Commission: multilateral climate agreement The EU builds on the Copenhagen Climate Conference of past December. Past February 18 Commission President José Manuel Barroso wrote to the EU Heads of Government and State informing them on the next steps in the Commission’s work on climate action. In the letter, Barroso underlines, “The international process needs to continue with renewed trust”. He states that an important element in the strategy is “the implementation of the fast start financing for developing countries agreed in December”. The letter highlights the need “to bring all partners closer to the EU’s ambitions and commitment to a multilateral agreement”. Connie Hedegaard, newly-elected European Commissioner for Climate Action will undertake a consultation of key international partners to find ways to reinvigorate the post-Kyoto process. Commissioner Barroso will discuss with President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy on how best to prepare the discussions in the European Council of March 25-26. Parliament: crisis response and fisheries reform Brussels’ brief EP session is due to be held February 24-25. Items on the agenda include: the assessment of the outcomes of the informal EU leaders’ summit on the economic crisis held February 11; debate on the follow-up to the UN fact-finding mission on the Gaza conflict led by judge Richard Goldstone; setting out views on the common fisheries policies reform; adopting new regulations for reducing red tape in smaller companies. EP President Jerzy Buzek is engaged in a series of meetings at international level with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, the President of Bulgaria Georgi Parvanov and Belarus opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich. ICT Job opportunities Highlighting “the growing demand for skilled Information and Communication Technology (ICT) users and professionals” in order to “drive a competitive and innovative Europe”. The first-ever European e-Skills Week will take place March 1 through 5 2010. The campaign aims “to inform students, young professionals and SMEs about the vast range of opportunities that ICT-related jobs present”. “The events will take place across Europe with more than 20 participating countries”, states a note from the Executive. In September 2007 The European Commission presented the “21st century e-skills for Europe: promoting competitiveness, growth and employment”, and proposed long – term key action lines at EU level. According to the Commission, European e-Skills Week 2010 is expected to involve 300,000 participants across Europe”. The list of the events held in the countries participating in the campaign is posted on the “European e-Skills week” website.Eurostat: rich and poor regionsInner London (UK) is the “richest” region in Europe, while Severozapaden (Bulgaria) is the poorest. These are the findings of a Eurostat survey on GDP per inhabitant (figures relating to 2007). The EU statistics office analyzed the GDP of 271 regions in EU27, expressed in purchasing power standards and number of inhabitants. Accordingly, GDP per inhabitant in EU27 amounts to 24.900 euro. “The leading regions in the ranking of regional GDP per inhabitant in 2007 were Inner London (334% of the average), the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (275%), Brussels (221%), Hamburg (192%), Praha (172%) and Île de France (169%)”, states the Eurostat report. Among the 41 regions exceeding the 125% level, nine were in Germany, five each in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, four in Austria, three each in Spain and Italy, two each in Belgium and Finland”. “Among the 66 regions below the 75% level, fifteen were in Poland, seven each in Greece and Romania, six each in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Hungary, four each in Italy and Portugal, three in Slovakia”. However, regional GDP per inhabitant figures don’t take into account relevant economic and social factors such as commuter flows, black “economy” and lump labour.
