Do we want to improve Europe, or give it up?

This week EC president Barroso delivered the 4th State of the Union Address in the European Parliament, and what is being called the Case for Europe.

"My answer is clear', he continued: 'Engage! If you don't like Europe as it is: improve it!

As any human endeavor the EU is not perfect. Controversies about the division of labour between the national and European levels will never be conclusively ended. 

Not everything needs a solution at European level. Europe must focus on where it can add most value. It does not have to meddle where this is not the case. 

The EU needs to be big on big things and smaller on smaller things."

The key messages are ready for your dissemination and/or debate!

Romania is the country with the lowest penetration level in the EU ;)

Yes, it's confirmed!

The European Commission considers that: Romania is the country with the lowest penetration level in the EU.In January 2012, the penetration rate of fixed broadband is 15.2% of the population below the EU average of 27.7% and Mobile broadband penetration in Romania (14.1%) is the lowest in the EU!

Detailed statistics for Romania are being published in the context of the Digital Agenda programme implementation.

The Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) programme aims to reboot Europe's economy and help Europe's citizens and businesses to get the most out of digital technologies. It is the first of seven flagships initiatives under Europe 2020, the EU's strategy to deliver smart sustainable and inclusive growth.

3 million Erasmus students in Europe !!!

More than 3 million students have benefitted from EU Erasmus grants since the exchange scheme's launch in 1987. The statistics, covering the 2011-2012 academic year, also show that the programme enabled more than 250 000 Erasmus students – a new record – to spend part of their higher education studies abroad or to take up a job placement with a foreign company to boost their employability.

Erasmus is considered one of the most successful programmes of the European Commission!!!

The average monthly Erasmus grant, designed to cover part of the additional costs of living abroad and travel, was €252. The grant, which has remained stable for the past three years, is topped up in some countries by national, regional or institutional funds.

Erasmus+, the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, due for launch in January 2014, will build on the legacy of Erasmus by offering opportunities for 4 million people to study, train, teach or volunteer abroad by 2020. The programme is expected to have a budget of around €14.5 billion for 2014-2020 - 40% more than funding for the current education and training mobility programmes.

There is also an ERASMUS programme for Enterprises.

Trivia: a student leaving on an Erasmus exchange has 15% chances to find its mate and form an "Erasmus couple"!

In Romania numarul de studenti care pleaca cu burse Erasmus a ramas relativ constant, 4568 pe an.

Studentii prefera sa plece in cele mai multe cazuri in Franta, Spania si Germania, si ne vin in general studenti francezi si spanioli. Mai multe statistici se gasesc in raportul Erasmus in Romania.

EU budget - myth busted !!!

In the context of the European Council decision to reduce the 2014-2020 EU budget and the on-going negotiations on European budgetary cuts, the European Commission launches more communication campaigns addressing the EU budget (multi-annual financial programming, spending justification and budget lifecycle transparency). See also my previous post: Is the EU budget well spent?

The new campaign is very citizen-friendly and busts multiple EU budget related myths:

Myth: The EU budget is enormous!

Myth: The EU budget is constantly on the rise – whereas national governments reduce their spending!

Myth: The bulk of EU expenditure goes into administration!

Myth: The EU budget is riddled with fraud!

Myth: The EU budget is decided by Eurocrats without any democratic procedures!

Myth: The EU costs too much!

Myth: The EU finances silly projects like dog training centres or Elton John concerts!

Myth: The Commission wants to introduce a direct EU tax and increase the tax burden on citizens!

Myth: Most of the EU budget goes to farmers!

Myth: Cohesion policy is an expensive charity!

Download also the "EU Spending - a myth-buster" brochure.

500 EU Information Centres inform 500 million citizens across Europe

The Europe Direct Information Centers (EDIC), since their creation - 4 years ago, received about 3.3 million personal enquiries, organised more than 41,000 events and answered more than a million e-mails.

Today, the European Commission the European Parliament launched a new generation of "Europe Direct Information Centres". The new network will extend possibilities for citizens to get practical information and advice on exercising rights in the European Union.

Read more in the press release about the statistics and activities of these centres, considered "the public face, the eyes, ears and mouth of our policies and of the rights of citizens on the ground".

Romania are 31 de centre EDIC, locul 6 in functie de numarul total de centre in Europa!

Statistic vorbind, centrele din Romania, in 2012:

• au inchis 37.000 de apeluri (aproape 4% din totalul de tichete deschise in toate cele 500 de centre);
• au produs 900 de publicatii (locul 2 !!! in functie de numarul de publicatii produse de o tara UE, dupa Spania);
• si organizat vreo 250 de evenimente.

Bravo!