European Union News - 30 March 2011

The European Commission has open the registration period for the 3rd  EU Health Prize for Journalists. This prize aims to raise awareness on health issues by showcasing the talents of the best health journalists from across the 27 Member States. Under the same theme than the previous two prizes 'Europe for Patients', this year the Prize also includes the topic of pharmaceuticals.

About a half of Europe’s population lives in towns of between 2,000 and 50,000 inhabitants. For that reason it was absolutely necessary to give a united voice to carry their specific messages to the European institutions. This is the purpose behind the creation of the Confederation of Small Towns and Municipalities of the European Union (CTME), whose president will be the alternate member of the CoR and president of the Midi-Pyrenees Regional Council and of the French association of small towns (APVF), Martin Malvy.

In the occasion of the celebration of the 2011 Aeronautical Days held in Madrid on 30 March 2011, Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, presented a new long-term vision prepared by a high-level group on aviation and aeronautics research. Organised by the Spanish Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) and the Commission, the 2011 Aerodays provide an opportunity to present and disseminate information about EU-funded results of research and technological development activities.

Education Ministers discussed active citizenship education, and related educational policy objectives, at an informal meeting held in Gödöllő (Hungary) on 29 March 2011. Acting as the chair of the meeting, Hungarian Minister of State Rózsa Hoffmann, raised the question whether European educational systems prepare the youth appropriately to become active and responsible citizens.

As EU environment ministers met for an informal two-day council meeting in Hungary, Committee of the Regions' President Mercedes Bresso highlighted the vital importance of involving local and regional authorities within sustainable development programmes, proposing to enlarge the scope of the Covenant of Mayors from energy savings to the entire Resource efficient Europe agenda, in particular with regard to sustainable water management. President Bresso also suggested the use of EU Project Bonds in the sector of eco-infrastructures.

EU budget fir year 2012 should be one of the main tools for helping Europe's economy to recover after the crisis, by focusing on employment, economic governance and growth. This is the main idea put forward by the European Commission at its Plenary session held in Brussels on 24 March. In this session, MEPs voted on a Resolution setting out their recommendations to the Commission which is an early signal about their wishes and priorities for next year's budget.