1.     European Commission (ECFIN), Statement by the European Commission and the ECB following the second post-programme surveillance mission to Portugal (March 2015) “Economic and financial conditions in Portugal have further improved since the conclusion of the first post-programme surveillance mission in autumn 2014. However, the economic recovery continues to be held back by the remaining macroeconomic imbalances. While the authorities...

1.European Commission-Towards the Juncker Commission: Mission Letters (10 September 2014) 2.European Parliament-Towards a new Commission: Hearings (30 September 2014) 3.European Commission-Public opinion: Attitudes of European citizens towards the environment (September 2014) “The most acute concerns relate to pollution of both air and water, the amount of waste that is generated in the EU, and the depletion of natural resources. The impact...

1.  European Commission-ECFIN: Statement by Vice-President Kallas on Portugal (17 May 2014)  “After Ireland and Spain, Portugal is the third euro area country to successfully graduate from its financial assistance programme. While this is a cause for celebration, there is no cause for complacency. To deliver a more robust recovery and bring down the still unacceptably high level of unemployment, it will be essential to maintain an unwaver...

1.European Commission-ECFIN: The Second Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece-Fourth Review (April 2014) 2.European Commission-ECFIN: The Economic Adjustment Programme for Portugal - Eleventh Review (April 2014) 3.European Commission-ECFIN: Commission staff carry out fifth Post-Programme Surveillance mission to Latvia (10 April 2014) 4.Special Eurobarometer 413 – Future of Europe (March 2014) “Towards 2020: priorities and preferences ...

1.European Commission-ECFIN: Commission concludes in-depth reviews to identify macroeconomic imbalances and assesses progress in fiscal consolidation (5 March 2014) “The contribution of large Member States to growth in Europe is important. Among the largest euro area Member States, the policy priorities should be on: strengthening domestic demand and medium-term growth in Germany; addressing bottlenecks to medium-term growth while working on s...

EU ECFIN: Energy consumption down by 8% between 2006 and 2012 in the EU28 (17 February 2014) Over the last two decades, gross inland energy consumption in the EU28, which stood at 1 670 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in 1990, rose to a peak of 1 830 Mtoe in 2006 and then decreased to 1 680 Mtoe in 2012. Between 2006 and 2012, gross inland energy consumption in the EU28 has fallen by 8%.The energy dependence rate, which shows the extent...

Eurostat: Record level of 2.6 bn nights spent in tourist accommodation in the EU28 in 2013 (29 January)“In 2013, the number of nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments1 in the EU28 reached a peak of 2.6 billion nights, up by 1.6% compared with 2012. Following a decrease due to the effect of 11 September 2001, there has been a steady increase in the number of nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU28 since...

1. Council of the European Union: ECOFIN meeting results (10 December 2013) “The Council updated its position on bank recovery and resolution and deposit guarantee schemes in the light of on-going negotiations with the European Parliament.  It adopted a decision deeming action taken by Poland to correct its excessive deficit to be insufficient. It issued a new recommendation, extending the deadline for correction of Poland’s deficit by one...

1.European Environment Agency: Competing demands on Europe's environment undermining human well-being (20 November 2013). “Europeans depend on the environment to provide for many aspects of their material well-being, according to the report. Environmental pressures associated with our lifestyles seem to be decreasing, at least within Europe's borders. However, seen through the lens of resource use and well-being, European consumption is still...

1. IMPEL: “Working together to improve and innovate”. Conference on the implementation and enforcement of EU environmental legislation. Valetta, Malta, 1-4 October 2013....