European Union News

The Commission has approved 15 energy projects which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery of the EU, while increasing our security of energy supply and substantially reduce CO2 emissions. With today's decision, the Commission grants €1 billion to six Carbon Capture and Storage projects and €565 million to nine offshore wind energy projects.

The Official Journal of the European Union of December 9, 2009 has issued five decisions which detail the rules on the exercise of the Presidency of the Council, and on the chairmanship of preparatory bodies of the Council, and the conditions of employment  of new EU leaders, just as the appointment of the Secretary General of the Council of the EU.

In the EU27, 65% of households had access to the internet during the first quarter of 2009, compared with 60% during the first quarter of 2008, and 56% had a broadband internet connection in 2009, compared with 49% in 2008. One person in two in the EU27 uses the internet daily, while for young people the proportion is three quarters

The “European Master's in Translation ” (EMT) network is holding its constitution meeting in Brussels on 8 and 9 December. The member universities providing translator training programmes get together to establish the network's governance structure and to plan which competences a professional translator of the future may need.

Member States have decided that the new Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) will have its seat in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This decision paves the way for the timely setting up of the Agency and thus the effective implementation of the Third Legislative Package on the Liberalisation of the Energy Markets.

Starting today, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development invites all Europeans to cast their vote in the final stage of the EU organic logo competition. The new logo aims to enhance consumer protection and promote organic farming.

The Official Journal of the European Union on December 5, 2009 reflects the issuance of a recommendation by the EU Council on smoke-free environments in the Member States

World best experts in environment, ministers and heads of state and non-governmental organizations of the 192 member countries of the UNFCCC will beet at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark, between December 7 and December 18, 2009. This will be the last conference to prepare the post-Kyoto. For the first time, the United States will be present.

The EU is seeking an increasingly close relationship with Ukraine, going beyond co-operation, to gradual economic integration and a deepening of political co-operation.

The EU Healthy Eating Campaign, "The Tasty Bunch", visited 173 schools across Europe as road show busses brought quizzes and games into the playground to tell kids about the need to make wise food choices.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's new High Representative for foreign policy, assured MEPs on Wednesday that she had the qualities needed to do the job. During a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee she said she would help Europe “punch its weight” politically. Baroness Ashton will face a full parliamentary hearing in January as her appointment - along with that of the rest of the future European Commission - is subject to Parliament's approval.

A new regulation by the European Commission has just entered into force in order to enhance rail passengers' rights across the European Union