The collapse of the recent ministerial meeting in the Doha Round of world trade talks was one of those occasions when most politicians want to keep out of the headlines. But the low profile of the EU in the blast of news coverage which followed the breakdown is particularly significant: it marks a sea [...]
blogs.ec.europa.eu/fischer-boel/cap-reforms-have-transformed-the-
The Commission is holding a public consultation on the EU’s approach to a global climate change agreement up to and beyond 2012 when the current Kyoto Protocol targets will end. Everyone is invited to put forward their views on issues such as mid-term emission reduction targets for developed countries and emission reduction actions for developing countries, [...]
blogs.ec.europa.eu/wallstrom/eu-public-consultation-on-climate-ch
Two events occurred recently which caused me to reflect on the impact that individual people can have on the world around them – for good and bad. The first was the sad news that Bronislaw Geremek had died in a car crash at the age of 76. The other was that the Serbian authorities had [...]
[La version española estará disponible en breve] Farmers have always had a difficult relationship with water. It is perhaps one of their most indispensable business partners, but also one of the most unpredictable. Techniques for predicting whether and when the rains will turn up have become a little more sophisticated over the millennia, but remain inexact [...]
blogs.ec.europa.eu/fischer-boel/water-management-far-from-a-dry-d
I said in my last blog that I would return to the subject of Gisèle Halimi and ‘La Clause de l’Européenne la plus favorisée’. One of the highlights of my visit to Paris for the launch of the French Presidency on 1st July was an “outside the official programme” meeting I had with Gisèle Halimi, [...]
There’s an old saying: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. In this spirit, on 8th July, we made good on our commitment to take concrete steps to fight the growing problem of obesity, particularly among the young. We are proposing a European Union-wide scheme to provide free fruit and vegetables to school children between the [...]
blogs.ec.europa.eu/fischer-boel/fruit-and-veg-for-better-health/
In the weeks following my Call for Action on Gender Equality (see here and here), I’m happy to see that a variety of people have responded favourably. Cassandra made an interesting comment to my second post: “Margot, I believe your initiative is not without value, but your call should not only be addressed to women [...]
Ich möchte jenen Landwirten aus Deutschland antworten, die große Mengen Milch an mein Büro gesandt haben, um auf ihre Lage hinzuweisen. Ich wurde während meines Besuches in Deutschland sowie durch den regelmäßigen Kontakt mit Ihren Vertretern und dem Bundesminister, Horst Seehofer, sehr gut über Ihre Anliegen informiert. Das Thema war tatsächlich unser wichtigster Gesprächspunkt während des [...]
Some good news on our TV screens at last, at a time when the news is becoming more and more dominated by disasters, wars, conflict and economic gloom. I raised a glass today to Ingrid Betancourt and the other 14 hostages rescued in dramatic fashion from the Colombian jungle. I must admit there were tears [...]
The first day of the French Presidency of the EU could not have been more beautiful in Paris: warm, sunny and a blue sky. The whole European Commission went there by train to meet the French government and experienced an overwhelming programme, including a ceremony which we will never forget at the Arc de Triomphe. [...]
EURAXESS: when you read it you think immediately of ‘access to Europe’, and when you pronounce it you feel the personalised aspect of such access. Researchers in Motion: you understand immediately we are talking about something for researchers and their movement across and within Europe. A movement - a motion- which also raises ‘emotions’: the emotion [...]
blogs.ec.europa.eu/potocnik/europe-to-make-researchers%e2%80%99-l
J’ai décidé aujourd’hui de prêter la plume à Pia Bucella, Directrice à la Commission, dans la Direction Générale de l’Environnement, et qui participe à une initiative de la future Présidence française de l’Union à laquelle j’aimerai apporter mon soutien. C’est une belle idée que d’amener 29 européennes au sommet de l’Union européenne le 1er juillet….J’espère [...]
The debate about the Irish referendum continues. Yesterday the European Parliament discussed it during a long and lively session. Today it is the turn of the European Council. It is not disrespecting the No vote to want to find out more, as was done after the French and Dutch votes on the Constitutional Treaty. The Commission [...]
Yesterday in the European Parliament a meeting took place which brought together women from several different political parties and from a broad range of countries. We agreed to mobilise our political parties and national governments with the aim of improving the turn-out of women at the next European elections in June 2009, and enhance the representation [...]
I go to the meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers today in Luxembourg with the reverberations from the Irish NO vote ringing around Europe. This will of course now be the major talking point both here and at the European Council meeting later this week in Brussels. First let me say that I respect fully the NO [...]
Last week I was in Rome for the FAO’s High Level Conference, which brought together policy-makers from all over the world to discuss the global challenge of rising food prices. I found it a fascinating and rather encouraging experience. And I must say that I don’t share the view of those commentators who have called it a [...]
blogs.ec.europa.eu/fischer-boel/fao-conference-%e2%80%93-putting-
Comedian Jon Stewart joked at this year’s Oscars that, normally when Americans see an African-American man or woman as president, it is in a movie about the future. Well, the future is now! As the Commission considers what kind of approach we take to fighting discrimination in Europe, it’s encouraging to see the main players in [...]