The Week in Europe 28/04 - 04/05/01

10.05.2001 | Euroskop

EU news in brief

Green Week: Commission awards environmental prizes to 13 young EU citizens

Last Friday, 27 April, the European Commissioner for Environment, Margot Wallström presented awards to 13 EU youngsters for their efforts in a competition that was part of the Green Week initiative (see I P/01/582). The competition had five categories: painting, story writing, speech writing, photography and video production, and was designed to harness the creative power of young people. The winning entries, which were on display throughout Green Week in the Charlemagne building in Brussels, were chosen among thousands of entries that were sent in from all corners of the European Union. The winners were invited to Brussels to attend the closing dinner awards ceremony on the same evening, where they were presented with a commemorative certificate from Commissioner Wallström. She said: "The Green Week competitions have shown that young EU citizens are sensitive to the problems that currently affect our environment. Their commitment to protecting it and preserving it for future generations is clear for all to see."

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Commission's shipbuilding report shows South Korea has consolidated its lead

Korean shipyards are still distorting the international market by pricing ships below cost, according to the European Commission's fourth report on the situation in world shipbuilding, adopted on 2 May. Based on the latest detailed costings of orders placed with South Korean yards, the report finds that, despite record worldwide demand for new ships last year, serious difficulties continue to affect the EU shipbuilding sector as a result of unfair trading practices by South Korean competitors. The report notes that the year 2000 saw a significant expansion in orders for new ships, with 56% more orders being placed than in 1999. Most of this increase, triggered by an expanding world economy, higher oil prices and historically low ship prices in certain market segments, has benefited South Korean yards, which again increased their market share. EU yards have also benefited from stronger demand, mainly for cruise ships, a sector where Korean yards offer no direct competition. In 2000, South Korea consolidated its position as the world's largest shipbuilding country, accounting for more than 35 % of all tonnage ordered worldwide.

For a copy of the report click here.

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Fight against doping: the Commission launches a new call for proposals

The European Commission published this week a call for proposals for campaigns to combat doping in sport in Europe to enable new pilot actions to be established, in addition to the current 16 projects supported. Two types of action are eligible for support: information and education programmes on combating doping and conferences on ways to harmonise the fight against doping at European level. The deadline for applications is 22 June 2001. The text of this call is available here .

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Commission proposes transition periods for purchase of real estate in candidate countries

The European Commission on 4 May proposed to the fifteen EU Member States that those candidate countries which wish to limit the acquisition of agricultural land and secondary residences by other EU nationals do so during a period of 7 and 5 years respectively after their accession to the European Union. However, a review should take place after three years to determine whether this transitional period can be shortened or even lifted. Certain types of activities, in particular self employed farmers who wish to establish themselves and reside in the future new Member States, are not concerned by the proposal.

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