2008 General Assembly of European Telecoms Operators’ Association

ETNO members call on EU policy makers for a strategy to reassure investors in telecoms sector

MEPs agree common charge system for EU airports

Common principles for levying charges at Community airports are set out in a second-reading report adopted by the European Parliament on a directive to prevent individual airports abusing a dominant position on the market. MEPs want the rules to apply to airports with an annual throughput of over five million passengers per year, whereas the Commission had proposed one million.

Safeguarding consumer interests  

 
Children and teenagers are keen internet users - 12 to 15-year-olds spend at least three hours a day on screen - but are not always aware of the dangers: not just sites showing child pornography or violence but also the risk of bullying or grooming. MEPs adopted a report on a proposal to ensure better protection for children against these dangers where it backed the latest "Safer Internet" programme for 2009 -2013 whose budget is some €55 million.

MEPs debate financial crisis with President Sarkozy

MEPs say the EU needs a coordinated response on a range of fronts in order to tackle the financial crisis and limit its impact on economic growth, jobs and small businesses. In a resolution on last week's EU summit, they also call for measures to improve financial supervision and look at issues from climate change to the Caucasus. The resolution was adopted with 499 votes in favour, 130 against and 67 abstentions.

Soucieux d'améliorer la qualité de l'enseignement universitaire et d'attirer les meilleurs étudiants et enseignants étrangers, les députés ont adopté en première lecture le programme de coopération universitaire et de mobilité des étudiants Erasmus Mundus II, qui débutera en 2009.