European Union News

Environmentalists are taking a bite out of pollution thanks to one of the largest monitoring campaigns ever launched in Europe. A total of 20 research teams from across Europe have set up sites in Île-de-France, a region containing the Paris metropolitan area,to investigate sources of particulate pollution in the urban environment. Their objective is to quantify and describe these sources using diverse methods such as ground-based observations at permanent sites or from mobile platforms.

The European Commission and CERN signed on July 17th 2009 a Memorandum of Understanding  which aims to enhance the long-standing partnership between the two organizations. The MoU will provide a structured framework for cooperation across a broad range of issues of common interest, with emphasis on consolidating and further developing the European Research Area and facilitating the implementation of the European Strategy for Particle Physics, as defined by the CERN Council.

The Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF), a key instrument of the intensified European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), will benefit in 2009 from a €70 million contribution by the European Commission. These resources will allow neighbouring partner countries to leverage increased funding for major investment projects in areas such as energy, transport and environment, and also SME development and the social sector.

The five-time winner of Tour de France and twice of Giro Miguel Indurain, showed his support for the contest organized by the European Commission to set the EU organic logo by joinning the competition’s jury to choose the best logo submissions for the pan-European event.

The Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry has published a tender for a study on the interplay between standards and intellectual property rights (IPRs)

In Strasbourg the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Jan Fischer, has reported to MEPs on his country's six-month presidency of the European Union, in which the main challenges had been "the three Es": economy, energy policy and the EU's role in the world.

The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) –an important tool in the EU efforts to ensure food safety– turns 30 this year. Figures indicate that now it is more efficient than it has ever been.

The Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, will replace his compatriot Louis Michel at the helm of the area of Development and Humanitarian Aid of the European Commission.

Parliament heard today from Sweden's Prime Minister, Fredrik Reinfeldt, about his government's plans for its six-month presidency of the EU. Economic crisis, Lisbon Treaty and climate change are their priorities for the presidency.

The European Commission has adopted a new regulation to improve security of gas supplies in the framework of the internal gas market. The proposed Regulation would strengthen the existing EU system for gas supply security by ensuring that all Member States and their gas market players take effective action well in advance to prevent and mitigate the consequences of potential disruptions to gas supplies. It also would create mechanisms for Member States to work together to deal effectively with any major gas disruptions which might arise.

The names of twelve European authors to receive the first ever European Union Prize for Literature have been announced by the European Commission. The prizes will be presented during an Award ceremony in Brussels on 28 September. In recognition of his oeuvre and literary success Henning Mankell, the Swedish author, has accepted the role of Ambassador of the European Union Prize for Literature for the coming year.

The European Commission and MTV Networks International have launched the "Play to Stop – Europe for Climate" campaign. The campaign will run for six months, and is aimed at raising awareness among young people about the dangers of climate change whilst mobilising them in the run-up to the Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December.