European Union News - European Union

Today the Commission launched a proposal to create a "Joint EU Resettlement Programme" in order to protect refugees through cooperation between Member States. The aim of this programme is to relocate refugees from the first place of asylum to a country where protection is ensured and where they can develop their lives. This is the most viable solution for those who are unable to return to their country of origin, which are Asia, Africa or the Middle East in most cases.

The national winners of the European Union prize for Young Journalists will travel to Berlin to begin the journey of award and attend the final conference in celebration of their success and, while looking back over the past 20 years since the fall of Berlin Wall. The European Young Journalist Award is one of the biggest competitions pan-European level of this type. The competition was open to young writers between 17 and 35 years of EU Member States and candidate and potential candidates, and this year over 600 projects have been received.

Swedish government ministers have outlined their Council Presidency priorities to the committees on constitutional affairs, climate change, international trade and gender equality. Further presentations will be made to other committees this week, now that MEPs have returned from their holidays.

The Résidence Palace building project in Brussels is progressing. The aim is for these new premises to house the European Summits and the meetings of Ministers starting from 2013. As the EU Member States wished, the building will be a reference for sustainable development.

On 1–3 September, the European Parliament’s buildings in Brussels will be crawling with Swedish ministers and officials. The ministers will be presenting the Swedish Presidency’s priorities to the Parliament’s committees. The committee presentations are public and can be followed on the Presidency website.

Within the scope of the 7th Framework Programme, the Commission's Research Directorate General  has published a Call for Tenders for the elaboration of a study about the investments in joint and open R&D programmes and the analysis of their economic impact. Interested bidders may submit their offers until October 7th 2009.

During the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, informal ministerial meetings will be held at seven different locations, from Malmö in the south to Umeå in the north. These meetings already started on July 6th with the informal ministerial meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, and will end up with ministerial eGovernment meeting and conference on November 18th to 20th.

The European Union offers young Europeans the opportunity to express their views and help build a sustainable world. On the eve of the tenth International Youth Day, the European Union has highlighted again that, if society is to make sustainable progress, young people must take a fuller part in social, economic and political life.