7 July 2008

DG Regional Policy has launched a website indicating regions that have published lists of beneficiaries, as they are required to do in line with new communication requirements for Cohesion Policy over the 2007-2013 programming period. This is part of a Commission initiative to improve transparency over the EU budget and the impact of investment.
The Commission has created a portal with links to national websites provided by Member States and the regions.

7 July 2008

The European Commission has adopted a Regulation, which will come into force in the coming weeks, giving automatic approval for a range of aid measures that allow Member States to grant such aid without first notifying the Commission. The Regulation authorises aid in favour of SMEs, research, innovation, regional development, training, employment and risk capital. Furthermore it authorises environmental protection aid, aid measures promoting entrepreneurship such as aid for young innovative businesses, aid for newly created small businesses in assisted regions, and measures tackling problems, like difficulties in access to finance, faced by female entrepreneurs. As well as encouraging Member States to focus their state resources on aid that will be of real benefit to job creation and Europe's competitiveness, the Regulation reduces the administrative burden for public authorities, the beneficiaries and the Commission.

26 June 2008

The European Regional Local Health Authorities and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) in collaboration with Veneto Region and North West England organised a conference on “Climate change and the challenges for public health: engaging the regions” that took place on 24 June 2008 at the Committee of the Regions. A number of significants recommendations were raised and agreed by the participants in order to reduce climate change.