European Union News - Environmnet

 Building on the success of its pilot project launched in 2001, the European Commission has now decided to extend its environmental management system to all its activities and buildings in Brussels and Luxembourg. With this certification scheme the Commission implements a system that defines and evaluates environmental aspects of its activities, leading to continuous improvements in areas such as increased energy efficiency, optimal use of natural resources and reduction of CO 2 emissions.

The Section for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure of the EESC (European Economic and Social) has organized the event Save it! Energy Efficiency Days, held in Brussels between 22 and 25 September as a prelude to the "Overshoot Day", an international day established in 1987 to raise awareness about the problem of ecological deficit, and which marks the day when humanity starts using more natural resources than the planet can produce in a sustainable way every year.

The European Commission will present the first EU Ecolabel Communication Award at a ceremony in Brussels. The award recognises outstanding achievement in increasing public awareness of the EU Ecolabel – the European Union's label for environmentally-friendly products and services. The fast-growing label can now be found on almost 20,000 products and tourist accommodation services throughout the European Union and beyond

On 23 and 23 September will be held an informal meeting of Ministers of Education of the EU to discuss what can be done to improve the work situation and improve the skills of teachers. The meeting will be chaired by Swedish Minister for Education Jan Björklund.

The European Court of Auditors assesses the effectiveness of the European Commission’s management of the grants paid to LIFE-Nature projects in terms of the sustainability of their results. LIFE-Nature, a component of LIFE, co-finances projects in the Member States, mainly in relation to Natura 2000 sites, in favour of the conservation of species and habitats.

A new report published by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) predicts that European offshore wind projects - both existing and planned - could soon supply 10% of Europe's electricity. The report, entitled 'Oceans of opportunity', was presented at the European Offshore Wind 2009 conference in Stockholm, Sweden on 14 September.

The EP has called for a rapid release of EU aid funds to help victims of this summer's devastating forest fires in Southern Europe, especially in Greece. MEPs also want more cross-border European action in the fight against such disasters. Furthermore, they criticise some Member States for not having done enough to prevent the fires.

From 16 to 22 September 2009, hundreds of European towns and cities will participate in the eighth edition of European Mobility Week and invite their citizens to a wide range of activities promoting sustainable mobility, under the theme "Improving City Climates"