European Union News

The first results of the latest Eurobarometer survey reveal that for Europeans unemployment is the most important issue facing their own country, while concerns about the economic situation have lessened slightly. However, a majority still believes the worst of the crisis is to come.

The number of persons employed in the euro area (EA16) fell by 0.5% in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

The Official Journal of the European Union on December 12 includes the publication of a series of Council conclusions on a safe and efficient healthcare through eHealth, an issue that the EU is trying to strengthen.

Research and industry experts have called on the European Commission and the European Parliament to initiate a radical change to research and innovation policy in Europe. In a joint statement presented on 7 December on the premises of the European Parliament, they emphasised the need not only for improvements, but also for better long-term planning so that the EU can maintain a competitive edge.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Tirana Bank have signed a EUR 10 million loan targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and infrastructure projects promoted by local authorities in Albania. This is the first EIB loan for SMEs in Albania.

Registration for the second edition of the High Level event on ICT for Energy Efficiency, which is organised by the European Commission's Information Society and Media Directorate-General, in cooperation with the Spanish Presidency of the European Union is already open.

The process of enlargement of the EU gives strong encouragement to political and economic reform in countries aspiring to membership and contributes to stability in Europe. On 8 December, the General Affairs Council took stock of the negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, the case of Iceland and the stabilisation and association process in the Western Balkans.

On 10 and 11 December Heads of State and Government will discuss climate change and economic issues. This is the first meeting of the Council after the entry into force of Lisbon Treaty, wich modifies part of the institutional architecture of the EU

From today, European citizens, businesses and organisations can register .eu website names using characters from all 23 official languages of the European Union. This was made possible thanks to new EU rules adopted by the Commission in June 2009.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a EUR 150 million loan for expanding the Port of Barcelona. EIB Vice-President Carlos da Silva Costa and the Chairman of the Barcelona Port Authority, Jordi Valls, signed the finance contract in Barcelona on December 9

The EU has revised the contract value thresholds, above which its rules on public purchasing apply, with effect from January 2010.

The simplification of research programmes in Europe was the focal point for the research ministers of the 27 European Member States at the 2982nd Competitiveness Council meeting on 3 December in Brussels. They also discussed the goals to be set out in the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy, and interaction between research and research-based innovation.