Applications welcome from young professional journalists for 8-week on-the-job training 

Following an initiative of Irish GUE/NGL MEP Paul Murphy, 48 MEPs from 17 countries and 6 different political groups today sent a letter to the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, expressing concern about the violence used by state forces against striking oil workers, their supporters and families in the city of Zhanaozen in western Kazakhstan last Friday, 16 December.

EuroCommerce welcomes the trialogue agreement on WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) as a small step in the right direction towards more harmonisation, less bureaucracy and a better functioning internal market.

Yesterday, Parliament and Council struck an agreement on the recast of the WEEE Directive, which attempts to address some of the shortcomings of the current Directive. However, mandatory take-back of small volume WEEE by retailers is maintained.

Responding to the adoption by the European Commission (EC) of a range of proposals impacting public services, Ralf Resch, General Secretary of CEEP, declared "Our members  acknowledge the publication of the package with mixed feelings".  

CEEP welcomes the revision of state aid rules, but insists on further clarifications. The main focus is an adequate definition of the de minimis exemption. 

ENISA has published the first EU report ever on cyber security challenges in the Maritime Sector. This principal analysis highlights essential key insights, as well as existing initiatives, as a baseline for cyber security. Finally, high-level recommendations are given for addressing these risks.