European Union News - Regional Policy

Three key European transport projects ranging from the Baltic countries to the Iberian Peninsula have today been given a boost by the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding. The signing of these documents demonstrates the commitment to carrying out these projects as fast and as efficiently as possible. The three projects are the Rail Baltica, running from Estonia to Poland, the high-speed lines linking France, Spain and Portugal and the key East–West railway axis Lyon–Turin–Trieste–Ljubljana–Budapest.

From 9-11 June, stakeholders interested in the ongoing preparations of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region will meet in Constanta, Romania to discuss the strategy's potential priority areas for action.

The European Commission is sending a first warning to twelve Member States for failing to submit their plans for managing Europe's river basins, as required by EU water legislation. The river basin plans are the cornerstone of the Water Framework Directive and essential for achieving the EU's objective of 'good status' for European waters by 2015.

The Spanish Presidency of the EU has called a meeting with the countries of the Western Balkans to 'solemnly reaffirm' Europe's commitment to allowing them to join the Union, in exchange for receiving their commitment to carrying out the agenda of reforms agreed on for joining the EU.

The belgian capital will host on 27th and 28th May 2010 the first edition of the Forum for Outermost Europe, in the framework of new Lisbon Treaty. The Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn, will inaugurate the event.

Two Lithuanian projects, another from Belgium, another from Sweden, from Germany and from France are the winners in the six separate categories of the "RegioStars Awards" 2010. The prize giving ceremony recognises the most innovative projects that have been supported by European cohesion policy. The annual event takes place during a two-day conference in Brussels entitled "Regions for Economic Change – Building Sustainable Growth".

The completion of the single market, the sustainability of national debts and a grass-roots led EU cohesion policy are central to the success of the EU2020 strategy, insisted MEPs in a series of resolutions adopted on Thursday. The vote on Parliament's EU 2020 resolution has been postponed until June.

The European Parliament has given its green light to a proposal from the European Commission which makes it possible to use European regional funding to improve housing for marginalised communities. This measure, previously agreed by the Member States, will be particularly welcomed by the Roma population, estimated to include around 10-12 million people in Europe who often live in extremely deprived and segregated conditions.