Potential Growth in EU Tourism Employment

A Commission Communication of 28 April reports that 2.2m-3.3m extra jobs could be created in the EU by 2010, if a positive climate for investment is encouraged. The Commission proposes a three stranded strategy - better use of information, easier information facilities, and structured consultation with relevant bodies. 9m jobs in the EU are in the tourism industry, in 2m businesses. It generates 5.5% of overall GDP, 6% of employment and 30% of external trade in services. [IP/99/267]

(Originally posted by Jason Campbell)

Aircraft Noise and the Council of the EU

Europe's proposal to ban planes fitted with 'hush kits' from flying in the EU after April 2002 has been postponed until the end of April in order to allow negotiation between the Commission and the US, after the US threatened to ban Concorde in retaliation.

(Originally posted by Jason Campbell)

English High Court Clears Payment for Airport Slots

The High Court in London ruled on Thursday, 25 March, that EU Regulations do not prevent money being paid as part of an exchange of takeoff and landing slots between airlines. BA had exchanged slots with KLM, paying compensation to the Dutch airline in recognition of the greater value of its slots. The judgment does not however go so far as to permit airlines to sell their slots outright - a pair of takeoff and landing slots at Heathrow being estimated as being worth up to £3m ($5m)

(Originally posted by Jason Campbell)

Tsunami Recovery Program

The World Travel and Tourism Council has reported that the economic slump in South East Asia led to a loss of approximately 2m jobs in the industry and at least $7billion. At the ASEAN meeting in Singapore, the Minister for Trade and Industry. Lee Yock Suan, urged the public and private sectors to work closely together to promote the region's attractions, as tourism is critical to the region's recovery.

(Originally posted John Downes)

Government

In February, the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament voted to legalise brothels for the first time since 1912. Whilst prostitution was already legal, brothels were merely tolerated. Those promoting the new law argued that it would make it harder for criminals to use sex clubs as a cover and for illegal immigrants to work there.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Jamaica

The Jamaican army is to be deployed at tourist resorts to crack down on crime and harassment of tourists. The measure followed a recommendation from the Jamaican Hotel and Tourist Association. The Opposition has criticised the measure as detrimental to the country's image and point to a dramatic decrease in the number of crimes against tourists in the last 6 years.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

China and Cambodia

The Chinese and Cambodian Governments have signed two accords, one on economic co-operation, the other on tourism. This followed the visit of Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen, to Beijing in March.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

British Dependent Territories

The UK Government has announced that it intends to give citizens of the British Dependent Territories the right of abode in the UK. This will apply to approximately 150 000 people in the following territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Pitcairn Island, Saint Helena and its dependencies and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The people of the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar already have this right. In exchange, these territories will have to change some of their laws to meet international standards on law enforcement co-operation, money laundering, transparency and independent financial regulation. They will also have to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Heathrow Airport Extension

The four-year public enquiry into the building of a fifth terminal at Heathrow Airport ended on 17 March 1999. The cost of the enquiry is estimated at £80m ($128m), with over 700 witnesses and yet a decision on whether to go ahead with the terminal will not be made until after the report is submitted in March 2001. The earliest possible date for completion of the terminal is 2006.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Lord Denning

Lord Denning, of Jarvis v Swan Tours fame, died at the age of 100 on 5 March 1999. He was one of the best known and, for many, greatest English judges of the twentieth century. He was famed for his clear, succinct style in giving judgement. He described his approach to his role, "If there is any rule of law which impairs the doing of justice, then it is the province of the judge to do all that he legitimately can to avoid that rule – or even to change it – so as to do justice in the instant case before him. He need not wait for the legislature to intervene".

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Germany takes over the Presidency

Germany took over the presidency of the EU on 1 January 1999. It has set as its priorities: job creation; internal consolidation and further development of the Union; and strengthening the development of the EU'' profile in relations with other countries. The European Council will take place in Cologne on 3-4 June. The website for the German presidency is at http://www.eu-presidency.de

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)

The Transport Commissioner announced that the Commission is working on recommendations to enable the EU to take decisions on this early in 1999. Within a few years many transport systems will rely on GNSS. The Commission is consulting with the industry, transport users and others in order to define a possible EU role in GNSS.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Railway Services

The Commission has set out proposals "to save Europe's railways from extinction". Included are proposals to liberalise the freight market. The White Paper proposes to speed up modification of the existing legislation (Directive 91/440/EC) so as to extend the rights to railway infrastructure for freight and for international passenger services. Existing legislation will be modified to require the separation of infrastructure management and transport operations into distinct business units, with separate management and balance sheets. Further study will be made of the principles for infrastructure charging and capacity allocation prior to making fresh proposals. They have also recommended the establishment of a European Railway Authority. (NB European Commission White Paper 'A Strategy for Revitalising the Community's Railways - COM (96) 421 final)

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Railway Services

Tourism and Employment: The High Level Group on Tourism and Employment have stated that the tourism sector is expected to grow faster than the economy as a whole, increasing turnover by 2.5-4% per annum and creating 2.2-3m jobs in the EU by 2010.
http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg23/whatsnew.htm.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Trans-European Transport Networks

Significant progress has been made and, on completion, the programme is expected to increase EU GDP by 0.5bn ecu by 2030 and create 600 000 jobs. The Vienna European Council emphasised the importance of protecting funding for this despite the need for cuts in public expenditure.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Air Agreements with the USA

The Commission referred eight Member States to the European Court of Justice for having concluded "open skies" agreements with the USA. The states are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Sweden and the UK. The Commission argues that these agreements distort competition and disadvantage EU airlines. The Commission itself had been negotiating an agreement with the USA but this was halted by the Council of Ministers.

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Working Time Directive

The Commission announced proposals to extend the provisions of the Directive to more EU workers in the road, rail, sea, air and inland waterways transport industries. The Directive provides protection against adverse health and safety effects of long hours, inadequate rests and disruptive working patterns. (IP/98/1004).

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Euro Update

Banks have indicated that no charges will be levied for converting accounts and payments into euros. The Commission intends to keep the situation under review and have invited persons who have been charged to notify them. The euro operates in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The ecu has been replaced by the euro at a rate of 1:1. The new currency can be used by way of cheques, credit cards, bank transfer etc. but the new euro notes and coins will not come into use until 1 January 2002. The fixed conversion rates for participant currencies can be found at http//europa.eu.int/eurobirth/index_en.html

(Originally posted by John Downes)

Lockerbie: Update

n 13 January 1999, the UK Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, visited Camp Zeist in the Netherlands which is to be used for the trial of the two Libyans accused of the Lockerbie bombing. The former US airbase currently used by the Dutch, will technically become part of Scotland for the purposes of the trial, which will be held according to Scots Criminal Law. Negotiations are continuing with the Libyan authorities who have expressed reservations about the men serving their prison sentences, if convicted, in a Scottish jail. One of the concerns is that they might be subject to UK and US intelligence' interrogations whilst in the prison. However, Mr Cook said that standards in Scottish prisons were as good as any in the world and Libyan and international bodies would be able to monitor the men's conditions. As soon as the men arrive in the Netherlands, the sanctions against Libya would be lifted. On 13 January, JANA, the Libyan news agency reported a "major headway" in the negotiations.

Charter Flights

President Clinton announced new measures to increase contact between ordinary US citizens and Cubans. These do not amount to the lifting of the general embargo against the Cuban Government but inter alia permits more charter flights between the two countries. These flights are intended to provide for visits by athletics, social, religious and other groups and are not intended for tourists. The 37 year US bar on tourism continues.

(Originally posted by John Downes)