European Union News - European Union

European leaders have pledged a total of €7.2bn over the next three years to help poorer nations cope with global warming, hoping to boost support for an agreement in Copenhagen. Moreover, they agreed to create several monitoring mechanisms for banks.

The process of enlargement of the EU gives strong encouragement to political and economic reform in countries aspiring to membership and contributes to stability in Europe. On 8 December, the General Affairs Council took stock of the negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, the case of Iceland and the stabilisation and association process in the Western Balkans.

On 10 and 11 December Heads of State and Government will discuss climate change and economic issues. This is the first meeting of the Council after the entry into force of Lisbon Treaty, wich modifies part of the institutional architecture of the EU

From today, European citizens, businesses and organisations can register .eu website names using characters from all 23 official languages of the European Union. This was made possible thanks to new EU rules adopted by the Commission in June 2009.

The Official Journal of the European Union of December 9, 2009 has issued five decisions which detail the rules on the exercise of the Presidency of the Council, and on the chairmanship of preparatory bodies of the Council, and the conditions of employment  of new EU leaders, just as the appointment of the Secretary General of the Council of the EU.

The “European Master's in Translation ” (EMT) network is holding its constitution meeting in Brussels on 8 and 9 December. The member universities providing translator training programmes get together to establish the network's governance structure and to plan which competences a professional translator of the future may need.

Catherine Ashton, the EU's new High Representative for foreign policy, assured MEPs on Wednesday that she had the qualities needed to do the job. During a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee she said she would help Europe “punch its weight” politically. Baroness Ashton will face a full parliamentary hearing in January as her appointment - along with that of the rest of the future European Commission - is subject to Parliament's approval.

Irishwoman Máire Geoghegan-Quinn has been named European Commissioner for Research and Innovation by Commission President José Manuel Barroso. She replaces Janez Potocnik, who has been named European Commissioner for Environment, in this charge

The Treaty of Lisbon enters into force today – 1 December 2009. The occasion will be marked by a ceremony in the City of Lisbon organised jointly by the Portuguese Government, the Swedish Presidency and the European Commission. The Commission believes that the new treaty provides significant new benefits for citizens and will settle the institutional debate for the foreseeable future. This will allow the European Union to fully concentrate on managing a smooth exit from the economic and financial crisis and pushing ahead with the 2020 strategy for greener growth.

José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, has announced the portfolios responsibilities for the next Commission. The President has held detailed consultations with all the Commissioners-designate in order to assign the right jobs to the right people. The President believes that this team can deliver the agenda for change he set out in the political guidelines he presented in September, following his nomination by all 27 Member States and before his approval as President of the next Commission by the European Parliament.

Member states have presented their nominees to be Commissioner. After being re-elected as President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso will have now to proceed with the allocation of portfolios.

Parliament is now fully prepared for the increased powers it is acquiring under the Lisbon Treaty. MEPs have adopted changes to the EP's internal rules to reflect the arrival of 18 new MEPs, the increase in its legislative powers and a new budget procedure that puts Parliament on an equal footing with the Council.