Geography of the European Union

S&P Dow Jones Indices Launches Net Zero 2050 Climate Transition and Paris-Aligned Select Indices

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 22, 2021
Zero, Biophysical environment, DJI, United Nations Global Compact, Paris, S, European Union, Social Security Government Pension Offset, NYSE, Social, ESG, Goal, Paris Agreement, Research, Geography of the European Union, S&P Dow Jones Indices, SPGI, S&P Global, Climate change, S&P, Dow Jones Industrial Average, France, Renewable energy, Risk management

LONDON, Nov. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --S&P Dow Jones Indices ("S&P DJI"), the world's leading index provider, today announced the launch of the S&P Net Zero 2050 Climate Transition Select Index Series and S&P Net Zero 2050 Paris-Aligned Select Index Series.

Key Points: 
  • LONDON, Nov. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --S&P Dow Jones Indices ("S&P DJI"), the world's leading index provider, today announced the launch of the S&P Net Zero 2050 Climate Transition Select Index Series and S&P Net Zero 2050 Paris-Aligned Select Index Series.
  • The S&P Net Zero 2050 Climate Transition SelectIndex Series and S&P Net Zero 2050 Paris-Aligned SelectIndex Series are the latest additions to the S&P Net Zero 2050 Climate Transition ESG Index Seriesand S&P Net Zero 2050 Paris-Aligned Climate ESG Index Series, which are aligned with the European Union's minimum standards for low carbon benchmarks under Regulation (EU) 2016/1011.
  • S&P DJI is committed to helping our customers and market participants address climate change and achieve their goals in the path to net zero by 2050," said Jaspreet Duhra, Global Head of ESG Indices at S&P Dow Jones Indices.
  • The first set of indices that were launched included the S&P Net Zero 2050 Climate Transition Select and S&P Net Zero 2050 Paris-Aligned Select for S&P Eurozone 50, S&P France 20, and S&P EuroUSAJapan 100, along with their decrement versions.

Press release - Migration situation on the Canary Islands: committee debate

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Canary Islands, North Africa, Continents, Geography of Europe, Geography of the European Union

Today, MEPs will assess the situation on the Canary Islands, following the surge in migrants arrivals in the last months and the limited reception capacity.

Key Points: 
  • Today, MEPs will assess the situation on the Canary Islands, following the surge in migrants arrivals in the last months and the limited reception capacity.
  • The Civil Liberties Committee will discuss the latest developments with Commissioner Ylva Johansson, President of the Canary Islands ngel Vctor Torres and a representative of the NGO Spanish Commission for Refugees (CEAR).
  • According to the Spanish Government, 23 023 migrants and asylum-seekers landed on the archipelago last year irregularly from Africa by boat (compared with 2 687 in 2019).
  • According to Missing Migrants , in November 2020 alone, the month with most arrivals, over 500 people lost their lives trying to make it to the Canary Islands.

#CohesionAlliance mobilises to back the European Parliament in the final stretch to secure a strong and participated cohesion policy 2021-2027

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 27, 2020
Articles, Politics of Europe, Organizations, Geography of the European Union, Regional policy of the European Union, Cohesion, Assembly of European Regions, Region, European Union, Group cohesiveness, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

Further interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):Magnus Berntsson, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER):"In this crisis, it is time to practice the leadership that our citizens expect from the EU and national governments. Time to promote new jobs, competitiveness, sustainable and inclusive growth to drive the recovery. To achieve this, funding must reach our regions, villages and cities immediately. And they must have a say in how best to use the funds."The negotiations between European Parliament and Council on the rules for cohesion policy 2021-27 are entering the final phase.

Key Points: 
  • Further interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):
    • Magnus Berntsson, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER):"In this crisis, it is time to practice the leadership that our citizens expect from the EU and national governments. Time to promote new jobs, competitiveness, sustainable and inclusive growth to drive the recovery. To achieve this, funding must reach our regions, villages and cities immediately. And they must have a say in how best to use the funds."
    • The negotiations between European Parliament and Council on the rules for cohesion policy 2021-27 are entering the final phase.
    • Cities, towns and regions and the European Parliament have converged on key demands and successfully advocated for strong cohesion policy beyond 2020.
    • "Concluding the negotiations on all cohesion policy programmes is more urgent than ever.
    • It's less than one month until Christmas, so national governments should stop playing games and listen to their cities and regions.
    • A delay in the negotiations on the cohesion policy regulation risks a postponement of the start of programmes.
    • More than ever, cohesion policy must be powerful, because today what is threatening is the distortion of economies and divergence.

    • Cohesion Alliance - News Bulletin October 2020

    Retrieved on: 
    Saturday, October 31, 2020
    Geography of the European Union, Regional policy of the European Union, Barometer, Region, Science and technology, Technology

    Find more details and news below:European Week of Regions and Cities 2020:Some highlights:The European Commission announced (press release) the first provisional results of the implementation of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+). Find more information on the Cohesion Open Data Platformand Coronavirus dashboard.Opening session: The official opening session took place in on 12 October in the presence of the CoR President Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira who said that "Cohesion policy is not only money, cohesion policy is about values, is, in particular, about the value of solidarity." You can re-watch the event on Twitter.During the Week, 107 Young Elected Politicians (YEPs) from all over Europe were invited to attend a specifically designed programme. 37 of them selected the topic of Cohesion as their main interest. The Young Elected Politicians Programme (YEPs) is a network of politicians who are no older than 40 and hold a mandate at regional or local level in the EU. You can find out more here.Due to the developments of the COVID-19 crisis, this year's#EURegionsWeekhad to be done 100% online.

    Key Points: 
  • Find more details and news below:
    • European Week of Regions and Cities 2020:
  • Some highlights:
    • The European Commission announced (press release) the first provisional results of the implementation of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+). Find more information on the Cohesion Open Data Platformand Coronavirus dashboard.
    • Opening session: The official opening session took place in on 12 October in the presence of the CoR President Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira who said that "Cohesion policy is not only money, cohesion policy is about values, is, in particular, about the value of solidarity." You can re-watch the event on Twitter.
    • During the Week, 107 Young Elected Politicians (YEPs) from all over Europe were invited to attend a specifically designed programme. 37 of them selected the topic of Cohesion as their main interest. The Young Elected Politicians Programme (YEPs) is a network of politicians who are no older than 40 and hold a mandate at regional or local level in the EU. You can find out more here.
    • Due to the developments of the COVID-19 crisis, this year's#EURegionsWeekhad to be done 100% online.
    • The Week, with its more than 500 workshops was spread over three weeks; each week following one of the main topics, Green Europe, Cohesion and Cooperation and Empowering Citizens.
    • If you missed it, dont be sad: the REPLAY of all sessions and the HIGHLIGHTS are now available on the EURegionsWeek platform!
  • Findings of the Annual Regional and Local Barometer:
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer – main findings
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer – full report
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer – opinion poll by Kantar (country-specific results also available)
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer – the health impact (the story, in data)
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer – the regional economic impact (the story, in data)
  • Social Media
    • Dashboard of results: The EU Regional Barometer and the #CohesionAlliance communication campaign have both created a social media momentum. The interactive dashboard summarizes the social media performance for the 12-16 October 2020. The dashboard will be accessible for one month until 22 November 2020.
    • EU regional and local authorities have been on the frontline in tackling the health crisis and keeping people safe.
    • The report shows how differently they have been impacted and how they are also key to the economic recovery.
    • The barometer also includes a representative opinion poll conducted by Kantar in the first two weeks of September.
    • Regions and cities should be involved in the preparation of national recovery plans from the very outset.
    • Capitals must coordinate with you, because you will be the ones bringing projects to life in your local reality.
  • Following the agreement on the MFF at the special meeting of the European Council of 17-21 July, the Trilogue meetings on the cohesion policy legislative proposals restarted at the end of September, with a view to find a political agreement between the Parliament and the Council until the end of the year, so that the new Regulations could be published and enter into force in early 2021. On 15 October, the Chair of the CoR COTER commission,  Ms Isabelle Boudineau, had the opportunity to recall the key messages of the CoR and the Cohesion Alliance on the different files that are currently under negotiation at the meeting of the EP REGI committee, where EP rapporteurs reported back from the ongoing Trilogue discussion with the European Commission and the Council. Find the tweet here.
    • Recently adopted CoR opinions
  • ​Upcoming events:
    • Borders Forum, 9-10 November
    • The CoR October plenary session saw the adoption of opinions onequivalent living standards, theREACT-EU packageandthe role of cohesion policy(press release) as well as the opinions oncross border health(press release) and theEuropean recovery plan(press release).
    • We should do this further strengthening the foundations of Europe's success: peace, social progress, stability and cohesion.
    • (press release)

    • The regions – working for industrial, social and environmental recovery in the EU

    Retrieved on: 
    Thursday, October 22, 2020
    European Union, Articles, Geography of the European Union, Region, European Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Interreg, Psychological resilience

    To find out more about the annual regional and local barometer:Annual Regional and Local Barometer:main findingsAnnual Regional and Local Barometer:results for France (in French)Annual Regional and Local Barometer:the full reportAnnual Regional and Local Barometer:opinion poll by Kantar, country-specific results also availableAnnual Regional and Local Barometer:the health impact, summary, statistical dataAnnual Regional and Local Barometer:the regional economic impact, summary, statistical data.The widening gap between rural and urban areas presents a clear threat to the cohesion of the Union - not least in digital terms.

    Key Points: 
  • To find out more about the annual regional and local barometer:
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer:main findings
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer:results for France (in French)
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer:the full report
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer:opinion poll by Kantar, country-specific results also available
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer:the health impact, summary, statistical data
    • Annual Regional and Local Barometer:the regional economic impact, summary, statistical data.
    • The widening gap between rural and urban areas presents a clear threat to the cohesion of the Union - not least in digital terms.
    • He strongly advocated decentralising the management of recovery funds and a green and digital transition, and argued for greater cross-border cooperation, including in the field of public health.
    • EU cohesion policy, including the REACT EU instrument and the simplifications through the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII), is key to fighting this trend and spearheading the economic, social and environmental recovery of Europe, as well as building resilience and overcoming regional disparities.
    • Apostolos Tzitzikostas expanded on the need to involve the regions in designing and implementing EU recovery plans:"No recovery plan that fails to take account of the diversity of our towns and regions, or which is not based on national responses, will get anywhere!
    • The regions must be closely involved in recovery initiatives, as they better than anyone else know what works on the ground.
    • BACKGROUND The Barometer offers a snapshot of the impact of the social, economic and health crisis on EU's regions and cities.
    • European Committee of the Regions opinions on the EU recovery plan: The
      REACT-EU package, rapporteur MieczysawStruk (PL/EPP), President of the Pomorskie Region.
    • The
      Recovery plan for Europe: Recovery and Resilience Facility and Technical Support Instrument, rapporteur- general Christophe Rouillon (FR/PES), President of the Socialist Group at the CoR and Mayor of Coulaines.

    • COVID19: regions and cities demand simplified access to EU funds and sufficient time to invest on recovery

    Retrieved on: 
    Wednesday, October 14, 2020
    Articles, Organizations, Geography of the European Union, Regional policy of the European Union, European Union, Region, Psychological resilience, Cohesion, European Committee of the Regions

    The CoR's

    Key Points: 
    • The CoR's

      Annual Regional and Local Barometer

      shows that the coronavirus pandemic is widening
      existing social and economic disparities in the EU.

    • With the intervention of cohesion policy in
      our regions and our cities to face the pandemic,
      the EU has shown that it can keep its promises.
    • He further welcomes the currently
      enhanced flexibility but also warns that a crisis can
      never justify the centralisation of cohesion policy.
      "
    • Our regions and cities are the best level to take
      effective actions to deal with the negative
      consequences of crisis situations.
    • Listening to the
      voice of local and regional communities and leaving
      competence at these decision-making levels has
      always worked well.
    • He argues for a bottom-up approach by
      adding regional allocation criteria to REACT-EU and the
      Recovery and Resilience Facility.
      "
    • I consider the idea of equal living conditions to
      be an essential part of European cohesion policy.
    • The CoR members will adopt all three opinions during
      their plenary session on 12-13 October.

    Europe's recovery will fail without a strong cohesion policy and a real partnership among EU, national, regional and local actors

    Retrieved on: 
    Thursday, July 16, 2020
    Europe, Continents, Geography of the European Union, Association of European Border Regions, Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Region, Assembly of European Regions, Cohesion, Budget of the European Union, European Union, European Committee of the Regions, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

    Interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):You can rewatch the event here.Ann-Sofi Backgren, Presidentof the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and Member of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, stressed the need of a stronger Cohesion Policy within the new MFF and the Recovery Fund taking into account European territories facing specific difficulties such as border, mountain, peripheral regions, islands and other maritime regions; additional constraints like sparse and/or aged population, brain drain, lack of infrastructures and public services; and of course general challenges, namely climate and demographic changes, transition to more sustainable development approaches and energy sources, optimal digitalisation, and resilience to global threats like Covid-19. Many border regions share many of these circumstances, and there are further difficulties related to the growing need to coordinate diverse national regulations which might collide at national boundaries.The #CohesionAlliance calls for a strong, effective and flexible cohesion policy based on long-term perspectives and the principles of partnership involving local and regional governments in all recovery measures.

    Key Points: 
  • Interventions from the conference (alphabetical order):You can rewatch the event here.
    • Ann-Sofi Backgren, Presidentof the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) and Member of the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, stressed the need of a stronger Cohesion Policy within the new MFF and the Recovery Fund taking into account European territories facing specific difficulties such as border, mountain, peripheral regions, islands and other maritime regions; additional constraints like sparse and/or aged population, brain drain, lack of infrastructures and public services; and of course general challenges, namely climate and demographic changes, transition to more sustainable development approaches and energy sources, optimal digitalisation, and resilience to global threats like Covid-19. Many border regions share many of these circumstances, and there are further difficulties related to the growing need to coordinate diverse national regulations which might collide at national boundaries.
    • The #CohesionAlliance calls for a strong, effective and flexible cohesion policy based on long-term perspectives and the principles of partnership involving local and regional governments in all recovery measures.
    • This will help kickstart and rebuild the economy, foster sustainability and strengthen territorial and social cohesion in the European Union.
    • This is why we need a strong cohesion policy and a fair and cohesive recovery.
    • Cohesion DNA can be seen throughout the Commission's recovery proposals: the generous provision for cohesion policy and the cohesion method in the recovery fund and elsewhere.
    • Short-term recovery must be complementary to the pursuit of long-term objectives, in particular economic, social and territorial cohesion.
    • Anyone who believes in a strong EU cohesion policy is welcome to join the #CohesionAlliance by signing the new declaration.
    • All 12.000 signatories of the initial declaration are invited to reaffirm their political commitment by raising awareness about the vital role of cohesion policy and the need for a strong cohesion policy in the next long-term EU budget and Recovery Plan.


    Background: In October 2017, the European Committee of the regions launched the #CohesionAlliance in partnership with the leading associations of regions and cities – Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the Conference of European Regional Legislative Assemblies (CALRE), the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR) and EUROCITIES  – to raise awareness about the vital role of cohesion policy. Since its launch, the Alliance's declaration has been signed by more than 12 000 individual signatories, 121 regions, 135 cities and counties, 50 associations of regional and local governments, 40 Members of the European Parliament and 35 EU sectoral associations.

    • Article - Infographic: how many seats does each country get in in the European Parliament?

    Retrieved on: 
    Friday, January 31, 2020
    Organizations, Geography of the European Union, Politics of the European Union, Member state of the European Union, Withdrawal from the European Union, European Parliament, Treaties of the European Union, European Union, Impact of Brexit on the European Union

    From 1 February, the European Parliaments counts 705 seats compared with 751 (the maximum allowed under the EU treaties) before the UK's withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020.

    Key Points: 
    • From 1 February, the European Parliaments counts 705 seats compared with 751 (the maximum allowed under the EU treaties) before the UK's withdrawal from the EU on 31 January 2020.
    • Twenty-seven of the UK's 73 seats have been redistributed to other countries, while the remaining 46 seats will be kept in reserve for potential future enlargements.
    • In line with the electoral act of 1976, EU countries have to notify the names to the European Parliament before the mandates can officially commence.

    Department of Health (Northern Ireland)

    Retrieved on: 
    Thursday, October 24, 2019
    Statutory law, Countries, Island countries, Geography of Europe, Geography of the European Union, Northern Ireland Executive, Republic of Ireland, Reading, Northern Ireland, Bill

    Latest Bill

    Key Points: 
    • Latest Bill

      Latest news on the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL] 2019-20

      First reading took place on 23 October.

    • This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.
    • Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.
    • Summary of the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL] 2019-20

      A Bill to provide for the functions exercised by the Northern Ireland Department of Health to be exercised by the Secretary of State until the formation of a Northern Ireland Executive.

    UK financial services exports explored by Committee

    Retrieved on: 
    Friday, May 31, 2019
    Brexit, Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom, Withdrawal from the European Union, TheCityUK, Member states of the European Union, Geography of the European Union

    EU Financial Affairs Sub-Committee hears evidence on Wednesday 5 June at 10.15am

    Key Points: 
    • Wednesday 5 June 2019 in Committee Room 4A, Palace of Westminster
      Anjalika Bardalai, Chief Economist and Head of Research, TheCityUK
      What are the major UK financial services export destinations?
    • Where do financial services exports originate from within the UK?
    • Has Brexit had an impact on the volume or direction of UK financial services exports?
    • Does Brexit provide an opportunity for the UK to reorient its financial services exports towards other countries?