The EU’s ‘cyber security’ Agency ENISA [i.e. the European Network and Information Security Agency] has a new Executive Director as of 16th October; Dr Udo Helmbrecht. Dr Helmbrecht is the former President of the German IT Security Agency BSI, [the Federal Office for Information Security.]

Dr Helmbrecht clarifies his visions for the Agency as its new Executive Director:

Brussels, 15 October 2009 – The European Commission’s recommendations on the increased use of intelligent technologies in its attempts to reduce the impact of climate change, are applauded by the European Smart Metering Industry Group (ESMIG). In particular the specific role outlined for Smart Metering will have a real impact on the drive towards an energy efficient and low carbon future.

(Brussels, 15 October 2009) EU food and drink manufacturers today welcomed the initialling of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Korea. The
deal, estimated to be worth up to EUR 19 billion in new trade, will remove the vast majority of
tariffs between the two economies, as well as many non-tariff barriers.

Alexander Graf Lambsdorff MEP (Germany, FDP), ALDE rapporteur for accession negotiations with Turkey, has reacted to today's publication of the European Commission's Turkey 2009 Progress Report by calling on Turkey to take further steps down the path of reform.

The Report finds that the Turkish legal framework - and specifically the Turkish Criminal Code - is still being used to restrict freedom of expression.

Mr Lambsdorff commented:

At a joint event organised yesterday in Brussels by the association of European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), stakeholders and decision makers from all parts of the transport industry called for the rail passenger market in Europe to be further opened up to competition following the liberalisation of the international market for passenger traffic in Europe in 2010.