The European Union welcomes the agreement today in Kigali, Rwanda, on a global phase-down of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs). These manmade substances which are used mainly in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, have  a global warming effect up to 15,000 times greater than carbon dioxide and are the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Today's agreement represents a significant step forward in implementing the Paris Agreement on climate change, which will legally enter into force next month. EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete said: "This is a huge win for the climate. We have taken the first...

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Young European could be receiving a free InterRail pass to discover Europe by rail once they turn 18.The proposal received a warm welcome in the Parliament, but what is InterRail exactly? Check out our infographic for some basic facts about the pass and rail travel in Europe. On 4 October MEPs discussed and supported the idea of offering free InterRail passes to young people when they turn 18. This would help them to experience Europe’s diversity, better understand each other...

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In 2015, the European Capitals of Culture celebrated their 30th anniversary. Discover the brochureillustrating successful projects in recent European Capitals of Culture and the factsheet on the history and highlights of the initiative over the years. WHAT IS IT? The European Capitals of Culture initiative is designed to: Highlight the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe Celebrate the cultural features Europeans share Increase European citizens' sense of belonging to a common cultural area Foster the contribution of culture to the development of cities In addition to...

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The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has said that he is counting on regions and cities to help the European Union listen to and address citizens' real concerns. His comment came in a meeting on 11 October with political leaders of the European Committee of the Regions. The meeting between President Tusk, and the leaders of the CoR – its President and First Vice-President and the presidents of the CoR's five political groups – came a week before...

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People and organisations from across Europe came to Parliament in Brussels on 12 October for the European Citizens’ Prize award ceremony that sought to highlight their contributions to Europe. Parliament Vice-President Sylvie Guillaume, who chairs the jury, said: “Europe is going through particularly hard times and it sometimes seems to be disintegrating before our eyes. Yet European citizens show us that Europe is alive and they put European values into practice every day." A total of 50 individuals and associations...

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Today the European Commission is presenting the first in a series of monthly reports on progress made towards an effective and sustainable Security Union. The report outlines the Commission's efforts in the fight against terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime and the work undertaken to strengthen the EU's resilience against these threats. It also highlights the priority areas where more work is needed and sets out concrete operational measures for the months to come. Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris...

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Fraud, fragmentation and the complexity of the VAT system are a major challenge especially for border regions and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Therefore the members of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) broadly support the European Commission's move to modernise VAT in the EU through an opinion prepared by Dainis Turlais (LV/ALDE) and adopted during the October plenary. The action plan on VAT was published by the European Commission in April 2016 and is the first step towards a...

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Scientific support in Europe's regions and cities will finally come to fruition thanks to the new Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies, said Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), at the Annual Conference of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre on 11 October. He warmly welcomed the initiative, which provides scientific support to EU regions and cities, based on their specific needs, diversity and growth potential. Opening the Annual Conference of the Joint Research Centre (JRC),...

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Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for inviting me here today and for giving me the opportunity to be part of such a distinguished panel. The subject matter of our panel is a demanding one. Nine years after the beginning of the crisis, advanced economies are apparently settled in a regime of low growth and low inflation with no end in sight. In many places, a weary complacency seems to be reconciled with the “new normal long-term economic equilibrium”. However, in our...

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