Europe, cartel law enforcement at national level has tended to avoid the employment of personal criminal punishment. This tradition notwithstanding, over the last decade or so there has been increasing debate within Europe concerning the imposition of the sanction of imprisonment on individuals who have engaged in cartel activity contrary to Article 101 TFEU. There are at least three categories of deficiencies in the current literature on the employment within the EU of personal criminal sanctions for cartel activity: theoretical, legal, and practical.

scholarly journals Five Years of the EU Energy Union: Myth or Reality?

2021 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-199
Author(s):  
Olga Yudina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Energy Policy ◽  
Management System ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
The European Union ◽  
External Energy ◽  
Energy Field ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Energy Union ◽  
The Eu

The article analyzes the results of the EU Energy Union activities from 2015 to 2019 and its contribution to the shaping of the European Union common energy policy. The significance of the activities of the EU Energy Union in promoting a common energy policy is considered in three dimensions: external, internal and in the field of establishing a management system. The author notes a huge increase in the influence of the European Commission on the formation of EU common energy policy, the existence of contradictions between the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty and the actual powers of the European Commission in terms of energy, as well as the continuing dichotomy among the EU member states on the issue of energy communitarisation. It is indicated that the establishment of a clear and predictable management system for the EU Energy Union made a significant contribution to the strengthening of European Commission‟s energy authority. Concluding that the European Commission is doing its best in the formation of a common external energy policy, the author draws attention to the potential internal and external difficulties that the European Commission faces in pursuing a policy aimed at strengthening its powers in the energy field.

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