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ESA/NASA Solar
Mission Wins Prestigious Award
 A team of European and U.S. space
operation engineers won the prestigious International SpaceOps Award for
Outstanding Achievement this month for their contribution to the successful
Ulysses observatory mission. Ulysses is a satellite designed to give
scientists a bird's eye view of the heliosphere, and is now orbiting the
poles of the sun. The joint European Space Agency/ National Aeronautics and
Space Administration team launched the satellite in 1991 with an intended
lifetime of five years, but it has now been in operation for more than 17
years.
“The science from our mission has been of the highest quality, which has made
it easier for both ESA and NASA to justify extending the mission on three
occasions,” said Nigel Angold, ESA Mission operations manager. MORE
Focus on Climate
Change and Energy
 The latest EU Focus, published by
the Washington delegation of the European Commission, explores ways to
mitigate climate change and develop alternative forms of energy. By 2020, the
European Union's goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent,
increase the renewable energy share of the energy mix to 20 percent, and
improve energy efficiency by 20 percent. To achieve this, the EU launched its
Emissions Trading Scheme in 2005 and is continually seeking ways to develop
renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency. MORE
Inauguration of
the European Chemicals Agency
 Speaking at the inauguration of the
European Chemicals Agency, EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso said
the agency is living proof of how the European Union serves European citizens
and will be decisive in turning the new European chemicals legislation REACH
(Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) into
reality.
“The REACH legislation certainly is by far the largest legislative project
adopted by the EU over recent years,” said President Barroso. “It replaces 40
legislative texts and creates a single EU-wide system for the management of
chemicals produced in Europe or imported into Europe.” President Barroso
noted that REACH will provide a high level of protection of human health,
animals and the environment while enhancing competitiveness and innovation. MORE
European Customs
Union Celebrates 40th Anniversary
 The European Customs Union will
celebrate its 40th anniversary on July 1, 2008. Over the past four decades,
customs have played a crucial role in the development of the European
Community: Without efficient customs control at the EU's external borders,
the Single Market would never have been possible. Customs not only facilitate
trade and ensure the protection of European industry, but they prevent a
flood of unsafe or counterfeit goods from entering the EU, prevent illegal
imports of animals and control the movement of chemicals. “Thanks to the
effective customs controls at the EU's external borders, the Union's 500
million citizens can rely on the quality and safety of the products that are
on the European market,” said László Kovács, EU Commissioner for Taxation and
Customs. MORE
Ambassador Bruton
on the Irish "No" Vote
 In his weekly message, Ambassador
Bruton, Head of the European Commission Delegation to the U.S., addresses
Ireland voting against the Lisbon Treaty. “The Irish 'No' vote is a problem,
but it is not a crisis,” writes Ambassador Bruton and notes that the EU
continues to function remarkably well under the pre-existing Treaties.
“It is important to stress that the EU will continue to be a very busy
organization in the months ahead,” writes Ambassador Bruton. “It is playing
an active role in concluding the World Trade talks. It is in the process of
adopting radical and far-reaching proposals on climate change. It is forging
a common energy policy. It is highly efficient in protecting consumers and
promoting competition. And in all these matters, it is cooperating closely
with partners, such as the United States. All this will continue, while the
issues arising from the Lisbon vote in Ireland are examined.” MORE
Independent Panel
on High-Tech Research Calls for Policy Changes
 An independent panel investigating
the effectiveness of high-tech research under the EU's sixth Framework
Program for Research and Development concluded that Europe has made
considerable improvements with a boost in Micro Computer and Nano-Electronic
research, but it now needs to move up a gear to bridge the innovation gap
with other parts of the world.
“In recent years Europe's Information Society research has delivered
encouraging results from mobile communications to Electronic Stability
Control systems in motor cars,” said former Finnish Prime Minister Esko Aho,
who chaired the panel. “However, I believe a systemic change in the EU's
research policy is needed to avoid that EU research spending is not more than
a mere drop in the ocean. I call on the EU Member States and on the European
Parliament to equip the EU with the right, flexible tools to better focus
European high-tech research and to open it up to more risk and to new
international partners.” MORE
2008 Eurostat
Yearbook Shows Diversity of the EU
 The 12th edition of the Eurostat
Yearbook shows that the population of the 27 Member States reached 495
million in 2007 compared with 479 million in 1997. Ireland had the highest
population growth (+18%), while Bulgaria saw the largest population decrease
(-8%). The research also reveals:
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The average labor cost per EU employee paid by employers
in 2006 was 20.35 euros ($31.70 USD) per hour.
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Spain, Italy and France had the highest numbers of
nights spent in hotels by non-residents.
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Almost two-thirds of EU25 (excluding Bulgaria and
Romania) households owned their homes in 2005.
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The
2008 yearbook covers a range of issues, including demographic change, the
economy, education, health, living conditions and welfare. MORE
EU NewsBrief is an electronic publication issued regularly by the
Delegation of the European Commission to the United States. To receive
updates on specific issue areas, click on this link.
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