EU bulletin 27th January 2016 Results of EU assistance in 5 countries "good"
More than half of asylum seekers and refugees arriving in the EU last December were not entitled to international protection, the EU has said, marking a possible trend reversal, EUobserver reports: https://euobserver.com/migration/132006
In a report, the EU Court of Auditors details errors in the design and implementation of assistance programmes in five countries, but says the final result has been good, according to EUobserver: https://euobserver.com/economic/132003
The European Commission today announced an investment of € 63.8 million for the first-ever "Integrated Projects" to be funded under the LIFE programme for the environment: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-150_en.htm
A larger share of projects funded through the EU's flagship investment programme should be devoted to research, development and innovation, EU commissioner Carlos Moedas told journalists on Monday (25 January), EUobserver reports: https://euobserver.com/economic/131996
The European Commission has proposed to facilitate the exchange of criminal records of non-EU citizens in the EU by upgrading the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS). This is a key action of the European Agenda on Security, which aims to improve cooperation between national authorities in the fight against terrorism and other forms of serious cross-border crime. See the Commission's press release here: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-87_en.htm
With a budget of over €2 billion in its initial year, Erasmus+ has already offered more than one million people the opportunity to take part in 18.000 funded projects. More flexible opportunities for collaboration across sectors are also helping Europe's education, training, youth and sport systems to try out innovative practices and contribute to reform and modernisation, according to a press release from the European Commission: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-16-141_en.htm
Efforts to cap agricultural emissions harmful to both the environment and human health face fierce opposition and tough negotiations before they can finally become EU law, reports EurActiv."Virtually all member states were applauding the ambition of the Commission proposal, but when it comes to accepting what they actually have to do to get there , they find it very difficult," said Julie Girling, the lead MEP on the bill: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/agriculture-and-climate-change-role-new-cap/eu-emissions-limits-agricultural-gases-face
The European Commission wants the power to review energy deals between member states and countries such as Russia before they are signed, the bloc's top energy official said on Tuesday (26 January) - a move opposed by some states reluctant to cede control to Brussels, EurActiv reports: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/energy/eu-seeks-new-powers-vet-member-state-energy-deals-321327
EU consumers should not be worried about safety standards for food and health being jeopardised by negotiators in the free-trade talks between the EU and the US, insisted Cecilia Malmström in a report in EurActiv: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/health-consumers/eu-trade-chief-tells-consumers-not-worry-about-ttip-321321
The head of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) on Tuesday ruled out a haircut for Greek debt but said extending debt maturities and deferring interest are options that officials could use to make Greece's debt more manageable, reports ekathimerini.com: http://www.ekathimerini.com/205422/article/ekathimerini/business/esm-head-rules-out-haircut-for-greek-debt
The EU and the developed countries need to more forcefully direct their resources and attention to "the belt of crisis" stretching from Somalia to Mali, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva told EurActiv in an exclusive interview: http://www.euractiv.com/sections/global-europe/georgieva-travelling-trouble-could-reach-us-302960
Bosnia will apply to join the EU in the next month in the hope of winning candidate status in 2017, reports EUobserver: https://euobserver.com/tickers/132008
With thanks to the European Movement