european union |

Earthquake in central Italy: EU stands ready to help

24/08/2016 ENstaff #EarthquakeItaly, earthquake, EU, European Commission, Italy, Juncker, Renzi, Stylianides

The European Union stands in full solidarity with the Italian people and national authorities, President Juncker and Commissioner Stylianides said.

econ/biz european union

Euro area workforce is ageing – IMF

18/08/2016 ENstaff EU, Europeaan Union, Eurozone, IMF, people, statistics, study, workforce

In parallel to the aging of the general population, the workforce in the euro area is also growing older. This could cause productivity growth to decline in the years ahead, raising another policy challenge for governments already dealing with legacies from the crisis such as high unemployment and debt.

Serbian-Hungary borders_UNHCR_embassynews

european union

Border security

16/08/2016 ENstaff borders, EU, Eurobarometer, European Parliament, European Union, FRONTEX, security, terrorism

The migration crisis showed that EU couldn’t have a Schengen zone of free movement without strong external borders. According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 71% of Europeans want the EU to do more to protect these borders. Parliament is working on a range of initiatives to beef up those controls.

european union society

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

09/08/201610/08/2016 ENstaff EU, European Council, Federica Mogherini, Indigenous Peoples

“The EU is stepping up its efforts to protect Human Rights Defenders working on behalf of the most vulnerable and marginalized, including indigenous peoples”, said High Representative F. Mogherini.

EU flags Berlaymont_EC AV Service_embassynews

econ/biz european union

European Council agrees to zero fines and new deadlines for Portugal and Spain

08/08/201610/08/2016 ENstaff deficit, European Council, Portugal, Spain

It also stepped up the excessive deficit procedure for both countries, setting new correction deadlines and giving notice of measures to be taken.

european union

EASO launches ‘EU Relocation Programme’ mobile app

04/08/2016 ENstaff application, EASO, EU Relocation Programme, European Asylum Support Office, migrants, mobile app, refugee crisis, refugees

European Asylum Support Office launched its first mobile app for smartphones and tablets, allowing asylum seekers to quickly find information in English and various non-EU languages (English, Arabic, Sorani, Kumjani and Tigrinya) about the EU Relocation Programme, their rights and obligations when applying, contact points and more.

Katainen visit_Poland_ EC AV Service_embassynews

econ/biz european union

Unemployment: Eurozone average down to 10.1%; Greece’s remains the highest: 23.3%

30/07/201630/07/2016 ENstaff crisis, economy, EU, European Union, Eurozone, unemployment

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.1% in June 2016, stable compared to May 2016 and down from 11.0% in June 2015. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since July 2011.

On 26 January 2016, a young boy is carrying a large bundle of warm blankets on his shoulders. He is in the Miratovac Refugee Aid Point where, along with his family members, he can access support services and have an opportunity to rest before continuing his journey.

In 2015, more than one million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean, arriving on Europeís shores, of which an estimated 253,700 ñ or one in four ñ were children. Latest trends show that children now make up 36 percent of the migration flow coming through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Woman and children now make up 57 percent of the refugee and migrants with the majority from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Children arriving into a harsh winter in southeastern Europe are physically exhausted, scared, distressed and often in need of medical assistance, UNICEF warned.The recent sub-zero temperatures and sometimes snowy conditions is exacerbating the childrenís poor physical condition as many children on the move do not have adequate clothing, or access to age-appropriate nutrition. This has been worsened by the lack of shelter and inadequate heating in some reception centres as well as buses and trains. UNICEF said the issue was pressing as the proportion of children amongst refugees and migrants ñ now more than one in three ñ has continued to increase. According to national sources, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the ratio was 37 per cent in December, compared to 23 per cent in September, while in Serbia, 36 per cent were children in December compared to 27 per cent in September. In December most children transiting through UNICEF child-friendly spaces in Serbia were young children, including babies and infants and those between 5 to 9 years old.

european union

Immigration, terrorism are EU’s major challenges – Eurobarometer

30/07/201630/07/2016 ENstaff EU, Eurobarometer, European Commission, European Union, immigration, people, public opinion, terrorism

Europeans see immigration and terrorism as the major challenges facing the EU at the moment, and they support the political priorities of the European Commission. These are two key results of the latest Standard Eurobarometer survey published last week.

european union

Brexit and the EU: what Think Tanks are thinking

24/07/201624/07/2016 ENstaff Brexit, Britain, EU, European Union, institutions, think tanks, UK, United Kingdom

The United Kingdom’s vote on 23 June to leave the European Union has stirred lively debate on the implications of Brexit for the institutions, policies and global role of the European Union by major international think tanks that argue on the future of the EU without Britain.

Global Coalition to counter ISIL_EU Newsroom_embassynews

european union foreign affairs

Fighting ISIL/Da’esh

23/07/201623/07/2016 ENstaff Coalition Small Group, Da'esh, Iraq, ISIL, Kerry, Libya, Syria, terrorism

The Foreign and Defense Ministers of the Counter-ISIL (Da’esh) Coalition Small Group met in Washington at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

interviews people

Ambassador of Norway:”The challenge for the Greek economy is its competitive edge and its business climate” [interview]

07/06/2016 ENstaff

The Ambassador of Norway in Athens, His Excellency Jørn Eugene Gjelstad, spoke to EmbassyNews.net and commented on the current developments in Greek and European politics, the economy and the refugee crisis.