Brussels 11 February, 2010

EuropaBio welcomes the official appointment of the Barroso II Commission. With the Lisbon Treaty now ratified, new leaders chosen and the new executive in place, the College and its Cabinets will inherit a policy agenda with numerous heavy dossiers related to agriculture, the environment, research and innovation, healthcare, energy, trade and the bio-based economy.

"Guantanamo must be shut down immediately" urged German GUE/NGL MEP Helmut Scholz in today's European Parliament debate on the closure of the Guantanamo bay prison camp and the resettlement of its detainees.  

Arguing for the protection of personal data and privacy today in the European Parliament debate on the transfer of bank data to the US, GUE/NGL President Lothar Bisky called on MEPs to veto the agreement on privacy grounds. 

The Heads of State and Government meet in Brussels on February 11 to discuss the economic strategy of the Union. 
-          Considering the magnitude of the economic, financial and social crisis hitting Greece, Spain, Portugal and other countries like Ireland and Belgium with full force; 
-          Considering that a budget adjustment should not lead to a human or social regression;

Ahead of the European Summit on 11 February, an unprecedented coalition of European businesses organisations, NGOs and parliamentarians are calling on EU Heads of State to make energy efficiency the first order priority for the EU’s economic recovery and new ‘EU2020’ strategy.