EU not fully prepared for influenza pandemic

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that three years of sustained effort from member states and the EU are still required in order to achieve a good level of preparedness to respond to a pandemic. Preparing individual doctors, schools and hospitals is identified as the hardest nut to crack.

 

Google seeks EU green light for key takeover

A request by Google to takeover DoubleClick, the world leader in online advertising, is fuelling speculation that the European Commission might open an investigation into the creation of a potential monopoly over on-line advertising by the internet search giant.

Interview: Flexicurity and CSR to benefit new EU members

The advantages of 'flexicurity' and corporate social responsibility (CSR) outweigh the costs of their implementation, as Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Commissioner Vladimír Spidla explains in an interview with EurActiv Czech Republic. However, he says that the concepts will take more time to become "traditional" policies in central European states.

Language use in the EU

Promoting a healthy multilingual economy, giving citizens access to European Union legislation, procedures and information in their own languages and encouraging language learning and linguistic diversity underpin the Commission's 'multilingualism' policy.

Parliament wants more muscle in EU foreign energy policy

The European Parliament yesterday (26 September) outlined its vision for a stronger and more unified EU energy policy vis-à-vis third countries, notably Russia. A new 'High Official' and a 'suitable' treaty basis for a common foreign-energy policy feature on the EP's wish-list. 

 

'No agreement possible on liberalising postal markets by 2009'

With Portugal currently at the EU's helm, the country's Public Works, Transport and Communications Minister Mário Lino talks exclusively to EurActiv about achieving a compromise between all 27 member states on the sensitive issue of opening up national postal markets to competition, and describes the main elements of a deal that he believes will garner the backing of his 26 European counterparts.

Members of Parliament told to disclose expenses

The European Ombudsman, backed by the European Data Protection Supervisor Peter Hustinx, has urged Parliament to guarantee public access to information about the funds MEPs receive from the EU budget to cover their travel expenses and broader "subsistence" and "general" expenditure, lifting the lid on the secrecy that surrounds MEPs' earnings.

 FT: Europe holds key to credit crisis

DOSSIER: Ukraine in the run-up to the elections | 27/09/2007

Ukrainians will elect a new parliament this coming Sunday. The early elections are the result of a month-long power struggle between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. The election campaign, on the other hand, has been surprisingly peaceful.

 

DOSSIER: Ahmadinejad in New York | 26/09/2007

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has delivered speeches at New York's Columbia University and the UN general assembly session. European commentators question whether it was right to give an enemy of Israel and Holocaust denier such eminent platforms.

Parliament backs European Institute of Technology

The European Parliament has given its official support to the creation of the European Institute of Technology (EIT), amid criticism over an unrealistic budget and fears that the institute could become "yet another EU agency", or worse "a pointless white elephant".

Renewables: Parliament wants binding sectoral targets

The Parliament has voted by a large majority in favour of setting binding sectoral renewables targets at EU level, setting the stage for a potential clash with member states. The Commission is due to present a proposal for further legislation on renewable energies in December.