Today EU Economic and Finance Ministers agreed to strengthen regulation of the financial sector with a new Capital Requirements Directive. Thereby the EU is taking the lead ahead of other large global economies in complying with the G20 objectives on the implementation of the Basel standards for capital and liquidity.
In celebration of the 20th Festival of Europe, the European institutions opened their doors to the public on Open Day 12 May. Among the debates, dancing, music and street art, the Danish EU Presidency’s information stand focused on the environment and offered pedal-powered smoothies – even the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, got on the bike and kept the pedals going.
Denmark is hosting the presidency of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly 23-30 May in Horsens. The meeting will be the biggest event on Danish soil during the EU Presidency, counting more than 400 participants, including up to 150 parliamentarians from the EU, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific.
The European Ministers for Education, led by the Danish EU Presidency, arrived on Friday 11 May 2012 at their first agreement on the contents of EU’s new education and youth programme, established to improve the educational opportunities in Europe.
In a nation, where 95 pct. of the population own a bike it is only natural, that a two-wheel ride is offered to EU delegates as well.
Denmark boosts bicycling in the capitals of Europe, when Europe Day on 9 May is celebrated with green events throughout the EU.
The Danish Minister for the Environment, Ida Auken, is satisfied with a new international agreement that sets stricter requirements to air pollution across the borders of Europe. The agreement reaches until 2020.
On 7-8 May 2012, high-level representatives and experts from EU Member States, international institutions, businesses, civil society and academia have been invited by the Danish EU Presidency to discuss how the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights adopted by the UN last year can be put into practice. The Danish Government will be represented by the Minister for Business and Growth, Mr Ole Sohn, the Minister for Trade and Investments, Ms Pia Olsen Dyhr and Minister for Development Cooperation, Mr Christian Friis Bach.
The door is ajar for a number of countries' membership of the EU, but what are the prospects of the new countries' accession and what does it means for the countries to join and for the EU to have more members? Those are some of the questions that will be debated when Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen lectures at Aarhus University together with Professor Philipp Schröder and Associate Professor Derek Beach.
The Danish Presidency is ready to begin negotiations with the European Parliament on the accounting directives
Movie buffs in Sofia will soon get to see two Danish Oscar Winners at close range. In Copenhagen, young European filmmakers met in April during the film festival CPH PIX for five days of inspiration and networking. And in June the mobile film studio FILM-Y travels to Transylvania to give Romanian children a unique film experience. These are some of the film events launched during the Danish Presidency, which has a special focus on Danish cinema.
Europe Day, 9 May, is the last chance to participate in the Danish EU Presidency’s photo competition 'EU Snapshots of Your Life' and win tablets.
More possibilities for decentralized decisions was a theme at today’s Council meeting where EU Fisheries Ministers discussed the Commission’s proposals on transferable fishing concessions and regionalization of fisheries management.
"Health, Environment and Climate Change are at the heart of the Danish EU Presidency," said Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen, when he, together with Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark opened the exhibition "Health, Environment, Climate - Human health and the impact of Environmental and Climatic Factors” on 25 April.
The EU agricultural Ministers want a Common Agricultural Policy that is easier to administer and that more decisions should be left to the Member States.
The Interior Ministers of the EU Member States have decided on new measures to combat terrorism in Europe. The Council agreed on the need to establish a European framework for exchanging air passenger information. Furthermore, the ministers showed broad support for enhanced control of chemical substances that can be used to produce home made explosives. The Council also adopted a new EU action plan aimed at stepping up the fight against illegal immigration.