European Union News

The Green Paper on "Marine Knowledge" adopted by the European Commission launches a consultation on how to know more about what is happening under the sea through to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020. Among other things, the consultation pretends gather views on the collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone for creating the seabed map of European waters.

Following his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, highlighted that progress on the banking union is particularly urgent. He added that setting up a single banking supervisor covering all banks in the euro area is key in this context. In addition to this, he assured that the euro is irreversible, and Greece's future is undoubtedly in the euro area.

The European Commission launched a public consultation to prepare future EU activities in order to achieve further integration and the opening-up of national research infrastructures. The consultation seeks possible topics for future activities for integrating and opening national research infrastructures. The contributions can be made until the 22 October 2012.

The European Commission announced, in the context of Annual Action Programme 2012 adoption, the allocation of new funding for Armenia. The new funding will be addressed to accelerate justice reform and preparing the ground for increased bilateral relations, political association and economic integration with the EU.

In order to help modernising Georgia's agriculture, the European Commission announced the allocation of new EU funding to this country's programme. It will also help to build up the institutions responsible for preparing its political association and economic integration with the EU.

Catherine Ashton, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy visited Somalia to underline the EU's commitment to contributing to better governance, development and security in this country following the end of its eight-year transition period.

Businesses will be allowed to use carbon units from the Australian emissions trading scheme or the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for compliance under either system, under the new agreement reached between Australia and European Commission.

A report published by the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) shows that millions of citizens and businesses were seriously impacted by Cyber security incidents. However, most incidents are not reported or not even detected.

The European Commission published a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the application of EU antitrust rules in the motor vehicle sector. The FAQs are based on input and queries received during the initial period of application of the new rules, and are particularly addressed to stakeholders.

Aarhus has been recommended to be European Capital of Culture 2017 by the independent selection panel assessing the cities for this title. Cyprus is the other Member State in which a city will host the title in five years' time. The two winning cities will be formally nominated by the EU's Council of Ministers in May 2013.

The European Commission published a Communication that outlines how future EU aid should work to help putting in place social protection policies and systems. In particular, it explains how EU development cooperation can support the strengthening these policies and systems.

The European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report on the eve of the World Water Week (26 - 31 August), which recommends better integration of coordinated spatial planning and water management within the European Union.