European Union News - European Union

Since its launch in 1987, the Erasmus programme has helped 2 million students carry out a part of their studies or a work placement in another European country. 31 students, one per country participating in Erasmus, have now been chosen to symbolically represent the 2 millionth student at a conference taking place on 5-6 October in Lund, Sweden. During this conference, stakeholders are discussing the way forward for the Erasmus programme and more broadly debate the issue of opening up opportunities to all young people to go abroad for learning purposes.

After the "No" that the Irish delivered in June 2008, amended reforms in the Lisbon Treaty by the European Union seem to have satisfied the country, and its voters have approved its ratification by 67.3% of the vote. For the Treaty to enter into force it only needs the positive votes of Poland and the Czech Republic.

Brussels will become the capital of the regions and cities with the organisation of “Open Days 2009 - European Week of Regions and Cities” where over 7,000 European, national and regional policy-makers, practitioners and representatives of business, civil society and academia will participate in 125 seminars and other events in Brussels.

People charged in cross-border criminal cases must have rights to appeal, make representations and get translation aid, said Civil Liberties Committee MEPs on its last meeting. They inserted these rights in a Council proposal to ensure that people cannot be tried twice for the same crime in two different Member States. The proposal goes to a plenary vote on Thursday next week.

The European Commission recently adopted a Communication on a European Partnership for Action Against Cancer to support EU countries in their efforts to tackle the disease. The partnership covers the period 2009-2013 and provides a framework for sharing information as well as capacity and expertise in cancer prevention and control. It aims to engage all relevant stakeholders across the European Union in a collective effort to fight cancer.

 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.

At an informal meeting in Brussels on 17 September, 27 Heads of State and Government established the EU's position for the G–20 summit in Pittsburgh on 24 and 25 September.

New navigation and layout make it easier to find what you’re looking for on the EU site’s main pages – in any official EU language. The new organization aims to distinguish more clearly the legislative contents from the current news about the European Union.

EU Affairs ministers and representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Investment Bank will meet at Stockholm City Hall to discuss the EU Baltic Sea Strategy as pilot project for future macro-regional strategies.

Over the past five years the Commission has supported the deployment of broadband networks, taking more than 40 individual decisions. The new guidelines are based on this experience and on comments received during public consultation in May and June 2008. They involve the application of the rules of EC Treaty state aid to public funding of broadband networks. They also contain specific provisions concerning the deployment of access networks, next generation, which allow public support to encourage investment in this sector.

After three months of a pandemic, the H1N1 virus is still contagious. To limit the continued spread, the Health Ministers of the European Union will meet in October to discuss the measures proposed by the Commission.

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.