European Union News - 30 September 2009

ICANN, the body primarily responsible for managing internet domain names, will become more open and accountable to billions of internet users worldwide. As of 30 September, ICANN, the US-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, will no longer be subject to the unilateral review by the US Department of Commerce, but by independent review panels appointed by ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) and ICANN itself with the involvement of governments around the world.

The European Commission has today adopted a comprehensive Action Plan on Urban Mobility. The Action Plan proposes twenty concrete Commission takes action to make urban travel greener, better organised and more user-friendly

Parliament has officially formed its conciliation delegation for the telecoms package, following which the 27 MEPs on the delegation nominated a three-member team to open negotiations with the Council Presidency on Tuesday. The team consists of EP Vice-President Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP, Spain), Industry Committee Chair Herbert Reul (EPP, Germany) and rapporteur Catherine Trautmann (S-D, France).

This afternoon will meet at its 456th plenary session of the EESC representatives of the Swedish Presidency and European Union President Jose Manuel Barroso with various organizations in employment and vocational training, to discuss the crisis.

Among the 100 projects submitted, the jury of this first design competition of Economic and Social Committee has chosen the "Bee House" (House of bees) Irish James Ennis, as the winner of the first European Award for a Sustainable Present. The project will be awarded with 10,000 euros and will be produced in the EU according to sustainability criteria and creativity.