News

29.06.2006
"Youth in Action” programme adopted
The "Youth in Action" programme, which was adopted unanimously by the Council on 27 June in Luxembourg. The aim of the "Youth in Action" programme is to develop cooperation in the field of youth policies in the European Union.read more

28.06.2006
Five priorities for Finnish EU Presidency
Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen has outlined five priorities for the forthcoming Finnish Presidency of the European Union. Finland will take over as EU President from Austria on 1 July 2006. According to Mr Vanhanen, the Union faces two key pro...read more

27.06.2006
Stockholm traffic reduced by 25 percent due to congestion charge
A six-month trial of congestion fees in the Swedish capital has reduced traffic coming in and out of central Stockholm by 20-25 percent on an average weekday, according to an initial study released Wednesday.read more

27.06.2006
Toolkit for Youth Participation in Urban Policies
The Young Citizens’ Project released a Toolkit for Youth Participation in Urban Policies. The city of Bristol, lead partner of this project, has offered other European cities an opportunity to address the issue of youth and participation by creating ...read more

26.06.2006
Commission reviews transport policy
The European Commission has published a mid-term review of its 2001 Transport White Paper. In its mid-term review “Keep Europe moving: a transport policy for sustainable mobility” the Commission seeks to balance transport and environmental needs. In ...read more

23.06.2006
The role of cities in developing education and culture to tackle the challenges of globalisation
Education and culture lie at the heart of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for jobs and growth. This was the main message from Commissioner Ján Figel, addressing an assembly of representatives from European and national associations for local and regional...read more

22.06.2006
E-illiteracy – one third of EU citizens lacks basic digital skills
In 2005, 37 percent of EU citizens aged between 16 and 74 lacked basic computer skills. This percentage was slightly higher for women than for men (39 percent against 34 percent). Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, publishe...read more

21.06.2006
Fourth cohesion report published
The Directorate General has published a report titled “The Growth and Jobs Strategy and the Reform of European cohesion policy - Fourth progress report on cohesion”, also known as the Fourth cohesion report. The report describes economic and social d...read more

20.06.2006
Cities by the sea…pressure on sustainable development
More and more of the world's population is living along the coast. Human development is putting unsustainable pressure on the planet's coastal regions, from lack of fresh water to an inability to process waste.read more

19.06.2006
Urban transport - a European priority
The European Commission is due to adopt a White Paper on a common transport policy on 22 June 2006. The White Paper sets the EU’s strategy on transport for the years to come. Urban transport is identified as a priority. The Commission wants to improv...read more

19.06.2006
New sustainable development strategy adopted
On 16 June 2006, the European Council has adopted a revised EU sustainable development strategy, the Gothenburg Agenda. The revised strategy focuses on sustainable production and consumption. The text remains ambiguous in its relation to the Lisbon A...read more

19.06.2006
EC increases proposed de minimis ceiling to 200,000 euros
As part of its state aid reforms the European Commission proposed a new increase of the "de minimis" block exemption on 12 June 2006. The Commission wants to raise the ceiling to 200,000 euros. This means that government aid to companies amounting to...read more

16.06.2006
Urban forests in EU action plan
The European Commission has adopted an 18-point EU Forest action plan on 15 June 2006. One of the four aims of the plan is to improve the quality of life of EU citizens. For this, focus is on environmental education and the role of urban and peri-urb...read more

14.06.2006
Local authorities to compete for Citizen Participation Award
The International Observatory of Participative Democracy (OIDP) has launched the "Best Practice in Citizen Participation Award". The award aims to recognise innovative experiments and ideas that get the public involved in developing and implementing ...read more

13.06.2006
EUROCITIES calls for changes to Services Directive
The President of EUROCITIES has said that the scope of the draft Directive on Services should be reduced. He called for a separate regulatory framework for services of general economic interest - which include energy supply, telecommunications, trans...read more

12.06.2006
i2010: EC steps up efforts
The member states are to adapt to their public services to information and communication technologies (ICTs) by 2010. The i2010 action plan aims to develop cross-border services accessible to all Europeans. The action plan will create an appropriate ...read more

12.06.2006
European agreement on awarding public transport contracts
The Council of EU Transport Ministers reached an agreement on the proposal for a regulation on the award of public service contracts for passenger transport. Public authorities will remain free to provide transport services or directly award public s...read more

09.06.2006
Urban Environment: Challenges to Sustainability
Urban Environment: Challenges to Sustainability is a Special Report that convenes diverse perspectives on urban environments in developing countries. The online report is published by the Development Gateway Foundation, an non-governmental organisati...read more

08.06.2006
Vote for “Best Mayor of the World”
City Mayors, the international project for good and strong local government, has nominated 50 mayors to compete for the title “World Mayor 2006”. Mayors are judged on their vision, their passion and their skills. You are invited to vote for who you b...read more

06.06.2006
EC to reflect on ports policy
On 8 March 2006 the European Commission (EC) withdrew its proposal for a Directive on the liberalisation of port services. All eyes now are turned to the mid-term review of the 2001 Transport Green Paper, expected on 22 June 2006. This Green Paper wi...read more