Finland Assumes EU Presidency

Finland took over the six-month rotating Presidency of the European Union at the beginning of July. The Finns' priorities for the EU include a particular focus on the future of the EU, including enlargement and institutional and decision-making issues, European economic competitiveness, counterterrorism, cross-border crime, and illegal immigration, and the efficiency and coherence of EU external relations. MORE

EU Enhances Biometric Passports

With EU Member States preparing to introduce new, secure biometric passports by August 28, the European Commission recently announced that by June 2009, additional biometric data - two fingerprints - will be added to the microchip already containing a facial image. MORE

Euro Area Unemployment at Five-Year Low

Unemployment in the 12-nation eurozone is at its lowest level in nearly 5 years, new figures from the European Union's statistical office, Eurostat, show.  The euro area jobless rate has fallen nearly a full percentage point over the last year, to just under 8 percent in May. MORE

EU Outlines Anti-Terror Actions on Anniversary of London Bombings

The European Union observed the first anniversary of the London bombings last week while also releasing a detailed listing of counterterrorism actions taken to date. The EU has improved border and travel security, implemented the European Arrest Warrant, taken steps to cut off terrorist financing, and has boosted police cooperation and communication, among many other measures. MORE

EU Ambassador Bruton in Seattle, Washington

Ambassador John Bruton visited Seattle in June, meeting with Washington State Lt. Governor Brad Owen and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels as well as Boeing and Microsoft. Ambassador Bruton emphasized that despite the rise of emerging economies, especially China, the EU remains the United States' largest trading partner by far. The Ambassador also addressed ongoing EU-U.S. aviation agreement negotiations. MORE

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