Unemployment: more men than women According to figures published by Eurostat in January 2010 almost 23 million people are unemployed in EU27. The Commission’s statistics bureau states: “In the euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.9% in January 2010, the same as in December 2009”. A year ago it was 8.5%, while the EU27 unemployment rate was 9.5% in January 2010, unchanged compared with December 2009. In January the number of persons unemployed increased by 136 000 in the EU27. Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands (4.2%) and Austria (5.3%), and the highest rates in Latvia (22.9%) and Spain (18.8%). Compared with a year ago, “all Member States recorded an increase in their unemployment rate”. The smallest increases were observed in Germany (7.2% to 7.5%), Luxembourg and Belgium. The highest increases were registered in Latvia (12.3% to 22.9%), Lithuania and Estonia. “Between January 2009 and January 2010, the unemployment rate for males rose from 7.8% to 9.7% in the EU27. The female unemployment rate increased from 8.1% to 9.3%”. Finally In January 2010, the youth unemployment rate (under-25s) was 20.9% in the EU27.Chile and France: EU relief funding for natural catastrophesThe European Commission will provide 3 million for immediate relief following the earthquake in Chile. “The grant is available immediately to organizations working on the ground”, said Kristalina Georgieva, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid. The funds – due to be increased over the next days – are managed by ECHO, the Commission department dealing with humanitarian aid and civil protection. EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso is closely monitoring developments in conjunction with the stable EU Council presidency, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and the Spanish Presidency-in-office. On Sunday, February 28 Barroso conveyed “solidarity and closeness” to European regions, notably France, devastated by the tempest Xynthia. “Also in this case – said the Commission – the EU is available to bring immediate relief to the local populations if needed” by the States hit by the natural catastrophe.Forests’ environmental and social-economic roleForests and other wooded areas “cover some 176 million hectares of the EU” or “more than 42% of the EU’s land area”. “EU forests have continuously expanded for over 60 years and today account for 5% of the world’s forest area”. The Commission wishes to raise awareness on the “environmental, economic and social” bearing of forests in EU27. To this regard on March 1st the European Commission adopted a Green Paper, which “sets out options for a European Union approach” to “the protection of forests”. A public consultation on the Green Paper will run from 1 March to 31 July 2010. As part of the consultation the Commission will organize a workshop and stakeholder meeting in Brussels as on 3 June. The Green Paper will also be discussed at a forest protection conference in Valsain, Spain, on 6-7 April. “”Europe’s forests are a precious resource that must be protected against the harmful impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss. We need to explore what value European action can add to national efforts to safeguard forests”, said European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik.Organic farming area increased in the EUDespite the figures are still modest, organic farming is undergoing costant expansion in EU27. In 2008 organic farming covered 7.8 million hectares, up by 7% compared with 2007, amounting to approximately 5% of the total utilized agricoltural area in the EU27. According to data released in a Eurostat survey, there has been a 21% increase in the period 2005-2008. Figures show that Spain ranks first for organic farming with 1.3 million hectares followed by Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. Across the EU there has been an increase in organic areas (exception made for Italy, that registered -13%). The highest increase was registered in Spain, followed by Bulgaria, Slovakia, Hungary and Greece. The most important organic crops are cereals, green fodder, potatoes and sugar beets.
