Strasbourg, 2 July 2013 -- Speech by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy at the European Parliament After the March European Council meeting, I reported to you on the broad agreement among all leaders on our strategy to bring the European Union to recovery: - restoring and maintaining financial stability; - making our economies more resilient and competitive, with structurally sound public finances (using the flexibilities in our common rules) and long-term reforms; - fighting, directly and indirectly, unemployment, and I...

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Brussels, 1 July 2013 -- New funding to support businesses in the Eastern Partnership countries The European Commission has adopted today a programme to support Small and Medium Sized enterprises (SMEs) and trade opportunities in the countries of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region. “Our Eastern neighbours have been hit hard by the economic crisis. Small and medium sized enterprises can play a key role in generating jobs and economic growth because they respond quickly to opportunities created by the market. It...

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On Monday 1 July Croatia will become the 28th Member State of the European Union. Croatia's accession marks another milestone in the construction of a united Europe. It also provides fresh evidence of the transformative power of the European Union: torn by conflict only two decades ago, Croatia is now a stable democracy, capable of taking on the obligations of EU membership and of adhering to EU standards. On the eve of Croatia's accession, President Barroso said: "Croatia's accession to...

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The European Council today set out its position on a draft directive establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms. It called on the presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament with the aim of adopting the directive at first reading before the end of the year. The proposed directive is aimed at providing national authorities with common powers and instruments to pre-empt bank crises and to resolve any financial institution in an...

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The Delegation of the European Union to the United States has published a call for grant proposals to support activities that advance transatlantic cooperation through policy research and debate on issues relevant to EU-U.S. relations. The Delegation invites think tanks, public policy research centers, chambers of commerce, civil society and stakeholder organizations, media institutions and other non-profit and non-governmental organizations based in the United States to submit proposals. Grant activities can focus on a number of different topics, in particular,...

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Local associations, companies, research centres, non-governmental organisations and local authorities are all showcasing what they are doing to promote sustainable energy from 24 to 28 June – EU sustainable energy week 2013. Around 20 events will take place across the UK as part of sustainable energy week. Advisors in Pitscurry will be explaining how to reduce energy costs and use renewable energy for homes and offices on 26 June, while a lunch-time seminar on 28 June in Fyvie will offer...

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Following the 29 June 2012 statement by the Heads of State or Government of the euro area reaffirming the need to break the vicious loop between banks and sovereigns, the Eurogroup has worked intensively on the operational framework of the future ESM direct recapitalisation instrument. The main features of the instrument are now agreed in view of having the instrument operational once an effective Single Supervisory Mechanism is established. Moreover, in December 2012, the European Council agreed to a more integrated...

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Brussels Economic Forum 2013 - June 19th, 2013 “Distinguished speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me welcome you to the 2013 edition of the Brussels Economic Forum. I am delighted about the large participation in this forum that focuses on the future of our Economic and Monetary Union. But before I turn to the future of EMU, let me say a few words on its current condition. When we met here last year, there were serious concerns that the euro could disintegrate. A...

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EU Commission concludes that Latvia is ready to adopt euro in 2014 The European Commission publishes its 2013 Convergence Report on Latvia, together with a citizen’s summary that briefly explains the report and the rationale behind it. The Commission concludes that Latvia has achieved a high degree of sustainable economic convergence with the euro area and proposes that the Council decide on Latvia’s adoption of the euro as from 1 January 2014. Olli Rehn, Commission Vice-President responsible for Economic and Monetary...

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Croatia applied for EU membership in February 2003 and was formally accepted as a candidate country in June 2004. Any European state that respects liberty, democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law is eligible to apply for EU membership.  Because joining the EU often requires major political and economic reforms within the candidate country, the process moves forward at a pace consistent with the applicant’s ability to take on the obligations of membership, which require: Stable institutions...

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