European Union News - 2009

Parliament heard today from Sweden's Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, about his government's plans for its six-month presidency of the EU. Economic crisis, Lisbon Treaty and climate change are their priorities for the presidency.

The European Commission has adopted a new regulation to improve security of gas supplies in the framework of the internal gas market. The proposed Regulation would strengthen the existing EU system for gas supply security by ensuring that all Member States and their gas market players take effective action well in advance to prevent and mitigate the consequences of potential disruptions to gas supplies. It also would create mechanisms for Member States to work together to deal effectively with any major gas disruptions which might arise.

The names of twelve European authors to receive the first ever European Union Prize for Literature have been announced by the European Commission. The prizes will be presented during an Award ceremony in Brussels on 28 September. In recognition of his oeuvre and literary success Henning Mankell, the Swedish author, has accepted the role of Ambassador of the European Union Prize for Literature for the coming year.

The European Commission and MTV Networks International have launched the "Play to Stop – Europe for Climate" campaign. The campaign will run for six months, and is aimed at raising awareness among young people about the dangers of climate change whilst mobilising them in the run-up to the Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December.

The European Commission's long standing commitment to visa free travel for the people of the Western Balkans has been confirmed with the adoption of a proposal for granting visa free travel to the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Today's proposal enables the citizens of these three countries to travel to the all the EU countries, except United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, with the new biometric passports.

MEPs elected Jerzy Buzek to be the new European Parliament President with 555 votes in favour (or 86.18 per cent of the valid votes). He was elected after the first-round of voting. The 69-year-old Polish MEP will lead the European Parliament for two and a half years (until January 2012). President Buzek is the first President of the European Parliament to come from Central and Eastern Europe following the EU's enlargement in 2004.

 The EU-funded SOS ('Safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs') project is working to provide medical professionals with guidance on the risks (both cardiovascular and gastrointestinal) associated with certain painkillers. Ultimately, the project results should help to better protect patients against these side effects. 

 The Agriculture and Fisheries Council has held a public debate on the Swedish Presidency's work programme for the next six months. Its main priorities are sustainable fisheries, the global challenges relating to food security and climate change, and sound animal husbandry.

With the publication of annual report 2009 on development aid and assistance implemented in 2008, the European Union has confirmed in 2008 its position as the world's largest donor of development aid, with nearly 60% of world aid. The Commission alone has committed 12 million euros, or more than one fifth of the overall European effort.

Following the June elections, the new chamber of Parliament meets for the first time in this legislature. The election of a new president to replace Hans-Gert Pöttering will be the first decision of the Parliament

 New public-private partnerships launched to boost scientific research – long recognised as a stimulus for economic growth by boostering R&D investment in manufacturing, construction and automotive sector.

The Directorate General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission has published a notice by which it intends to undertake an analysis of the financing of renewable energy in the European energy market in the face of energy goals by 2020.