The strategy is introduced like this:

“Over the last two years, we have faced the world’s worst economic crisis since the 1930s. This crisis has reversed much of the progress achieved in Europe since 2000. We are now facing high levels of unemployment, sluggish structural growth and excessive levels of debt. The economic situation is improving, but the recovery is still fragile. At the same time, the world is moving fast and long-term challenges – globalisation, pressure on resources, climate change, ageing – are intensifying.

Europe can succeed if it acts collectively, as a Union. The Europe 2020 strategy put forward by the Commission sets out a vision of Europe’s social market economy for the 21st century. It shows how the EU can come out stronger from the crisis and how it can be turned into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. To deliver rapid and lasting results, stronger economic governance will be required.”

Several initiatives have been launched that will help to create jobs and growth. Among those are “Innovation Union” which encourages creativity and research as well as access to finance to help create new jobs, “Youth on the Move” which hopes to improve performnace of education systems and help young people enter the job market, and “A digital agenda for Europe” which hopes to speed up the implementation of broadband access for all.

The subtitle of EUROPE 2020 is “A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”. This year also marks the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. You can find out more about the year on the EY10 website.

The conference aims to bring together young journalists (and other young enthusiasts who are interested in the topic) from all EU Member States and by doing so creating yet another stepping stone for the future.

What participants will learn?

·         Facts about the 2010 Year

·        Understanding social exclusion

·        Media criticism

·        Avoiding stereotypes in journalism

·        Theory of Journalism Discourse

If you like to meet new people, like to share your ideas and would like to learn something new, send your motivation letter to europedirect@zavodpip.si by 30th September 2010.

There is no participation fee. The organisers will provide you with accommodation, warm meals, lectures and social activities. Travel expenses are not covered.

The working language will be English.

To participate you need to be a citizen from EU Member States and Candidate or Potential Candidate Countries.

Official invitation

The Leonardo da Vinci programme is aimed at organisations in the vocational education sector. It encourages organisations “to work with partners from across Europe, exchange best practices, and increase their staff’s expertise. It should make vocational education more attractive to young people and, by helping people to gain new skills, knowledge and qualifications, the programme also boosts the overall competitiveness of the European labour market.”
The programme supports mobility initiatives that enable people to train in another country, cooperative projects to transfer and develop innovation and ideas, and the development of focus networks.

Read more about the programme on the European Commission’s website and on Leonardo.org.uk (ECOTEC). 
Other sources:
BBC
The drawings of Leonardo da Vinci 
Wikipedia

What is Party Without Pollution an how does it work? The Breeze website explains it:

“The Party without Pollution is a new part of Breeze on Tour - it’s all about showing you that you can do normal things that will help look after the environment; it’s not just for boffins or geeks!

The essential ingredients for any party will be there but with the added twist that you have to use pedal power to keep the party going. The party’s sound system, games console, TV and lights are all hooked up to three bike generators. So if you want to  dance to your favourite tunes, battle it out with your mates on the games console or see what it takes to keep the lights on, you’re going to have to provide a constant supply of energy by getting on the bikes and pedalling.

No party would be complete without party games. Put your skills to the test with the Bin Sling Saloon, a recycling game, and if you come to the party you’ll get a special wristband. Keep this wristband on and listen out for an announcement at each event to find out what to do to win a solar powered toy.

Even grown ups who tag along could win an energy efficient digital radio. They just need to chat to any of the staff at the party to find out how.

Other activities and games will be joining the party on different days.

Every Thursday at all events:

• Join Leeds City Council’s Countryside Rangers to make dragonflies and try to identify mysterious natural objects.

Both days at Armley Park and Cross Flatts Park:

• Thermo, Leeds’ very own energy saving super-hero will be making special appearances. See how much heat you produce on his high-tech thermal camera and chest-mounted display screen. He’ll also be challenging you to see if you can identify what is hot, or not.

The Party without Pollution is being supported by Europe Direct Leeds and the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy.”

We are hoping to blog in German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Polish, Turkish and Welsh. Let’s see…

The day is celebrating the over 6000 languages spoken in the world, along with their background of rich and diverse cultures. It aims to show how much fun language learning can be and how rewarding.

Find our more at http://edl.ecml.at/, where you can also find materials to organise your own event, test your language skills, send e-cards, and more!

Flyer for children’s event

Over half of the UK’s trade is with the European Union (EU) and, generally, it is easier to trade in Europe than with other parts of the world. Opportunities to take advantage of EU markets have increased further thanks to the recently implemented Services Directive which makes it easier to sell services in other EU countries. It does so by reducing and simplifying formalities that service providers need to comply with. Public bodies are required to put online all the information and transactions that companies need to go through to get licences to sell their services anywhere in the EU. To find the right national or regional portal, go to www.eu-go.eu and for applications within the UK, to www.businesslink.gov.uk/ukwelcomes

Sometimes, however, things do not run smoothly. Legal and regulatory hurdles can pose big obstacles to UK businesses trading within the Single Market but help is at hand from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Its EU Market Access Unit works with national authorities across the European Economic Area (EEA) - 27 EU member states as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, to seek solutions wherever it can. In the event of a misapplication of European law, the team does this through SOLVIT, a free, informal problem-solving network set up by the European Commission with centres located in the EEA. Where the problem arises not as a result of the misapplication of European law but due to other national practices contrary to the spirit of the Single Market, the Unit works to resolve the issue with its contacts in the embassies and in other administrations.Some of the areas it has achieved success in include facilitating market access for goods and services, tax refunds and recognition of professional qualifications. Further information can be found at: www.bis.gov.uk/eumarketaccess and the team can be contacted on solvit@bis.gsi.gov.uk .

A business guide, “How to tackle regulatory barriers when doing business abroad”, produced by BIS outlines the services that it, along with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), offers to aid UK exporters and importers and also sets out how it can help UK firms overcome specific legal and regulatory barriers when trading globally, for example, technical regulations, unfair subsidies, onerous customs procedures and restriction on access to raw materials. It contains real-life examples of some of the businesses that have received this help. Further copies can be obtained from ruchi.nanda@bis.gsi.gov.uk.

The European Economic and Social Committee has published the second edition of the very popular and highly useful “European Cycling Lexicon”!

Have you ever been stuck because you didn’t know what the word for  ”puncture” is in Swedish? Or how to ask where there is a safe route for cycling in Romanian?

“The fully illustrated booklet in traveller-friendly format contains all the answers. It also includes terms useful in the world of cycling and human-powered vehicles in 27 languages, including the 23 official EU languages.” (source)

We now have a copy of the lexicon in our information centre in Leeds. You can also access the lexicon online at http://www.eesc.europa.eu/sections/ten/european-cycling-lexicon

For more details read the press release.

We know that sometimes it can be hard to find an exchange partner where you live, so we decided to test various sites and let you know what we think. Please let us know if there are any others you can recommend.

The internet is changing the way people learn foreign languages. It is removing previous barriers, so that everyone can have access to language partners and language materials.

http://www.fluentfuture.com/
fluentfuture is a portal where you can find native speakers to practice with. They say about themselves that “fluentfuture is a new online venture that brings elements of social networking to language tutoring.” You can sign up as either a student or a teacher. You can practice your vocabulary, get help from other members when completing exercises, chat to other members online or via Skype, join communities on various topics and watch video lessons. You can further submit resources for others to use.
A basic account is free. Paid accounts receive access to premium features, such as personalised lessons from rated teachers. Good privacy options.

http://www.italki.com/
italki is a language learning social network and market place that connects students and language teachers. You can find language partners, free materials created by teachers and network members, write a blog (“notebook”) and join a language network. You can also join study and discussion groups,  book paid lessons with tutors or find language learning materials in the marketplace. You can further submit resources for others to use.
A basic account is free. You can pay for personalised lessons with tutors.

http://www.juju.cc/home.php
JuJu is a site where you can find pen friends from all over the world. You can add friends to your profile, add photos, write a blog, and more. Only friends can comment on your profile.
A basic account is free.

http://www.livejournal.com/
LiveJournal is not a dedicated language learning site. It is a social journal service where users can share common passions and interests. You can write your own journal and there are many communities you can join in with, on all sort of topics. There are also specific communities for language learning to give tips and help you find exchange partners. There are journals in most languages.
A basic account is free. Paid accounts receive access to premium features.

Writing a blog can help you keep track of your learning and celebrate achievements. Commenting on other people’s blogs will help you interact in the language you are learning. There are some good tips available at Linguanet Europa.

Another good way to get contacts in the language you are learning are “ordinary” social networks. There you can make “friends” and chat to people in an informal environment. Some of the most common social networks are Facebook and MySpace. Others might be more country-specific, such as Hyves in Belgium and the Netherlands or studiVZ in Germany.
On many of those you can also join groups and discussions about topics that interest you. It’s much easier to learn a language when you can talk about stuff relevant to you!

You can also try virtual worlds, such as Second Life, to meet people who you can chat to, or take part in discussion forums about topics that interest you from a country where they speak the language you are learning. A lot of those will show up in a simple Google search.

I can also recommend twitter for language learning. As messages can only be 140 characters long it is similar to chatting but you can have a time delay (it’s not live chat, so less pressure) which gives you time to think about what you want to say. You can also follow users who write in your chosen language and learn from what they say.

It all depends on the language you are learning as well! Some materials and networks are easier to access but don’t despair – there’s stuff for everyone out there!

By the way, some of these sites are recommended on Linguanet Europa, which is a very useful resource.

Part 2 will follow soon!

For more information about this event click here.