Finalists selected to honour the best in EU Regional Policy

The RegioStars Awards Jury singled out 19 finalists from 80 projects supported by EU Regional Funds on the basis of four key criteria: innovation, impact, sustainability and partnership.

Commenting on the selection, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn said, "The 19 projects chosen by the jury show Regional Policy in action. They highlight the excellent work being done on the ground and demonstrate the kind of inventive and dynamic approach from regions around Europe to using our funds with the aim of triggering growth and creating jobs. This is what the EU2020 Growth Agenda is really about: finding new solutions to address our common challenges like youth unemployment, pollution and climate change, the quality of life in our cities and a lack of opportunity for small businesses to grow and flourish. I am deeply impressed by the quality of the finalists this year. They are a source of inspiration to others across Europe. After all it is the projects themselves on which the success of Regional Policy and its investments for economic development ultimately depends."

The finalists come from regions and cities in 17 Member States: Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

They will be showcasing their projects before the awards jury, chaired by former Committee of the Regions President Luc Van den Brande, on October 8 during the 11th annual European Week of Regions and Cities – OPEN DAYS 2013. The winners will be chosen at the Award Ceremony presented by Commissioner Hahn in Brussels on March 31 2014.

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperate/regions_for_economic_change/regiostars_en.cfm

Difference in phone call prices across the EU

774% difference in phone call prices across the EU

European Commission - Press reléase

Mobile users across the European Union face huge price differences for the same services. 

The biggest price difference is in domestic mobile calls – a 774% difference between Lithuania, the cheapest country, and Netherlands, the most expensive. These price differences cannot be explained by differences in quality, differences in the cost to provide the service, or by differences between countries in consumer purchasing power.

European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: "As these numbers clearly show, the 28 national telecoms markets in Europe today are not benefitting consumers like a single market would. It is critical for the whole EU to move quickly to build a real single market to achieve a truly connected continent."

Average cost per minute (in € cents) in mobile communications

GUARDIANS OF THE SEA

Call for proposals MARE/2013/09

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries

The purpose of this Action is to promote a better balance between the EU fishing fleet and the available fisheries resources and to contribute to the reduction of the EU fishing fleet while at the same time preserving jobs in coastal communities. The Action should examine and demonstrate the feasibility and economic viability of maritime activities other than fishing, using a re-assigned fishing vessel, which are carried out by fishermen and captains who have left fishing, thus making the best use of their knowledge, experience and expertise.

The Action should also serve to promote such re-assignment of fishing vessels and the professional re-orientation of fishermen for activities and services which should contribute to the sustainable management and use of marine and maritime resources. The EU support through this Preparatory Action may take the form of co-financing of the vessels' operational costs and crew costs during the first year of operations outside fishing.

Furthermore, this Preparatory Action aims to promote the objectives of an Integrated Maritime Policy and of the Blue Growth strategy.

http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/maritimeaffairs_fisheries/contracts_and_funding/calls_for_proposals/2013_09/index_en.htm

PROGRESS

Call for proposals - PROGRESS 

SPECIFIC PROGRAMME "PROGRESS" (2007-2013) 

Section 4 – Antidiscrimination and Diversity

Section 5 – Gender Equality

According to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the European Union shall aim to combat discrimination when defining and implementing its policies and activities (Art. 10 TFEU). Article 19 in the TFEU gives the European Union specific powers to take action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Despite numerous initiatives at political and operational level to fight against discrimination and promote diversity, many people still suffer from serious forms of discrimination, which are often exacerbated by the consequences of the socio-economic crisis on labour markets and the European society at large. The Eurobarometer survey on discrimination released in November 2012 confirmed that discrimination based on different grounds (gender, ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, age, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity) is still considered as common in the EU.

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/newsroom/files/call_2013_prog_ag_ngos_en.pdf