Defence`s Feeds

Written by Didier Bourguignon (6th edition)

© daizuoxin / Fotolia

Despite significant progress in recent decades, air pollution levels in the European Union still have adverse impacts on the environment and on health. The European Commission estimates that health-related costs of air pollution in the EU range from 390 to 940 billion euros per year.

The proposed directive, which would replace the current National Emission Ceilings Directive, sets binding national reduction objectives for six air pollutants (SO2, NOx, NMVOCs, NH3, PM2.5 and CH4) to be met by 2020 and 2030. It will also implement the Gothenburg Protocol as amended in 2012. The European Commission estimates that implementation costs would range from 2.2 to 3.3 billion euros per year.

After completion of the legislative procedure at first reading in the European Parliament and the Council, the presidents of the co-legislators signed the final act on 14 December 2016. Member States are required to transpose the new directive into national law by 1 July 2018.

Versions

• January 2017: Reducing air pollution: National emission ceilings for air pollutants (6th edition)
• October 2016: Reducing air pollution: National emission ceilings for air pollutants (5th edition)
• November 2015: Reducing air pollution: National emission ceilings for air pollutants (4th edition)
• September 2015: Reducing air pollution: National emission ceilings for air pollutants (3rd edition)
• May 2015: Reducing air pollution: National emission ceilings for air pollutants (2nd edition)
• March 2015: Reducing air pollution: National emission ceilings for air pollutants (1st edition)

Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of national emissions of certain atmospheric pollutants and amending Directive 2003/35/EC

Committee responsible:

Rapporteur:

Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)

Julie Girling (ECR, UK)

COM(2013)920 of 18.12.2013

procedure ref.: 2013/0443(COD)

 

Ordinary legislative procedure

Procedure completed: Directive (EU) 2016/2284

OJ L 344, 17.12.2016, p. 1

 

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Filed under: Economic and Social Policies, PUBLICATIONS Tagged: air quality, briefings, CO2 emissions, Didier Bourguignon, environment, EPRS briefings, EU Legislation in Progress, pollution

The continuing security challenges in the Baltic sea region continue to constitute an issue of concern for the EU's security and defence policy. On 25 January, the SEDE committee will meet Lieutenant Colonel Jyri Raitasalo, Strategic Planning, Finnish Ministry of Defence and Commander Håkan Andersson, Military Advisor, Department for Security policy and International relations at the Swedish Ministry of Defence to discuss their national perspectives on the current situation in the Baltic sea.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Written by Angelos Delivorias (2nd edition),

© duncanandison / Fotolia

The European Venture Capital Funds (EuVECA) and European Social Entrepreneurship Funds (EuSEF) are collective investment schemes that have been harmonised at European Union (EU) level since 2011 by means of two Regulations: (EU) No 345/2013 (EuVECA) and (EU) No 346/2013 (EuSEF). In its 2016 review, the Commission noted that these funds remain small and concentrated in a few Member States and that, while the take-up of EuVECA could be considered successful, the EuSEF results have been disappointing. Three main obstacles to further growth have been identified: limitations imposed on managers; product rules; and the (varying) application of regulatory fees in Member States with regards to funds’ marketing and management. To overcome those obstacles, the Commission has identified some measures that − by removing limitations on larger managers managing EuVECA and EuSEF funds, decreasing costs for EuVECA and EuSEF funds, and broadening the range of eligible assets EuVECA funds may invest in − should increase investment into these funds.

Interactive PDF

• Reviving risk capital: The proposal to amend EuVECA and EuSEF

Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 on European venture capital funds (EuVECA) and Regulation (EU) No 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds (EuSEF) Committee responsible:

Rapporteur:

Shadow rapporteurs:

 

 

  Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)

Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland)

Andrea Cozzolino (S&D, Italy)

Syed Kamall (ECR, UK)

Cora Van Nieuwenhuizen (ALDE, the Netherlands)

Marco Zanni (EFDD, Italy)

COM(2016)0461 14.07.2016, 2016/0221(COD)

Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’)

Next steps expected: Vote in Committee

 

 

Filed under: Economic and Social Policies, PUBLICATIONS Tagged: Angelos Delivorias, briefings, capital markets, EU Legislation in Progress, social venture capital

Further details have emerged about India's plans for the main battle tank (MBT) element of the Future Ready Combat Vehicle (FRCV) programme. Requirements for the main armament, powerpack, and mission systems have been revealed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Speaking

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China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its fifth Luyang III-class (Type 052D) destroyer on 22 January. Named Xining (with pennant number 117), the vessel is the first Type 052D to be assigned to the PLAN's North Sea Fleet, with the other four ships allocated to the South Sea

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) is looking at replacing all of its Soviet-era passenger aircraft following the fatal loss of a Tupolev Tu-154 late last year, state media disclosed on 20 January. Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu has instructed that modern replacements to the current Tu-154,

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (DPSU) announced on 20 January that it had found missile system components on an aircraft that was about to leave Kiev's Zulyany airport for Iran. The DPSU said that, during an inspection of the aircraft on 19 January, its personnel had found 17 boxes with

South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) launched a 122 m frigate on order for the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) on 23 January. The vessel, which has been ordered under a THB14.6 billion (USD396 million) contract inked between the Thai government and DSME in August 2013,

Retired US Marine Corps General James Mattis was confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as the next secretary of defense on 20 January. The Senate voted favourably on his nomination, 98-1, several hours after President Donald Trump officially took office. Immediately after his own swearing in, Trump

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A helicopter of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force's aviation wing crashed in southeast China's Fujian Province on 19 January, killing both pilots, the China Military Online website reported on 23 January. Three other people suffered minor injuries and four houses were damaged as a result of

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The Commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG) has been conducting transatlantic exercises in a bid to learn how to work as part of a combat force with the country’s new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Nammo Energetics Indian Head (NEIH) has signed a public-private partnership (P3) agreement with the US Naval Surface Warfare Centre Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (NSWC IHEODTD).

US-based shipbuilder Austal USA has conducted keel authentication of the US Navy’s ninth expeditionary fast transport (EPF), the future USNS City of Bismarck, as well as fabrication for its 11th EPF, USNS Puerto Rico.

IEDD and EOD solutions provider EXPAL Systems is a developer and manufacturer of products and services such as clearance of terrains and soil remediation works. EXPAL has been integrated within solutions for defence and security industries for the pa…

TWO people - kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) militants off the coast of the town of Pangutaran in the Philippines' Sulu province on 25 October - were released by the group in the town of Indanan on 19 January, GMA Network reported. Reports did not specify whether a ransom was paid for their

An undisclosed number of Anti-UAV Defence Systems (AUDS) have been supplied to US forces and are now in operational service. The AUDS has been developed in a collaborative effort by a UK defence consortium comprised of Blighter Surveillance Systems, Chess Dynamics, and Enterprise Control Systems

EVENT Cameroon's government on 18 January banned the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) and the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) from operating in the country. The CACSC has called for a return to a two-state federation, while the SCNC has long advocated for both