Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the reunification of Europe - 30/04/2014
http://ec.europa.eu/news/external_relations/140430_en.htm
1 May 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the biggest enlargement in the EU's history with the addition of 10 new member states, most of them from Central and Eastern Europe.
"United, we count much more in the world; united we are in a better position, not only to defend our interests but to promote our values," - said Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the occasion of this historic anniversary.
Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle said, "The accession of 10 member states on the 1st of May 2004 has brought us shared stability, security and prosperity. It reunited Europe after years of artificial division during the Cold War."
The EU’s eastern enlargement firmly anchored democracy, freedom and the rule of law for millions of people who had lived behind the Iron Curtain. Joining the European Union was a symbol of hope and a better future for millions of people.
Ten years on, Europe is stronger, richer and safer - politically, economically and culturally. Enlargement has made the EU the world's biggest single market. Increased trade between member states brings new jobs, investment and growth. Enlargement has further strengthened Europe's weight in the world. As a Union of 500 million citizens, we are making our voice heard across the globe.
Message by José Manuel Barroso on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement
http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/video/player.cfm?ref=I088920&sitelang=en
During his visit to Washington on 30 April 2014, José Manuel Barroso, President of the EC, delivered a message on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement. On 1 May 2004, the EU enlarged from 15 to 25 Member States (and with two subsequent enlargements to 28). It brought stability and reunited Europe after years of artificial division during the cold war; it made the EU the world's biggest single market and increased trade between Member States, thus contributing to economic growth and strengthening further Europe's weight in global affairs.
EU Nobel Peace Prize – one year on - 20/11/2013
http://ec.europa.eu/news/eu_explained/131120_en.htm
The EU has used the proceeds of the Nobel Prize to help children affected by wars receive an education.
In 2012 the EU received the Nobel Peace Prize for advancing the causes of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. The EU decided to dedicate the prize money to children who are denied the chance of growing up in peace.
Of the approximately 75 million children who are out of school worldwide, half live in conflict areas. However, humanitarian assistance for education is severely underfunded. For this reason the EU decided to support emergency-education projects across the globe.
The EU more than doubled the Nobel award (€930,000), to €2 million. As a result, more than 28,000 children have so far benefited from the four projects selected last year.
EU Children of Peace projects
The projects focus on providing educational support and are implemented with reputed humanitarian partners of the EU: in Iraq with ACTED, in Pakistan with UNICEF, in Colombia and Ecuador with UNHCR and in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo with Save the Children and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
In Iraq the project allows young Syrian refugees aged 5 to 15 to participate in supervised recreational and therapeutic activities.
To support Somali, Sudanese and Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia, around €500 000 has been spent on the construction of safe learning spaces, the rehabilitation of existing classrooms as well as the distribution of schoolbags, teacher’s kits and recreation sets.
Next steps
As a lasting political legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize, and as a targeted tool for education in conflict zones, the EU will continue this initiative in the years to come.
For 2014, the EU has again doubled the resources, allocating a further €4 million to cover both existing and new projects, which will benefit more than 80 000 children affected by war.
Mixed picture emerges of reforms by EU's neighbours
http://ec.europa.eu/news/external_relations/140328_en.htm
Boosting private sector growth in developing countries - 14/05/2014
http://ec.europa.eu/news/external_relations/140514_en.htm
Plans to encourage more private sector involvement in the EU’s development work in the world’s poorest countries were published this week by the European Commission.
The private sector already provides 90% of jobs in developing countries. But the EU believes that more private sector investment in businesses could be leveraged through a judicious combination of grants and loans or the use of innovative financial instruments, for example.
The 12-point action plan includes proposals to promote responsible investment in partner countries by:
improving the regulatory business environment
supporting business development
increasing access to finance, particularly for micro, small and medium-sized businesses.
The plan also sets out steps to engage the private sector in fields such as sustainable energy, sustainable agriculture and infrastructure and other areas where private sector involvement can complement the EU’s development work.
Guiding principles
The plan’s focus on job creation, poverty reduction and inclusive growth suggests that a differentiated approach should be taken to different types of businesses, bearing local conditions in mind. Support for start-ups, for example, should differ from that given to multinationals.
EU support to the private sector will be provided only if companies abide by environmental, social and fiscal standards, including respect for human and indigenous rights and good corporate governance.
Targeting support
A particular focus of the plan is to support private sector projects to help women, young people and the poor. It calls for
business regulations that take account of the particular constraints facing women
training and other support for women, who often encounter difficulties in finding jobs or setting up businesses.
The EU also wants to channel more support to the informal or ‘shadow’ sector, which can account for up to 80% of businesses in developing economies. This could be done, the paper suggests, by providing training and expertise to producer associations, encouraging safer work places and improving access to markets, finance, infrastructure and social services.
EU helps European artists reach new audiences
http://ec.europa.eu/news/culture/131122_en.htm
Culture, education and youth
http://ec.europa.eu/news/culture/index_en.htm