17.03.2006
The European Parliament goes local
The theory that "all politics is local" will be the theme when a series of citizens' forums are held across Europe in the coming months. These events are meant to take the debate over the future of Europe to regional towns and cities. The aim is to b...read more

16.03.2006
"Communicating Europe - Going Local" - debating Europe in the UK
What kind of Europe do you want to see in the future? Where should the EU get involved – and where shouldn't it? Is it doing enough to safeguard jobs and create new ones in our regions and cities? These are just some of the questions that members of ...read more

15.03.2006
EUROCITIES to Spring Council: “Lisbon” will fail if cities are not involved
EUROCITIES has sent a strong message to the political leaders of the 25 EU Member States and the European Commission, urging them to work more closely with cities in order to ensure effective implementation of the Lisbon Strategy. This strategy aims ...read more

14.03.2006
Eurofunding - Guide to European funding
WelcomeEurope has put out its annual Eurofunding Guide 2006. It analyses more than 450 European funding projects and offers methodological assistance with drawing up a proposal, the course it will take once submitted and its evaluation by the Europea...read more

14.03.2006
50,000 euros in prize money awarded to five projects
Today, the European Commission and Europa Nostra, a platform of NGOs, announced the names of the winners of five top prizes for the annual European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage and the Europa Nostra Awards. The prizes will be presented to the la...read more

13.03.2006
Citizens to define EU communication rights
A web site where citizens can give the Commission feedback on the proposed European Code of Conduct on Communication has been launched. The idea is that this will help to bridge the gap between the European institutions and Europe’s inhabitants. The ...read more

13.03.2006
500 million euros to alleviate globalisation - local authorities to tap in?
The Commission has proposed a European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF) of up to 500 million euros annually. The EGF will complement the efforts of the Member States at national, regional and local levels. The one-off, tailor-made services to be f...read more

10.03.2006
Local perspective presented to Austrian presidency
The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has delivered its view on what should be priorities of the Austrian Presidency to Austrian Chancellor Schûssel on 10 March 2006. CEMR President Häupl and Schûssel debated issues such as subsid...read more

10.03.2006
Commission to simplify rules for small state subsidies
The European Commission has made proposals to extend the scope of the “de minimis” rule. Under this rule, subsidies of an amount smaller than 100,000 euros granted over a period of 3 years do not constitute “State Aid”. Subsidies below that ceiling a...read more

09.03.2006
Saxony gets the green light for urban pollution aid programme
The European Commission has authorised the extension of Saxony’s programme aimed at reducing urban pollution caused by exhaust gases from buses and by greenhouse gas emissions. The Commission said on 8 March that the programme was in line with EU gui...read more

08.03.2006
New "State of the English cities" published
England's cities have improved in recent years but still lag behind the top cities in continental Europe, according to the recently published 'State of the English cities'. This is an independent report to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODP...read more

07.03.2006
Eurostat reveals: Finland has largest R&D workforce
A recent Eurostat survey in the EU-25 shows that Finland has the most research and development personnel and researchers, as a percentage of total employment. In Finland, in 2003, 3.11% of all persons employed were active as researchers, the EU-25 av...read more

03.03.2006
Cities as Europe's engines for growth and jobs
Danica Simšic, mayor of Ljubljana and member of the executive committee of EUROCITIES, attributed to European cities the role of  engines for the European growth and jobs strategy. She did so during the first territorial dialogue with Gunter Verheuge...read more

28.02.2006
Patras: this year's European Capital of Culture
It is the fourth largest city in Greece and this year Patras is the European Capital of Culture. The city's cultural roots stretch back to the Peloponnesian war, through several Roman emperors and it was a centre of cultural exchange and creation in ...read more

28.02.2006
Commissioners and local authorities to discuss EU jobs and growth strategy
European Commission Vice-President Verheugen and Regional Policy Commissioner Hübner will join the Committee of the Regions (CoR) in a “territorial dialogue” with more than 100 representatives of local and regional authorities on 1 March 2006. Aim of...read more

27.02.2006
Cities and regions in front line of terrorism and crisis management
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) adopted a report which calls for the drawing-up of a specific action plan on freedom, security and justice addressed to cities and regions on 16 February 2006. Rotterdam Mayor Ivo Opstelten, chair of the commission ...read more

23.02.2006
Local authorities want bigger role in achieving energy efficiency
European Union mayors have written to European Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs, asking him to take account of the potential local authorities can offer in drafting his action plan on energy efficiency. According to the mayors, the implementa...read more

23.02.2006
FEANTSA: “End homelessness by 2010.”
The European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) calls on all policy-makers to commit to ending homelessness by 2010. FEANTSA urges all stakeholders to follow-through on the commitment of EU Social Affairs Ministe...read more

23.02.2006
CoR backs EC proposal on competition in public transport
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) has backed the European Commission’s revised proposal regulating the organisation of public passenger transport services. The proposal outlines the rules for the award of public service contracts in the transport se...read more

22.02.2006
State aid reforms: more money for R&D and regional development
The European Parliament, EP, has joined with other stakeholders in backing the Commission's state aid reforms: less aid to help out ailing industries and more money for R&D and regional development. On 14 February 2006 the Parliament approved an own-...read more