European Union

Europe’s wildfires combined with the extreme warm weather can pose additional health risks to people living in affected areas, the World Health Organisation has warned.

Italy's parliament approved on Monday night (with 382 votes in favour, 11 against and one abstention) to donate 12 patrol vessels to the Libyan coastguard to help push back migrants setting sail for Europe. The plan to equip the Libyans is backed by the EU, which has funded the training of 237 Libyan coastguard officers to man the boats. The latest training course was run by the Spanish navy.

While Eurosceptic populists team up ahead of the European elections in attempt to turn them into a referendum over the EU’s very existence, civil society is now calling on progressive forces to come together to defend the bloc.

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for vocational students.

If you are studying on a vocational or professional track, your talents are key to a strong economy and the EU wants to help you develop your skills. The EU invests in improving awareness, creating opportunities, and supporting those in charge to provide the best quality and most relevant training possible.

Twitter Hashtag #EUandME

© auremar / Fotolia

Still considering your options? The European Vocational Skills week, with more than 1 000 events across Europe showcases opportunities for young people and raises awareness of the importance of vocational education and apprenticeships.

If you are already a vocational education student, Erasmus+ offers mobility opportunities so you can carry out part of your studies or training abroad. A new initiative, ErasmusPro, even caters for long term mobility.

Your learning experience should be both relevant and worthwhile. The EU is keen to ensure that all players who shape vocational education in EU countries define good quality vocational education and training together. To understand how well things are working in practice, the EU also provides studies and research. And when you go to another country, it will also be easier for your skills and qualifications to be recognised when EU countries understand each other’s training systems better.

Of course, you want to find work at the end of your studies, so the EU also helps develop links between vocational education and training (VET) schools, businesses in a given sector, and public authorities. Together they identify skills the labour market needs and develop motivating courses that prepare you for a job that appeals to you.

Further information

• Agricultural education and lifelong training in the EU: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/608788/EPRS_BRI(2017)608788_EN.pdf
• Dual Education: a bridge over troubled waters? :
• http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2014/529072/IPOL_STU(2014)529072_EN.pdf
• Education and Vocational Training: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/fiches_techniques/2017/N53722/04A_FT(2017)N53722_EN.pdf
• EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service: www.epthinktank.eu

Britain should offer developers of mini nuclear plants subsidies similar to those made available to the offshore wind industry, an independent review commissioned by the government said on Tuesday (7 August).

This week marks ten years since Georgia lived through a dramatic five day war with the Russian Federation. On 12 August 2008, the EU brokered a ceasefire deal bringing an end to open warfare – but not to conflict, explains Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

The euphoria triggered by the FIFA World Cup quickly gave way to divisive, ugly debates about national identity and race, around players of diverse ethnic origins. These controversies highlight the need for measured exchanges on belonging in today’s Europe, writes Michael O'Flaherty.

Director of Electronic Communications Networks and Services Anthony Whelan says in an internal document that he wanted to eliminate "possible criticisms" and "marginalise questions".

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, the EU reaffirmed its firm commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflicts in Georgia and to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

An advocate general at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg on Tuesday said the European arrest warrant remains valid in the UK so long as it remains a member of the European Union. "The UK's decision to leave the EU should not affect the execution of a European arrest warrant issued by it," said the opinion, after a suspect in Ireland challenged the UK for issuing an arrest warrant.

R O
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
Advocate General Szpunar: the UK’s decision to leave the EU should not affect the execution of a European arrest warrant issued by it

Renckhoff
Freedom of establishment
The posting on a website of a photograph that was freely accessible on another website with the consent of the author requires a new authorisation by that author

Foreign affairs chiefs from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine met in Georgia this week to take part in commemorations marking 10 years since Russia’s invasion of the Caucasus Republic during 2008's August War.

Written by Shara Monteleone and Laura Puccio,

© vector_master / Fotolia

In the 2015 Schrems case, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) declared the European Commission’s 2000 decision on the ‘adequacy’ of the EU-US Safe Harbour regime invalid. This regime had formed the legal basis to allow transfers of data, for commercial purposes, from the EU to the United States of America (USA).

One of the main concepts on which the reasoning of the Court relied is that of ‘equivalence’ – between the level of protection existing in a third country, and the European data protection system. The Court invalidated the Commission’s Safe Harbour adequacy decision as it did not contain any findings regarding the existence in the USA of laws and practices limiting interference on the right to privacy and data protection (e.g. interference by public authorities for security purposes), nor of effective judicial remedies for individuals. According to the judgment, laws which establish exceptions (such as enacting measures for security purposes) which could lead to conflict with fundamental rights should lay down clear and precise rules regarding the scope and application of the measure, and minimum safeguards against the risk of abuse, including unlawful access and further use of such data. The corollary of this statement is that derogations and restrictions to data protection should be allowed only if strictly necessary. Moreover, whereas the self-certification mechanism for US-based companies could be part of an adequate data protection system, it should be accompanied by effective enforcement and oversight mechanisms.

As a consequence, the judgment ruled the Safe Harbour framework, on which a large number of companies had relied, insufficient to ensure the high level of protection for EU citizens required under EU law. This invalidation of Safe Harbour created legal uncertainty and the need for a new arrangement. In the meantime, more than 4 000 US companies making data transfers switched to other existing tools, albeit more burdensome and limited, such as Binding Corporate Rules or Standard Contractual Clauses.

In 2016, the European Commission and the USA adopted a new framework for transatlantic exchange of personal data, known as the Privacy Shield. Within a year, more than 3000 companies had subscribed to the new framework, and the US Federal Trade Commission had already triggered three cases of non-compliance with Privacy Shield. In September 2017, the first joint annual review of Privacy Shield took place. Although considered to be working well, a number of recommendations for further improvements were issued. Moreover, a range of concerns still remain to be addressed (not least in view of the recent Facebook / Cambridge Analytica scandal). The European Parliament adopted a resolution in July 2018, which, although acknowledging some improvements, reiterates a number of persistent concerns on Privacy Shield, and calls on the Commission to suspend the Shield.. Unless the concerns can be resolved satisfactorily, the underlying legal uncertainty may not disappear, and Privacy Shield is also likely to end up challenged before the CJEU, like its predecessor.

Read the complete in-depth analysis on “The Privacy Shield: Update on the state of play of the EU-US data transfer rules“.

 

 

Redress mechanisms available to individuals

 

 

Avenues of redress for undue access and use by US public authorities

The EU has taken action to protect companies affected by the US sanctions against Iran and compensate them for losses incurred. The blocking statute also provides for the possibility of companies that comply with the trade restrictions being punished. Commentators are delighted with the EU's feisty stance but doubt the law will have the desired effect.

After the US's unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear deal, the new sanctions against Iran are a further step by Trump aimed at increasing the pressure on Tehran. Commentators examine the potential consequences of the Trump administration's strategy for the country.