Press Releases
Education
EU education report: good progress, but more effort needed to achieve targets
19/04/2011
Brussels, 19 April - EU countries have improved their education systems in key areas over the past decade but they have achieved only one out of five benchmarks set for 2010, the European Commission's new progress report on education and training reveals today. The EU has succeeded in its target to increase the number of maths, science and technology graduates, with a 37% rise since 2000 – easily outstripping the target of 15%. Significant, but insufficient, progress was made on reducing the school drop-out rate, increasing the number of pupils completing upper secondary education, improving reading literacy skills and increasing the share of adults participating in education or training. For a detailed breakdown of the figures for each country, see annex below. The Europe 2020 jobs and growth strategy retains the target of reducing the school drop-out rate to under 10%, as well as increasing the share of graduates to at least 40%.
EU Marie Curie researcher discovers galaxy 13 billion light years away
12/04/2011
A team of astronomers led by Johan Richard, a 31-year-old French researcher supported by the EU Marie Curie fund, has discovered a galaxy 13 billion light years away from Earth. The discovery of the star formation, which was created 200 million years after the 'Big Bang', will help astronomers better understand the evolution of galaxies closer to the earth, which may have affected the planet's climate. It could also help solve the scientific mystery of how the hydrogen fog that filled the early Universe was cleared.
Ms Vassiliou said: "This discovery represents a milestone in modern astronomy research and once again demonstrates our commitment to supporting pioneering study and mobility among the best European and international scientists."
EU and Brazil launch policy dialogue on higher education and culture
01/04/2011
Better policy cooperation in higher education and culture will be the main focus of Commissioner Vassiliou's official visit to Brazil next week (3-9 April). Ms. Vassiliou, who is making her first official visit to the country, will meet Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, Minister of Education Fernando Haddad and Minister of Culture Ana Buarque de Hollanda in Brasilia. Her programme will also include high-level meetings in Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. The main objective is to launch EU-Brazil policy dialogues on higher education and culture. The discussions will also feed into the next EU-Brazil summit, due to take place in Brussels in October.
Culture
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): Commission consults on future strategy
14/04/2011
A public consultation on the future strategy of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) was launched on 14 April. It will feed into a 'strategic innovation agenda' for the EIT which the Commission is due to propose by the end of this year. The agenda will outline the Institute's main priorities until 2020, focusing on the Institute's mission and objectives, funding and future themes. Ms. Vassiliou, who is responsible for the EIT, will announce the consultation at a conference in Budapest.
Berlin Neues Museum wins 2011 EU Prize for contemporary architecture / Mies van der Rohe Award
11/04/2011
The Neues Museum in Berlin is the winner of the 2011 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture / Mies van der Rohe Award, the European Commission announced today. The building is a reconstruction, blending old and new, by UK architect Sir David Chipperfield. The 'Emerging Architect Special Mention' award goes to Ramon Bosch and Bet Capdeferro for the Collage House in Girona, Spain. The award ceremony will take place on 20 June at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona.
Winners of 2011 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards announced
07/04/2011
The 27 winners of the 2011 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards are announced today by the European Commission and Europa Nostra (see list of winners below). The awards will be presented on 10 June during a ceremony at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in the presence of Ms. Vassiliou and Plácido Domingo, the world-renowned tenor and president of Europa Nostra. Out of the 27 winning projects, six will be named as 'grand prix' laureates at the ceremony as 2011’s most outstanding heritage achievements.
