European Union News

The European Commission's long standing commitment to visa free travel for the people of the Western Balkans has been confirmed with the adoption of a proposal for granting visa free travel to the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Today's proposal enables the citizens of these three countries to travel to the all the EU countries, except United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, with the new biometric passports.

MEPs elected Jerzy Buzek to be the new European Parliament President with 555 votes in favour (or 86.18 per cent of the valid votes). He was elected after the first-round of voting. The 69-year-old Polish MEP will lead the European Parliament for two and a half years (until January 2012). President Buzek is the first President of the European Parliament to come from Central and Eastern Europe following the EU's enlargement in 2004.

 The EU-funded SOS ('Safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs') project is working to provide medical professionals with guidance on the risks (both cardiovascular and gastrointestinal) associated with certain painkillers. Ultimately, the project results should help to better protect patients against these side effects. 

 The Agriculture and Fisheries Council has held a public debate on the Swedish Presidency's work programme for the next six months. Its main priorities are sustainable fisheries, the global challenges relating to food security and climate change, and sound animal husbandry.

With the publication of annual report 2009 on development aid and assistance implemented in 2008, the European Union has confirmed in 2008 its position as the world's largest donor of development aid, with nearly 60% of world aid. The Commission alone has committed 12 million euros, or more than one fifth of the overall European effort.

Following the June elections, the new chamber of Parliament meets for the first time in this legislature. The election of a new president to replace Hans-Gert Pöttering will be the first decision of the Parliament

 New public-private partnerships launched to boost scientific research – long recognised as a stimulus for economic growth by boostering R&D investment in manufacturing, construction and automotive sector.

The Directorate General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission has published a notice by which it intends to undertake an analysis of the financing of renewable energy in the European energy market in the face of energy goals by 2020.

The Commission has published a report on the conservation status of over 1150 species and 200 habitat types protected under EU law. Only a small proportion of these vulnerable habitats and species have achieved good conservation status and Member States will need to strengthen their efforts if this situation is to improve. The report, which covers 2001-2006 and is the most comprehensive survey of EU biodiversity ever undertaken, provides an invaluable reference point for measuring future trends.

To finance the economic recovery plan, €2.4 billion will have to be found in the 2010 EU budget. Parliament backs the plan but is refusing to let it be funded at the expense of other policy priorities. This is one of the issues in the budget negotiations between Parliament and Council that began on 10 July.

The Commission has issued a call for proposals under its "Europe for Citizens". This call aims to support and encourage civil society organizations at European level to reinforce the values of citizenship.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published the decision to renew the Portuguese on his office until 2014. European Parliament has yet to give its approval to this decision.