| Coast Communications partner monitoring European Issues March 2008 |
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Monitoring European Issues PRGN - March 2008
CONTENTS ENLARGEMENT Schengen extends to airports for nine EU member states. The lifting of controls on the free movement of EU citizens from Estonia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia has been extended to EU airports on 30 March. The enlargement of 'Schengen' controls to airports for these countries follows the successful recent lifting of border controls in the EU's internal land and sea borders in January. The dismantling of air border controls is the final step toward completion of a unique and historical achievement: 24 countries of the EU have no internal borders. EU-US OPEN SKIES A new era in transatlantic aviation starts on 30 March. For the first time, European airlines can fly without restrictions from any point in the EU to any point in the US. The two biggest aviation markets, encompassing 60% of world traffic, will cooperate closer in all fields of aviation policy. With about 50 million annual passengers between the EU and the US, the agreement covers by far the biggest international air transport market. All EU airlines are now able to operate direct flights to the US from anywhere in Europe and not just from their home country. CLIMATE CHANGE Formal negotiations on new UN climate agreement get under way. Formal negotiations to draw up a new United Nations climate change agreement starts on 31 March in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the first negotiating session since the UN climate conference in Bali last December decided to conclude the agreement by the end of 2009. The new agreement is intended to take effect once the Kyoto Protocol's targets for limiting greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries have expired in 2012. The EU would like to see a comprehensive decision reached on a substantive work plan that addresses the central issues of the future agreement's objective, reduction of emissions, adaptation to climate change, technology transfer and finance. EU leaders have also committed the EU to cutting its emissions by at least 20% over the same timescale, regardless of what other countries decide, in order to start transforming Europe into a highly energy efficient, low carbon economy. HEALTHCARE IN EUROPE Commission opens dialogue on patient safety in healthcare. With a view to help Member States reduce medical errors and adverse events in healthcare, the European Commission launched a public consultation on patient safety. A number of studies, both in the European Union and in the U.S., suggest that as many as 10% of hospital admissions involve some kind of harm to patients. Preventable harm also takes place in non-hospital healthcare settings. Thus, the aim is the improvement of patient safety. One of the Commission's health goals is to facilitate Member States efforts to provide safe and high quality care to all citizens. The Commission's plans for a proposal on patient safety will attempt to complement the current legislation, work and policies in place at the EU level, by addressing wider systemic issues. Contributions should be completed on-line by 20 May 2008. For full report contact Camilla Englund at Coast Communications. |