European Union News - 24 November 2009

European Parliament has formally approved the EU’s telecoms reform package at its plenary session in Strasbourg, proposed by the Commission in November 2007. This new rules will give new rights to European consumers, and it will streghten competition on Europe's telecoms markets.

EU support for volunteering should be stepped up to €10 million, as part of the 2011 European Year of Voluntary Activities Promoting Active Citizenship, said the Education and Culture Committee on Monday evening. The programme will support good practice exchanges, studies and research, conferences, information and promotion campaigns and other activities at EU, national and regional levels.

Up to 3 000 school students from all over Europe, including Kalix near the Arctic Circle in Sweden, Heraklion in Crete, Saint Martin in the West Indies and Paralimni in Cyprus, will be testing their language skills in the third Juvenes Translatores contest . The translation contest, whose name means “young translators” in Latin, is held simultaneously in all the participating schools, under the supervision of the schools .