European Union News - 10 June 2010

Recent corrections to previously announced government deficit figures notified by one member state have demonstrated the need to strengthen the monitoring of the quality of budgetary statistics data reported to Eurostat (the statistical office of the EU) in the context of the excessive deficit procedure. On 8 June, the Ecofin Council agreed on a general approach regarding a regulation that will facilitate this.

Clean bathing waters are vital for key economic sectors such as tourism and for plant and animal life. The annual bathing water report presented by the European Commission and the European Environment Agency shows that 96 % of coastal bathing areas and 90 % of bathing sites in rivers and lakes complied with minimum standards in 2009. It also describes where to obtain detailed and up-to-date information on bathing sites.

The Commission has decided to encourage industry, governments and NGOs to set up certification schemes for all types of biofuels, including those imported into the EU. It laid down what the schemes must do to be recognised by the Commission. This will help implement the EU's requirements that biofuels must deliver substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and should not come from forests, wetlands and nature protection areas. The rules for certification schemes are part of a set of guidelines explaining how the Renewable Energy Directive should be implemented.

The contribution of European territories, regions and cities to the Europe 2020 Strategy is the focus of the Open Seminar “ESPON Evidence for Regional Policy-Making” on 9 - 10 June 2010 in Madrid.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek will attend the celebrations in Luxembourg to mark the 25th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement.

The Spanish Presidency of the EU believes it necessary to conduct a thorough examination with a view to the upcoming United Nations summit on the Millennium Development Goals on 10 September.