2016: 30 YEARS IN THE EU, MANY REASONS TO STAY IN THE EU!

2015: CLIMATE CHANGE, A GLOBAL CHALLENGE

Source: europa.eu

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/

In November 2015, the Climate Change Conference (COP 21) took place in Paris. 

What is the COP? It is a yearly Conference organised by the United Nations where each and every country is invited (although approximately 5% of them don't attend). Pricing carbon and analysing level of emissions are only two examples of the environmental topics they deal with there.

What have they achieved so far? Even though this event is celebrated year after year, the one that took place in 2015 is particularly significant. They set a list of goals which aim to limit the global temperature increase to 2ºC. These goals will be binding in at least 55 countries (European territory included) in order to make sure everyone meets the long-term goals. These are only some examples:

-Net emissions to peak by 2030. 

-Global emissions to decrease (either 40 – 70 percent or 70 – 95 percent) below 2010 levels by 2050.

Source: http://www.rff.org/blog/2015/question-1-cop-21-long-term-goal

Which role does the EU play in all this? 

The EU agreed to meet the objectives by applying several measures, which of course will affect Spain as well:

• Updating the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). 

• Setting targets for member countries to limit or reduce their domestic greenhouse gas emissions from sectors not covered by the EU ETS, such as agriculture, transport (except aviation), buildings and waste. 

• Setting standards to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars and vans and measures to address emissions from heavy-duty vehicles. 

• Actions to control emissions of fluorinated industrial gases, which are powerful greenhouse gases.

• Setting standards, labelling and legislation to improve energy efficiency, including energy efficiency in buildings.

• Reducing emissions, renewable energies and energy efficiency targets for 2030 set as part of the 2030 climate and energy policy framework.

For further information on the EU's role in regards to climate change you can visit EU Climate Action on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/EUClimateAction/?fref=photo

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Source: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/publications/docs/factsheet_climate_change_2015_en.pdf

2014: EU FUNDS FOR GROWTH AND JOBS IN 2014-2020

According to the Partnership Agreement EU - Spain signed in 2014, the priorities to spend this money during the period 2014-2020 should be:

•Increasing labour market participation and labour productivity, as well as improving education, training and social inclusion policies, with specific attention to youth and vulnerable groups. 

•Supporting the adaptation of the productive system to higher added-value activities by enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium business companies with the aim to expand their presence in international markets.

•Promoting innovation-friendly business environments. 

•Making a more efficient use of natural resources. 

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Sources: 

-http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-1226_en.htm

-http://ec.europa.eu/contracts_grants/pa/partnership-agreement-spain-summary_en.pdf

-El Mundo

2013: THE EU SUPPORTS THE ARMS TRADE TREATY

Source: Reuters

What is the Arms Trade Treaty?

It is a treaty signed by 130 countries that regulates the international trade in traditional weapons.

It is defined in its resolution 61/89 as a "comprehensive, legally binding instrument establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms".

When was it signed?

It was finally signed on the 2nd of April 2013 in New York City after a ten day meeting.

What are its objectives?

Its main objectives are:

-To regulate the global trade of weapons in order to improve global and local peace.

-Promote transparency among states.

-To reduce human suffering.

-To recognise the security, social, economic and humanitarian consequences of the illicit and unregulated trade in conventional arms.

Which role did the EU play in all of this?

The EU supported this project from the very start through its changing presidencies (mainly Spain and Sweden). Moreover, during Spain's presidency this deal was one of the main priorities within the issues concerning the common security. In 2014 the EU Council authorised member states to ratify the Treaty.

5 Interesting facts:

-USA signed the treaty but hasn't ratified it (which means that these measures can't be turned into laws)
-Five of the world's top 10 weapon producers are EU member states(Germany, UK, Spain, France and Italy).
-Spain is the 8th country that produces more weaponry in the world.
-Most of this weaponry is sold to countries like Syria, where (according to the United Nations) over 250000 people have died so far. 
-1 Person dies every minute from armed violence. In that same minute, 15 arms are manufactured.

What have we achieved so far?

All of the EU members ratified the Treaty, meaning that its measures are going to be turned into action. Spain will adopt all of the measures indicated in the Treaty.

However, the EU is conscious that the actions taken so far are insufficient. This is why the EU is still working closely with the United Nations in order to achieve the international peace everybody is asking for.

For further information read last year's update:

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/58&referer=http://www.un.org/disarmament/ATT/&Lang=E

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Sources:

http://oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/how-did-a-global-campaign-bring-about-a-un-arms-trade-treaty/

https://www.un.org/disarmament/ATT/

http://news.power102fm.com/trinidad-and-tobago-signs-arms-trade-treaty-24606

http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/58&referer=http://www.un.org/disarmament/ATT/&Lang=E

2012: FUNDS TO THE RESCUE!

Source: .tucapital.es

In 2012, the European Union gave Spain 100,000 million euros for our banks. Thanks to their help the economy in Spain didn't sink: small and medium enterprises, as well as us, citizens, didn't lose our savings. 

The banks that were in a bad situation were Bankia,  Novagalicia Banco, Catalunya Caixa y Banco de Valencia. 

What does "rescue money" mean? It means that the countries with more economic power help others that are poorer. It's money that we have to give back to them, it's a loan.

This was the fourth time the EU had had to give "rescue money" to one of its countries. 

Thanks to that, we didn't lose as much money as we would have.

In October 2012, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), a permanent rescue fund, became operational.  The ESM is designed to protect the long-term financial stability of the euro area. 

Source: El País

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Sources:

https://www.government.nl/topics/restoring-europe-to-financial-health/contents/healthy-public-finances/european-rescue-funds

http://economia.elpais.com/economia/2012/06/09/actualidad/1339230670_176850.html

              

2011: THE EUROBAROMETER 76 IN SPAIN

Source: www.europarl.es

In 2011 a Eurobarometer was conducted in Spain. What is a Eurobarometer? Well, the Eurobarometer is a series of surveys that the EU carries out in every member state to know the opinion of the citizens on politics, economy, social situation, health, culture, technology, ecology, etc. 

In 2011, the results in Spain were very interesting:

A)Related to Europe in 2020:

-The best way to finish with the crisis in the EU is by helping the poorest people, the most needed, and the socially excluded people.

-We have to give more places of work to young people.

-The priority in the EU should be giving more financial aid.

-The EU should speed the rules up to create new markets and open new businesses.

-Giving more opportunities to access higher education should be a priority.

-To fight poverty, the priority in the EU should be to promote social care and health services in all member states.

B)Related to the Media:

-The TV is the most used means of getting information.

-People think the information we have about the EU is enough.

-The information we have (most of it) is impartial and objective.

-Most of the Spanish people think the EU is going in the right direction.

All this answers were just from Spanish people. But most of them were similar to the global opinion in the EU about the EU.

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb/eb76/eb76_first_en.pdf

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2010: THE SPANISH EU PRESIDENCY

Source: "El Día de Valladolid"

From 1 January to 30 June 2010, Spain would hold the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union. 

Spain presented a joint programme with  Belgium and Hungary (the two following EU presidency holders: Belgium (July-December 2010) and Hungary (January-June 2011). The programme covered 18 months of the three countries working together for the EU. 

Source: http://taudesign.com/

            

Their priorities were: 

-Equality between genders, and fighting against domestic violence.

-Promoting the European spirit among the EU citizens. 

-Implementing the Lisbon Treaty.

-Recovering from the economic crisis and creating jobs.

-Making the EU a better and safer place to live in.

-Fighting against the climate change.

-Having an important voice in foreign affairs.

-Getting a more competitive EU.

Source: http://taudesign.com/trabajo/presidencia-espanola-de-union-europea/

Source: http://www.correos.es

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2009:THE CIVIL SOCIETY PLATFORM ON MULTILINGUALISM

The Civil Society Platform on Multilingualism was created by the European Commission in 2009 with the aim to promote a permanent dialogue between the Commission and civil society on the different aspects of the multilingualism policy.

According to their site, the Platform meets twice a year in Brussels with the Commission service responsible for multilingualism to debate on European priorities in the field of language learning.

The objectives of this platform are:

 To promote multilingualism for social cohesion and intercultural dialogue; 
 To provide opportunities for migrants to learn the language of the host country and to cultivate their own native language at the same time; 
 To take advantage of the media which have the potential to open channels for intercultural dialogue; 
 To enhance multilingualism policy to secure the rights of all European languages (official, regional, minority, and migrant languages); 
 To secure language learning opportunities for all citizen, throughout their lives. 

The Eurochamber has affirmed in different occasions that "it is essential to safeguard the multilingualism in the countries or regions in which two or more official languages coexist" and that schools must "give special attention and support to the pupils who cannot receive lessons in their mother tongue". 

This is a very important matter in Spain, because some regions have two official languages.

Source: 3.gobiernodecanarias.org

You can read their Policy Recommendations on Multilingualism here.

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2008: BRUSSELS LOOKED INTO THE AIR POLLUTION IN MADRID

According to the EEA (European Environment Agency), European legislation on air quality has been progressively adapted into Spanish law. 

Analysis of the 2008 assessment based on data obtained from the main regional air pollution-monitoring networks showed that:

• NO2 (137 air quality zones): 126 zones recorded values below the annual limit value and 133 recorded values below the hourly limit value.
• PM10 (138 air quality zones): 131 zones recorded values below the annual limit value and 95 recorded values below the daily limit value.
• O3 (136 air quality zones): 24 zones recorded values below the long-term target value for the protection of human health and 29 zones recorded values below the target value for the protection of vegetation.

It is worth emphasising the following:

• Areas affected by SO2 have decreased over the years and problems now only persist in specific zones.
• Although the limit and target values for NO2, PM10 and tropospheric ozone are still exceeded, this only occurs with NO2 in Spain's big metropolitan centres. Moreover, in 2008, levels of PM10 concentration fell.
• Significant advances have been made in modelling to ensure that zones are not left unassessed.

Source: El País

The problem of the air pollution in Madrid:

"The Commission (on behalf of the European Parliament) is conscious of the bad quality of the air in Madrid and has already asked for additional information about the adopted measures", assured in a writing the commissioner of Environment, Dimas Stavros in April, 2008.

For Stavros, the levels reached in Madrid were "considerably superior to the established ones in the community board that fixes the level of pollution for 2010", but admits that they don't exceed the current limit. "Although it was on the verge of doing it in several occasions in 2006 and 2007 ", he said.

The problem of the pollution in Madrid is not a minor topic. By the end of 2008, the Recoletos station of measurement had exceeded in 18 occasions the limit of 220 micrograms of dioxide of nitrogen for cubic meter.

Source: "El País"

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