Union for the Mediterranean starts anew from the parliaments "To boost the development of the Union for the Mediterranean" (UfM) at a time of "major political and economic transformations" in the whole region: the president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz summoned Speakers of the Parliaments of the member countries of the Union for the Mediterranean (EU Member States, plus Southern Mediterranean and Northern Mediterranean partner countries) ensuing the launch of the initiative in 2008 by French president Nikolas Sarkozy, who at the time was EU president-in-office. Since then the intiative remained dead letter. "The summit" – that will take place in Marseilles April 6-7 – will be an opportunity to show that Parliament presidents are willing to fill the void in the political leadership of the Union for the Mediterranean over the past years". The forum is linked to the Anna Lindh Foundation initiative, tabled for April 4, that involves several thousands stakeholders including politicians, scholars, young people, representatives of associations, enterprises, local and regional bodies. "It’s necessary to renew the bond between the citizens on the two shores of the Mediterranean and respond to their joint expectations", added the President of the EU assembly. More funding to cover unpaid claims"Postponing payment of a bill will not make it go away", underlined Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski reiterating an obvious measure that appears to have been overlooked by EU27 Heads of Government or State. The Commissioner for Financial Planning and Budget said that "an extra EURO 11.2 billion is required for the EU budget to reimburse beneficiaries of EU funded programmes completed across Europe in 2012 as well as to honour the Cohesion Policy claims that will fall due in 2013". The Polish Commissioner pointed out that the draft amending budget – if agreed in full by the Parliament and Council, will allow all the legal obligations left pending to be covered in this year’s budget. "It covers claims from beneficiaries of EU funds (Member States, regions and towns, universities and scientists, NGOs…) for projects completed across Europe this year", Lewandowski added. Thus the funds will be returned to Member States, civil society or local bodies. The need for an amendment budget is largely due to the reduction of the Community budget by the Council despite increasing EU projects completed across Europe. Security: towards the Europol reform "To fight serious cross-border crime and terrorism, ensuring the safety and security of citizens and protecting the licit economy": EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström thus clarified the goals of the reform of Europol according to a proposal submitted by the Commission on March 27, due to be discussed by EU Parliament and Council prior to adoption. The Commission proposes to boost Europol’s role as the European law enforcement agency, reinforcing the link between training and support to operational cooperation. Its activity includes cross-border cooperation and investigations, making it more effective at collecting information. The Commission proposes to merge the European Police College (Cepol) within Europol, thus by making Europol responsible for "joint training and exchange programmes for police and other law enforcement personnel". "The activities of organized crime networks are more complex, diverse and internationally spread than ever before", the Commission said. Serious crimes such as trafficking in human beings, drugs, and firearms, corruption, payment card fraud, cybercrime, and terrorist offences cause severe harm to victims, inflict economic damage on a large scale and undermine citizens’ sense of security". Schools and Europe: teachers’ corner "If you are looking for ideas to in assigning classroom responsibilities or further information on European history or citizenship, or on more specific issues such as individual energy consumption, this is the right place to find useful material organized on the basis of the pupils’ age". The message addressed to schoolteachers across Europe is contained in http://europa.eu/teachers-corner. The "Teachers’ corner" is a website with materials produced by EU institutions that provides teaching tools for teachers in schools of EU Member States. Brochures, maps, books and posters available for free download, for classroom use. The materials brochures, books, maps and posters explain "what the EU is and what it does". The website provides information divided by age groups (up to 9 years, 9 to 12 years, 12 to 15, 15+ years…) on the single currency, citizens’ rights, the EU role in culture dissemination and child education tools.
