Open doors: a day for the family at the EESCFrom Saturday 7 to Monday 9 May various events are being planned by the EU to celebrate the Festival of Europe, which falls on 9 May. All the EU institutions, both at their headquarters (Strasbourg, Brussels, Luxembourg) and in EU offices scattered through the 27 member states, are proposing a programme of events packed with fun-filled and cultural activities to citizens, including guided visits, seminars, games for children, festive events in city squares, gastronomic and craft stands, meetings with schools, and film projections. The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) – a bridge between Europe and organized civil society – is inviting those who go to its headquarters in Brussels to get to know better renewable energy sources: “From hydroelectricity to solar, from geothermal to wind energy, face the challenges of the explorer trail and discover the energies of tomorrow”, says the EESC’s website”. The Open Day, “based on a mix of learning and entertainment”, is conceived in particular “for the whole family”. “At each stage – explains the EESC programme – make a new discovery, glean information, collect points and take away a souvenir of your day”. There will be something to suit every child, including “a drawing competition, an activity book to take home, and face painting by makeup artists”. There will also be a chance to meet members of the Committee who represent civil society, the world of work and of business, NGOs and volunteer associations in the 27 member states.Youth events in Florence and AntwerpFive days in Florence, one of best known cities of art in the world and a solid “international vocation”, to promote “Youth on the Move”: this is an EU initiative aimed at improving educational opportunities, tackling youth unemployment and encouraging study and training abroad. Promoted by the Commission and other national and EU institutions, the event is being held in Florence from 6 to 10 May. On 9 May the Commissioner for Education, Culture and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, will present a conference on Europe after the entry force of the Lisbon Treaty, which will be inaugurated by the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and by the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek. “Youth on the Move – says Vassiliou – is at the centre of the Executive’s strategy for youth and I hope that events like this will encourage a growing number of youth to avail themselves of the opportunity to study or to conduct volunteer service abroad”. After the Italian leg, Youth on the Move will move to Antwerp, in Belgium, on 17 May for a debate between Barroso, Vassiliou, a group of young people and experts on youth questions in the context of the European Youth Week 2011.EU research programme in favour of human health and the environmentResponse to climate change, fight against viral diseases and the risks that are threatening global food supplies: these are the three spheres in which three pan-European research infrastructures will soon become operational. Launched by the EU in collaboration with a wide range of states, the research programme will benefit from EU funding amounting to 700 million euro. In the framework of the European Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI, http://ec.europa.eu/research/esfri), the Commission and EU ministers of research have signed three specific accords which will pool the researchers and resources of various countries. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, EU Commissioner for Research, explains that France will coordinate studies “dedicated to the reaction of ecosystems to modifications of the environment and soil use”; the UK will head up the infrastructures on the biology of systems with applications in the healthcare, pharmacological and agricultural sectors; while a joint Franco-German-led collaboration will be dedicated to research on viruses, bacteria and funguses “necessary for studies on biosecurity and the diseases that affect human beings”. the Commission and EU ministers of research have signed three specific accords which will pool the researchers and resources of various countries. Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, EU Commissioner for Research, explains that France will coordinate studies “dedicated to the reaction of ecosystems to modifications of the environment and soil use”; the UK will head up the infrastructures on the biology of systems with applications in the healthcare, pharmacological and agricultural sectors; while a joint Franco-German-led collaboration will be dedicated to research on viruses, bacteria and funguses “necessary for studies on biosecurity and the diseases that affect human beings”.European voice at UN Headquarters in New York”The European Union will speak with its own voice at the General Assembly of the UNO. It’s an important recognition of the EU as a global player”, said Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. He was the first to comment on the decision taken by the UN General Assembly on 3 May, after approving a resolution that raises the status of EU participation in UN Headquarters in New York. The resolution on EU participation in the UNO was adopted with 180 votes in favour out of 192 states. “This will permit high level representatives of the EU to explain to the Assembly the common positions of the Union. In addition, the political and diplomatic representatives of the EU27 “will have the right to intervene during the sessions and to be invited to participate in the debates”. This will also permit EU communications relating to the sessions in course to be directly distributed to the States present in New York, while exponents of the Union, who sit among the “observers”, will have the right to present proposals and amendments agreed to by EU member states.
