European Union News

The European Commission published a report which highlights the need to support young people who have borne the brunt of the economic crisis. The Commission also underlines that there are signs of hope because nearly all Member States are implementing the EU Youth Strategy, which aims to create more and better opportunities for young people and to promote active citizenship, social inclusion and solidarity.

The European Commission announced the 536 early-career top researchers for funding totalling almost €800 million in order to develop their ideas at the frontiers of knowledge. Also the grants will allow them to build their own research teams with more than 3,000 postdocs and PhD students, thereby supporting a new generation of top scientists in Europe.

According to report published by the European Commission, the cost of higher education for students varies dramatically in Europe. Tuition fees are highest in England, while nine countries (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Malta, Norway, UK (Scotland) and Sweden) do not charge fees in most cases. Also, the report highlights that major differences exist with regard to student support.

The European Commission announced the 74 projects that will receive almost €200 million in EU co-financing from the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). These 74 projects will use EU financial support for a variety of purposes, ranging from the construction and/or upgrade of current links, support of transport corridors, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and innovative financial instruments.

The Joint Research Centre published a report which shows that following extraction of unconventional gas in the US, greater supplies of liquefied natural gas have become available at global level, indirectly influencing EU gas prices. The study also suggests that future shale gas production in Europe could help the EU maintain its dependency on energy imports at around 50% of its total energy needs.

The European Commission announced €50 million humanitarian additional funding in order to help people in Syria. The release of the funds will begin as soon as the European Parliament and the Council have approved the decision. This will bring the Commission's total contribution to €119 million.

MEPs gave the green light for informal negotiations with the Council on the 2014-2020 Consumer Programme while warning that the budget proposed for the 2014-2020 Consumer Programme (€197 million) is not enough to meet the new challenges that will face EU consumer policy in 2020.

Under the so-called clearance of accounts procedure, a total of €215 million of EU agricultural policy funds unduly spent by Member States is being claimed back by the European Commission. In particular, funds will be recovered from Germany, Ireland, Greece, France, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

According to the European Commission, the establishing of a pan-European road toll payment system is suffering serious delays on Member States. The report adopted by the Commission concludes that the foreseen target date of 8 October 2012 for EETS availability to heavy duty vehicles will not be met.

According to a recent published Eurobarometer poll, public opinion about the EU has improved markedly. While people are still divided on whether or not their voice counts in the EU, 57% of respondents said voting in the next European Parliament elections is the best way to make their voices heard.

Based on the expectation that inflation rates are to remain above 2% throughout 2012, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, decided to keep the key ECB interest rates unchanged. Also, the ECB announced the modalities for undertaking Outright Monetary Transactions (OMTs) in secondary markets for sovereign bonds in the euro area. It also announced additional measures to preserve collateral availability for counterparties.

The Single Market Week for New Growth which will be celebrated from 15 to 20 October 2012 will focus on recalling the achievements of 20 years of the Single Market; presenting and discussing new initiatives to stimulate growth in the Single Market; and Mobilizing the views and expectations of young adults about the Single Market.