Glossary of Institutions, policies and enlargement of the European Union
(Starting with "G")
©
European Communities, 1995-2007
http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/index_en.htm
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Galileo
Galileo is the name of the European
satellite navigation system which has been under development
by the European Union and the European Space Agency
(ESA) since 2002. It should be operational from 2008
onwards. Galileo is intended to ensure the fluidity,
effectiveness and safety of transport in Europe. Given
its many applications, it may also be useful to other
sectors of activity.
Galileo will strengthen Europe's scientific
identity and develop the Union's independence in the
strategic field of satellite positioning. It is thus
a genuine alternative to the creation of a de facto
monopoly for the American GPS system. Nonetheless,
Galileo will be compatible with the GPS system, as
well as the Russian radio navigation system Glonass.
Galileo will allow users equipped
with a receiver to determine their position with great
accuracy in real time. The programme comprises 30
satellites to be placed in orbit from 2006 onwards
and ground stations to relay the signals to the users.
Among the other sectors which may
benefit from applications of the Galileo programme
are: the social services (assistance for the disabled
and the elderly), justice and customs (border controls),
search and rescue (navigation at sea and in mountainous
terrain) and agriculture (precise management of large
agricultural areas).
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General-interest
services
"General-interest services" are services
considered to be in the general interest by the public
authorities and accordingly subjected to specific
public-service obligations. They include non-market
services (e.g. compulsory education, social protection),
obligations of the State (e.g. security and justice)
and services of general economic interest (e.g. energy
and communications). Article 86 of the Treaty (former
Article 90) does not apply to the first two categories
(non-market services and state obligations).
In May 2003 the European Commission
adopted a Green Paper on services of general-interest
in Europe. This opened a debate on the role of the
European Union in promoting the supply of general-interest
services, in defining their general-interest objectives
and the way they are organised, financed and evaluated.
In May 2004 the Commission went on
to issue a White Paper on services of general interest,
in which it sets out the approach taken by the European
Union to promoting the development of quality general-interest
services. It presents the elements of a strategy to
ensure that all citizens and firms in the Union have
access to quality general-interest services at affordable
prices. The Commission has decided to develop its
sectoral approach without issuing a general directive
for the moment.
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Genetically
modified organisms (GMO)
GMOs are organisms whose genetic material
(DNA) has been altered not by reproduction and/or
natural recombination but by the introduction of a
modified gene or a gene from another variety or species.
There has been Community legislation
on GMOs since 1998. EU action is designed to protect
human health and the environment while following the
rules of the single market. It deals with the use,
dissemination, marketing and traceability of GMOs
both in food intended for human consumption and in
animal feed. It also concerns the implementation of
the provisions on trans-boundary movements of GMOs
laid down in the Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity.
In 2004, after five years with no
new marketing authorisations, the Commission authorised
the placing on the market of certain GMO foods or
foods containing GMOs and the marketing and growing
of GMO seeds.
Before being placed on the market
GMOs must first undergo a very strict assessment process.
They are then labelled in accordance with labelling
and product traceability requirements.
The reference laboratory for GMO assessment
is the European Commission's Joint Research Centre
(JRC). It coordinates the European network of reference
laboratories for GMOs and works on detecting, identifying
and quantifying the presence of GMOs in foodstuffs.
The European Food Safety Authority also gives scientific
opinions on GMOs.
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Globalisation
of the economy
Globalisation refers to the phenomenon
of the opening up of economies and borders, resulting
from the increase in trade and capital movements,
the movement of people and ideas, spread of information,
knowledge and technology and from a process of deregulation.
This process, both geographic and sectoral, is not
recent but has been accelerating in recent years.
While globalisation is the source
of many opportunities, it remains one of the greatest
challenges facing the European Union today. In order
to exploit fully the growth potential arising from
this phenomenon and ensure that its benefits are shared
fairly, the EU is working on setting up, via multilateral
governance, a model for sustainable development aimed
at reconciling economic growth, social cohesion and
environmental protection.
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Governance
The debate on European governance,
launched by the Commission in its White Paper of July
2001, concerns all the rules, procedures and practices
affecting how powers are exercised within the European
Union. The aim is to adopt new forms of governance
that bring the Union closer to European citizens,
make it more effective, reinforce democracy in Europe
and consolidate the legitimacy of the institutions.
The Union must reform itself in order to fill the
democratic deficit of its institutions. This governance
should lie in the framing and implementation of better
and more consistent policies associating civil society
organisations and the European institutions. It also
entails improving the quality of European legislation,
making it clearer and more effective. Moreover, the
European Union must contribute to the debate on world
governance and play an important role in improving
the operation of international institutions.
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Green
Paper
Green Papers are documents published
by the European Commission to stimulate discussion
on given topics at European level. They invite the
relevant parties (bodies or individuals) to participate
in a consultation process and debate on the basis
of the proposals they put forward. Green Papers may
give rise to legislative developments that are then
outlined in White Papers.
Green Papers on entrepreneurship in
Europe (2003), on demographic change and a new solidarity
between the generations (2005) or, more recently on
a European strategy for sustainable, competitive and
secure energy (2006) are examples of topics discussed.
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