EP backs plans to designate 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion
"Wealth inequalities and severe poverty are matters of growing concern across the Union", says the European Parliament backing a first-reading compromise negotiated with the Council beforehand which designates 2010 as the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. The EU will provide €17 million for events, information campaigns and studies. 78 million EU citizens live at risk of poverty, 19 million of them are children, stresses the co-decision report. The initiative also was granted the Highest budget ever to a European Year.
Read more …Taking forward the common immigration and asylum policy for Europe
On the 17th June 2008, the Commission adopted a Communication on "A Common immigration policy for Europe: principles, actions and tools" and a Policy Plan "Asylum – an integrated approach to protection across the EU". The Communication puts forward ten Common Principles on which to base the common immigration policy, grouped under the three main strands of EU policy: prosperity, solidarity and security.
The Policy Plan on Asylum provides for the architecture of the second phase of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). Both address the remaining elements on immigration and asylum of The Hague Programme. They should be endorsed by the European Council of 15th October 2008 and will, in the course of 2009, feed into a new five-year Programme in the Justice, Freedom and Security area.
Commissioner Michel welcomes first-ever joint ACP-EU resolutions
For the first time in its 33-year history, the ACP-EU Council of Ministers has come out with a joint political resolution on top-of-agenda issues such as food prices, Economic Partnership Agreements and regional integration, and the effectiveness of development aid. ACP-EU is the Africa - Caribbean - Pacific - European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Read more …Europe's mental health in the spotlight
Commissioner for Health Androulla Vassiliou launches the European Pact for Mental Health and Well-Being at the High Level Conference on Mental Health in Brussels today. This is the first conference to bring together ministers, experts, patients, health professionals, researchers and high profile personalities and other stakeholders to agree future joint actions to improve mental health in Europe.
Read more …Euro area and EU27 employment is up since 2007
First estimate for the first quarter of 2008 Euro area and EU27 employment up by 0.3% +1.6% in both zones compared with the first quarter of 2007
Read more …IDAY: call to invest in the education of young Africans
Access to basic education for African young people is a right and must therefore be guaranteed, stressed speakers at International Day of African Youth (IDAY), which was celebrated on Thursday at the European Parliament. The role of African diasporas in this context was the focus of debate between MEPs and their guests. IDAY, which was officially sponsored by EP President Hans-Gert Pöttering, is part of European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.
Read more …Commission joins the celebrations of the World Day Against Child Labour
World Day Against Child Labour will this year be marked by thousands of events in scores of countries around the world on 12 June with a focus on the need to improve access of children to education as the right response to child labour.
Read more …Improving marine safety
Life at sea could become safer in future thanks to a recently completed project using satellite navigation technologies to provide more reliable information for vessels and coast guards.
Read more …EDA Holds Symposium On Biological Detection, Identification And Monitoring
Experts in Biological Detection Identification and Monitoring have held a unique gathering to underline the European Union’s commitment to protecting forces deployed on ESDP operations from biological attack, with the aim of addressing this key capability requirement through European collaboration.
Read more …Conference "Organised civil society as an engine for Intercultural Dialogue"
By the way of the European Year of the Intercultural Dialogue and at the occasion of the special session of its Bureau, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Economic and Social Council of Slovenia organise a seminar with the title "organised civil society as an engine for Intercultural Dialogue" on 17th June 2008 in Portoroz.
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