European Union News - Research & Innovation

Researchers, stakeholders and policy-makers from all over Europe gathered in Malmö for the Seminar "The ESPON Knowledge Base as Potential for Territorial Analysis and Policymaking at Regional Level". The ESPON Coordination Unit organised in close co-operation with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union the second internal Seminar under the ESPON 2013 Programme on 2 and 3 December 2009.

The TEN-T EA is organising its second Project Management Workshop in Brussels on 12-13 January 2010. The event, which mirrors the first Project Management Workshop held in December 2008, will feature both a plenary session as well as smaller breakout thematic sessions, aimed at providing participants with more in-depth information on more specific topics.

The Official Journal of the European Union on December 12 includes the publication of a series of Council conclusions on a safe and efficient healthcare through eHealth, an issue that the EU is trying to strengthen.

Research and industry experts have called on the European Commission and the European Parliament to initiate a radical change to research and innovation policy in Europe. In a joint statement presented on 7 December on the premises of the European Parliament, they emphasised the need not only for improvements, but also for better long-term planning so that the EU can maintain a competitive edge.

Registration for the second edition of the High Level event on ICT for Energy Efficiency, which is organised by the European Commission's Information Society and Media Directorate-General, in cooperation with the Spanish Presidency of the European Union is already open.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has approved a EUR 150 million loan for expanding the Port of Barcelona. EIB Vice-President Carlos da Silva Costa and the Chairman of the Barcelona Port Authority, Jordi Valls, signed the finance contract in Barcelona on December 9

The simplification of research programmes in Europe was the focal point for the research ministers of the 27 European Member States at the 2982nd Competitiveness Council meeting on 3 December in Brussels. They also discussed the goals to be set out in the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy, and interaction between research and research-based innovation.

The Commission has approved 15 energy projects which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery of the EU, while increasing our security of energy supply and substantially reduce CO2 emissions. With today's decision, the Commission grants €1 billion to six Carbon Capture and Storage projects and €565 million to nine offshore wind energy projects.

Starting today, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development invites all Europeans to cast their vote in the final stage of the EU organic logo competition. The new logo aims to enhance consumer protection and promote organic farming.

The Official Journal of the European Union on December 5, 2009 reflects the issuance of a recommendation by the EU Council on smoke-free environments in the Member States

The European Commission has organized a series of events with the aim of offering small and medium enterprises sollutions to tackle the crisis and showing entrepreneurs where they can seek advice and benefit from a wide range of easily accessible business support services.

The European Community (EC) has signed in Brussels technology cooperation agreements with Japan and Jordan that will help identify common research priorities and areas of common interest, such as energy, sustainable development and environment. Mechanisms will also be put in place to enable wider science and technology (S&T) cooperation.