European Union News

The First Annual Report on the application of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights put forward by the European Commission shows that fundamental rights are relevant across a wide range of policies and that public interest in the Charter runs high. However, and despite the letter received by the Commission from the public in general regarding fundamental rights, the report also highlights that the Charter is frequently misunderstood.

The third Demography Report published by the European Commission and the European Statistical Office (Eurostat) shows that Europeans are living longer and healthier lives. The report confirms recent trends and brings new data on fertility, life expectancy and migration with a special focus on mobility and migration, in issues such as cross-border working experiences and family patterns. These data are key in order to adjust certain policy developments according to the demographic changes a real population needs.

Now in its seventh year, the European Commission’s 'eTwinning' scheme involves more than 130,000 teachers in 31 countries who are using information and communication technologies (ICT) to set up cross-border educational projects. 500 teachers and 120 pupils are meeting in Budapest on 31 March-2 April to share ideas for future eTwinning initiatives and to celebrate the eight best eTwinning projects of the year, involving schools from Austria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and Turkey.

After 1000 days in business, the Enterprise Europe Network has helped more than 2.5 million companies to make the most of the Single Market. Europe’s largest business support network contributes to the competitiveness of SMEs by making it easier for them to internationalise, innovate and access EU finance and funding. Close to 600 major players in the business support community have linked up in the Network to offer a one-stop service to help companies reach their full potential.

The European Commission has announced its support to the cross-European electromobility initiative, Green eMotion, by collaborating with the other 42 partners from the industries, utilities, electric car manufacturers, municipalities, universities and technology and research institutions. The European Commission will make available 24.2 million euro from the 7th Framework Programme, in a total budget for the project estimated at 41.8 million euro.

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation SAFRAN's proposed acquisition of the solid rocket propulsion business of French state-owned SNPE, composed of SNPE's subsidiary SNPE Matériaux Energétiques, SME and SNPE's participation in REGULUS, a joint venture between SNPE and the Italian company Avio. After examining the operation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition in the European Economic Area (EEA) or any substantial part of it.

The first roadshow of the Erster Weltkrieg Project taking place in Frankfurt am Main on 31 March represents the first milestione of this initiative launched by Europeana. The project, promoted by the European digital archive Europeana, has brought together the German National Library and Oxford University in order to collaborate and  roll out the Great War Archive initiated by the University of Oxford, bringing German stories online alongside their British counterparts in a 1914-18 archive.

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.