Any particular date when Postdoc decisions are announced in European universities? I am applying for postdoc jobs, in particular, I am interested in jobs out of the U.S. 

I have a few questions:


Is there any particular date when Postdoc decisions are announced in European universities?
I heard that many universities will make offers after the AMS deadline (on Feb. 3rd), and suggest we email universities asking about the status. 
Do the European Universities also follow the AMS coordinated deadline?
Do you suggest we email Universities right now, or is it better to wait until after the deadline?
What do you say when you email universities? Just asking about status, or saying that we are still interested in their jobs? Or what?
Let me start with UK, as this country I know best. Unlike US, in the UK research grants are awarded by several large funding bodies and there is no particular date when all the decisions are simultaneously announced.  Hence, it is not possible to syncronise postdoc hiring process across the UK, and AFAIK, most professors do not see any need for it. Still, many Universities will advertise new positions for staff two times per year, with the anticipated starting date on 01 Oct (start of term) and 01 Apr (mid-term). There are two "waves" of recruitment, but they are not completely in sync.

In the rest of EU, customs differ but still I never came across anyone following AMS deadlines in the EU. It seems that people advertise as soon as they have funding confirmed, but different funding streams announce at different times.