Traian Ungureanu's Report 'An EU Strategy for the Black Sea' was approved yesterday with an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament's plenary. In the debate that preceded the vote, the Report was carried by a large majority of all political groups. The European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy expressed his commitment to follow Traian Ungureanu's recommendations and to develop an EU Strategy for the Black Sea Region.

"The United States is not the world's biggest economy. Nor is China, at least not this decade. The European Union is the world's biggest economy and Europe can regain its competitiveness with policies for openness and cross-border movement creating one European economy. Europe can be a leading force in the global economy", said Gunnar Hökmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, as Parliament debated the EU's competition policy this morning.

25 January 2011, Sofitel Europe Brussels

Interactive conference and exhibition

Neelie Kroes, Digital Agenda Commissioner to participate in ETNO Innovation Day on eHealth

Brussels - About 150 representatives from authorities, medical organisations, patients and businesses are joining the ETNO Innovation Day on eHealth in Brussels on 25 January to discuss remaining obstacles to take up of e-health applications throughout the EU.

European Doctors welcome the 2nd reading approval of the Directive for the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare by the European Parliament today which is now only awaiting its formal adoption by the Council of Ministers. This legislation presents a crucial step in codifying and clarifying patients’ rights by addressing the issues of reimbursement of cross-border healthcare, the restrictions to the need for its prior authorisation, the role of eHealth tools and Health Technology Assessment as well as options for patients affected by rare diseases. 

 After the European Parliament vote on the resolution on the situation in Haiti, one year after the earthquake, GUE/NGL MEP Jacky Hénin (France) made the following statement:

"Most of my group decided to abstain because the events taking place in Haiti are a clear illustration of the limitations of current workings of the UN. In Haiti, humanitarian intervention is showing its incapacity to put sustainable solutions in place for the Haitian people.