Bruton on EU-U.S. Relations in European Affairs Magazine

In the Spring 2007 edition of European Affairs, Ambassador John Bruton, Head of Delegation of the European Commission Delegation to the United States, engages in a wide-ranging discussion of EU-U.S. affairs, touching on opportunities for greater transatlantic cooperation, American perceptions of and misconceptions about the EU, and basics about how the EU works and the future of the EU Constitution. MORE

Slovenia Euro Changeover A Success

The changeover to the euro in Slovenia at the beginning of this year was a swift and smooth affair, confirming the effectiveness of the "Big Bang" approach—the simultaneous locking of the exchange rate and introduction of euro banknotes and coins.  Although the price of some goods and services increased, overall inflation has remained broadly stable. MORE

Towards a Comprehensive European Migration Policy

As part of an initiative for a comprehensive European Migration Policy, the European Commission has proposed uniform sanctions across the EU for workplaces that employ illegal immigrants.  The Commission's proposal aims to support legal migration, fight illegal migration, build cooperation with non-EU countries, and work with the EU's development agenda.   Recent estimates of illegal migrants in the EU range between 4.5 and 8 million, and numbers are growing by 350,000 to 500,000 people per year. MORE

Call for International Agreement on Energy Efficiency

At this week's ministerial meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs called for an International Agreement on Energy Efficiency bringing OECD countries and key developing countries to agree on common approaches to saving energy. Commissioner Piebalgs said, "We could reduce global CO2 emissions, improve global energy security and contribute massively to economic development and the emergence of new and clean technologies." MORE

EU Leaders Meet with Faith Community

The leaders of the European Parliament, European Council, and European Commission met recently with key Christian, Jewish, and Muslim representatives to discuss "Building a Europe Based on Human Dignity."  European Council President and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "We in Europe have a particular responsibility to foster tolerance and help others to be tolerant. It has taken us hundreds of years to learn this lesson. This is why it is one of our core convictions that intolerance cannot be tolerated.” MORE

New European Space Program Proposed

Together with the European Space Agency, the European Commission has proposed a new European Space Policy to develop and coordinate the space exploration and development activities of 29 European nations—the 27 EU Member States plus Switzerland and Norway, which are part of the European Space Agency.  EU Commission Vice President Guenter Verheugen said, “We intend to live up to Europe's global leadership aspirations in important industrial and research areas… Space has always been a source of inspiration which helps people to think outside and beyond the limits and to innovate.” MORE

Fisheries and Maritime Commissioner on EU Maritime Policy

From a speech by EU Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Comissioner Joe Borg: "Europe is much more than just the territorial area of its Member States. Europe also includes the oceans and seas which surround it and the activities that take place…, the vast coastal areas, the islands, the fisheries, the maritime transport and the ports, the shipbuilding and the marine equipment industries, the exploitation of energy and the tourism industry.  [Within a future maritime policy for the Union,] we are redefining Europe's traditional borders and amplifying the scope of action for the Union to factor in the extensive maritime dimension of our continent." MORE

An EU Approach to Culture: Strengthening Europe, Boosting Economic Growth and Intercultural Understanding

With its first-ever European Strategy for Culture, the European Commission seeks to identify what culture can do for Europe and Europe can do for culture—that is, how culture can help address the concerns of  Europeans concerned about the speed of economic transformation, technological change, and globalization, and provide a more human dimension to the "European Project."  An EU approach to culture will strengthen Europe by fostering active European citizenship, respect for cultural diversity, and a sense of “European identity” while boosting economic growth and enhancing the EU's competitive edge. MORE

EU NewsBrief is an electronic publication issued regularly by the Delegation of the European Commission to the United States. To receive updates on specific issue areas, click on this link.