European Union News - 18 October 2012

The European social partners stressed the need for the active involvement of social partners in the implementation of national reform plans and in EU governance as a whole in the Tripartite Social Summit held in Brussels on 18th October ahead of the autumn European Council.

At the European Development Days high-level panel, MEPs debated on the ways to ensure that the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals drives inclusive growth. They stressed that the EU must make policies that affect developing countries more consistent, focus on the neediest, and set timetables for achieving measurable sustainable development goals.

The European Commission published new guidelines explaining how best to ensure that activities related to inland navigation are compatible with EU environmental policy in general and nature legislation in particular. The guidelines are aimed at showing how to apply EU environmental legislation on inland navigation and nature protection.

An event celebrated last 12 October in Karlsruhe marked the celebration of 20 years providing nuclear forensics support by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. Nuclear forensics provides information for the prosecution of nuclear smugglers and enables the identification of the origin of the intercepted material, thus providing essential information for improving preventive measures.

The European Commission and UN Women launched Spring Forward for Women. This programme aims to support national and regional stakeholders to empower women economically and politically in the context of the progress that has followed the Arab Spring. The programme will respond to the support needed at regional and country levels.