Eurostat: immigrants and cradles. EU population grows EU population is estimated at over 500 million according to a Eurostat demographic survey carried out in 2009 until January 2010. "On 1 January 20101, the population of the EU27 was estimated at 501.1 million, compared with 499.7 million on 1 January 2009", states the report. The population of the EU27 grew by 1.4 million, mostly due to migration (+900thousand) and to a natural birth rate increase of 0.5 million over crude death rate. In 2009, 5.4 million children were born in the EU27. The highest birth rates were recorded in Ireland (16.8), the United Kingdom, France, Cyprus and Sweden, and the lowest rates in Germany, Austria, Portugal, Italy, Latvia and Hungary.According to experts, "The highest natural growth of the population was registered in Ireland (+10.2), Cyprus (+5.5), France (+4.3), Luxembourg (+4.0) and the United Kingdom (+3.7). Ten Member States had a negative natural growth, with the largest declines in Bulgaria and Latvia (both -3.6), Hungary (-3.4) and Germany (-2.3)". The most populated Country remains Germany, (81 800 inhabitants). Population estimates for France, the U.K. and Italy range from 60 to 65 million, followed by Spain (46 million) and Poland (38). The population of Turkey EU candidate country amounts to 72 million people. EU accession to Iceland: extending to the Artic "Accession should be a win-win situation for both sides", said Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle commenting on the green light to Ireland’s accession negotiations, thus becoming the fourth EU candidate country with Turkey, Croatia, and Macedonia (although in the latter case negotiations are yet to open).The EU’s Belgian presidency-in-office will lead the first stage of the negotiation process, provide an in-depth analysis of the EU rules and regulations with which the country must comply (the so-called acquis). Iceland is called to fulfil the accession criteria, which in the case of Iceland include fisheries, agriculture and rural development, environment, free movement of capital, and financial services". According to Füle For Iceland, it will mean economic and monetary stability; "For the EU, it will mean we become stronger in dealing with the Arctic region and in areas such as renewable energy and climate change". Council: "Banks should be able to survive further crises" "The recent financial crisis affected the confidence in the European banks. After creation of the mechanism of the up to 750 billion euros European Financial Stability Fund and the decision to reinforce the economic governance, the European Union took another step towards restoring the trust in the banking sector through more transparency". The EU Council comments on the results of the stress tests of major European Banks, "assessing the resilience of the EU banking system to possible adverse economic development until the end of 2011". "It is comforting to know that 84 from the sample of 91 banks passed the testing, so they should be able to survive even a double-digit recession should one materialise in Europe", states the Council on its webpage www.consilium.europa.eu". Only 7 banks, from Spain, Greece and Germany, failed to meet the capital requirements of the exercise and will need to raise new capital. The results of the testing show that the efforts of significant recapitalisation, restructuring and cleaning out of portfolios of the banks start to bring positive results", is the Council’s remark.Ashton condemns human right violation in Syria Stop to human right violations in Syria. A few days ago Foreign Affairs High Representative Catherine Ashton, condemned the serious violations in the Middle-Eastern Country. "The EU strongly condemns the sentencing of Mr. Haitham Al Maleh and Mr. Muhannad Al Hassani", two Syrian lawyers, "on charges that appear to be in breach of their fundamental rights and freedoms", Ashton said. The EU "deplores the renewed arrest on 17 June of Mr. Ali Al-Abdullah, a Syrian writer, a day after his release from prison having completed his previous sentence". The High Representative conveyed "grave concern for the situation of Mr. Al Maleh, due to his fragile health and advanced age", called for the immediate release of three detainees and urged the Syrian Government "to reconsider all cases of prisoners of conscience".
