Today the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 launch named biotechnology as one of the six enabling technologies that can boost the European economy, ensuring that the EU remains sustainable, globally competitive and a centre for excellence in science. Horizon 2020 - the European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation- also outlines the most prevalent Grand Challenges that EU research and Innovation policy should tackle.

On the initiative of Vice-President of the European Parliament, Rodi Kratsa, in her capacity as responsible for Euro-Mediterranean relations and the European Parliament's Information and Communication Policy, the first meeting of journalists from the North, South, East and West of the Mediterranean will take place on 29-30 November 2011 at the European Parliament in Brussels.

On 30th November, RENEWING HEALTH will hold a Midterm Workshop in the prestigious venue of the European Economic and Social Committee (www.renewinghealth.eu/news/events[...]full-programme). It aims to share information about this ambitious Project which is co-funded by the European Union under the CIP ICT PSP (Information and Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme), 9 Regions of 9 Member States, and some NGOs.

With the forthcoming European Council set to decide on possible candidate status for Serbia on 9 December, there have been renewed clashes in northern Kosovo, following attempts by the NATO Kosovo mission (KFOR) to dismantle illegal road blocks. The Greens expressed concern at the violence and called for Serbia not to be granted candidate status in the absence of a peaceful solution in northern Kosovo. Commenting on the situation Green foreign policy spokesperson and EU rapporteur/draftsperson on Kosovo Ulrike Lunacek said:

Sir Graham Watson, Liberal Democrat MEP and former leader of the Liberal ALDE group in the European Parliament has today been elected President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform party during their Congress in Palermo, Italy.

After his election, Sir Graham said: "I am honoured that ELDR has chosen me to lead our great party. I pledge to strengthen European Liberalism, support Liberal parties across our continent and build up the ELDR by opening its doors to new members."