Welsh to become official EU language?

Welsh might be used at EU level, according to this BBC news item.

BBC

Thanks Eric, I didn't spot that until later. Usually the BBC leave the earlier versions of stories on their site and link back to them but maybe someone mentioned that the first one was rubbish!

And while I'm having a soap-box moment, you might want to look at this item I came across from Personnel Today a leading UK human resources magazine

Now look at the report of the European Parliament debate.

Some discrepancy there? The correspondents to Personnel Today certainly seem to have taken it from the original story that the MEPs were about to pass new legislation. "Yet more EU red tape" as they put it.

The voice of the nation - part II

The original article referred to below has now been replaced by a different text under the title Win for disability rights woman. Still cause for concern over the reporting, though, as this is an Advocate General's Opinion - not a judgement of the Court. Although reportedly followed in 80% of cases, there is no guarantee that an AG's view will prevail - so any celebrations might be premature. The text of the Opinion is now on the ECJ website.

The voice of the nation

According to the press, the BBC spends hundreds of thousands of pounds sending its staff on training courses with regard to diversity, health and safety and similar modern obsessions. What a pity that they don't spend a few hundred and send them on an EIA course.

I draw your attention to the story "Disability rights ruling expected" and especially the comment: "When it was first announced in 2006 that her case would be heard by the European Court [of Justice] Ms Coleman said she was overjoyed. Since the UK instituted the Human Rights Act, few cases have been referred to Europe."

And just to show that mixing up the Court of Human Rights and the ECJ isn't enough for one short story, we get a new twist on the idea of implementation (and a neat demonstration that the UK isn't part of Europe) :

"However, in this case the EU's Equal Treatment Directive's interpretation of disability discrimination is much wider than the UK's - in Europe, the person does not have to suffer from the disability themselves but could be the parent or spouse of a disabled person. "

Any spare places on that "What's in a Directive" course Eric?

Margot Wallström on Woman's Hour

Communications Commissioner Margot Wallström and Caroline Lucas MEP were on Woman's Hour today talking about the reasons why 'the best jobs in Europe' are taken by men. Very interesting - it's apparently not to do with 'glass ceilings' or 'sticky floors', but with a 'layer of men'.
I heard the programme whilst driving over the Pennines to an EIA Committee meeting in Leeds, and was irritated to hear - and later to see on the programme summary - that Mrs Wallström was referred to as 'THE Vice-President of the European Commission'. She isn't of course - she's one of FIVE Vice-Presidents, which is rather different. It's a pity people can't get it right - though I noticed that she didn't correct the mistake.

New European Prize for young people

A new European prize for young people is being launched this month. It targets people aged between 16 and 30 who have been involved with projects helping to promote understanding between peoples of different European countries.

Organised by the European Parliament and the Foundation of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen, the Charlemagne Youth Prize provides funding of €2,000 - €5,000 for existing projects that foster a shared sense of European identity and cooperation. The best projects from each of the 27 EU Member States will be invited to Aachen, in Germany, on 29 April 2008.

As well as promoting European and international understanding, the winning projects will serve as role models for young people living in Europe. In particular the organisers are looking for practical examples of Europeans living together. The projects can focus on the organisation of youth events, youth exchanges or internet projects with a European dimension.

Application forms are available on the European Parliament's UK Office website at: www.europarl.org.uk The deadline for applications is 8 February 2008.

Slovenia's EU Presidency website

The full version of Slovenia's EU Presidency website is now available.

Northern Rock deal approved

The European Commission has authorised the UK's package of measures to support the Northern Rock bank. Details in this press release.

Sakharov Prize

The 2007 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought will be formally awarded on 11 December. The winner is the Sudanese human rights lawyer, Salih Mahmoud Osman. More details in this EP press release.

Sex, lies and ... Eurostat denials

Eurostat has issued a press release Inaccurate articles on EU census regulation explaining its intentions over the proposed census questions.

Sex, lies and … Eurostat?

European statistics hit the headlines this week with news that MEPs had blocked an attempt by the Commission to quiz women on their sex lives. Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) was discussing COM (2007) 69 - ‘Proposal for a Regulation ... on population and housing censuses’. The draft recommended - amongst many other things - that women be asked the dates on which their first and current “consensual union(s)” began. Lithuanian MEP Ona Juknevičienė in her report, said “The question is too intrusive and concerns only women, which is not legitimate.”
Source: MEPs hit back at 'intimate' Brussels census (EUobserver.com)
Proposal text
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs - documents for meeting 20.11.2007