European Union News

A programme which has been negotiated with the Portuguese authorities by the Commission, in liaison with the ECB and the IMF, will provide EU financial support. Ministers concur with the Commission and the ECB that providing a loan to Portugal is warranted to safeguard financial stability in the euro area and the EU as a whole.

The study, presented by two researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the United States, has discovered how cells migrate at the developing brain stage and how other types of cells may travel inside the body. A critical stage of human development is how cells manage their migratory patterns in the human body. Another critical element is the process by which they differentiate or evolve from less specialised cells into more specialised cell types. According to researchers, bad coordination could trigger abnormal development, and in turn lead to cancer.

Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and the Tunisian Minister for Regional Development, Mr. Abderrazek Zouari, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on regionalization and employment.

Cloud computing enables companies, public administrations and individuals, using networks such as the internet, to access their data and software on computers located somewhere else. This technology is already used widely, for example for web-based e-mail services. Responses will feed into the preparation of a European cloud computing strategy that the Commission will present in 2012.

The new patterns of communication by analysing how patients with prostate cancer interacted on line, has been investigated by a team of German scientists. This research found that there were negative effects of seeking help from non-professionals, a common source of criticism from traditional groups towards their on line counterparts.

Despite the low number of young Europeans working abroad, the survey presented by the European Commission highlights a desire of young people to work abroad. Currently, less than 3% of Europe's working population lives outside their home country. In general, the lack of cash discourages many of them from taking a first step towards this by spending part of their education abroad.

The European Commission presented new initiatives to fight against drugs at the G8 ministerial meeting in Paris. Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, responsible for Home Affairs highlighted how important is fighting drugs because around 140 tonnes of cocaine are consumed each year in the EU.

According to a new Eurobarometer survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism, a 68% of EU citizens travelled for private reasons in 2010 compared to 65% in 2009. These findings confirm other indicators that tourism has recovered from economic crisis. In addition, preference still inclines towards traditional tourist destinations.

According to the spring forecast 2011-12, European recovery maintains momentum amid new risks. GDP is projected to grow by around 1,75% this year and by close to 2% in 2012. This outlook is supported by better prospects for the global economy and overall upbeat EU business sentiment.

The question whether a victim of domestic violence must be able to choose to resume cohabitation immediately with her attacker does not fall within the scope of European Union law, according to Advocate General Kokott. Nevertheless, the opinion of the victim must be able to be  taken into consideration in order to vary the duration of an order to stay away laid down by national law.

The European Commission's MEDIA programme for cinema celebrated its 20th anniversary in Cannes. Since 1991, the MEDIA programme has invested more than €1.5 billion in the European cinema industry and this is the reason why this year European Commission celebrates this occasion with 20 European film directors, the European Commissioner for Culture Androulla Vassiliou and Gilles Jacob, President of the Festival in an event in which, the future of film-making in Europe will be discussed.

According to the 2010 annual RAPEX report, the EU's rapid alert system for non-food dangerous products ("RAPEX") has increased its effectiveness with a record of 2,244 unsafe products banned, withdrawn from the market or recalled from consumers in 2010, up 13% compared with 2009.