European Year for Development closes with high level event in Luxembourg. The closing ceremony for the European Year for Development 2015 (EYD 2015) held on the 9th December in Luxembourg marked the culmination of a successful campaign, which has seen partners such as youth groups, international organisations, members of the public, NGOs, the private sector, schools and universities from all over the EU, and worldwide, come together in a wide…

It’s that time of the year when most people start planning their resolutions for the New Year – a tradition in which one resolves to do an act of self-improvement. Popular pledges include becoming more assertive or more environmentally responsible, learning something new, volunteering to help others, or improving one’s physical or mental well-being.

The European Foundation for Support of Culture, in collaboration with the newly the established New Names Malta Foundation, under the Distinguished Patronage of Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta, and supported by the Government of Moscow, the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Malta and the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, is presenting the Classical Young Stars Concert Series between 10th and 15th November, under the artistic…

Celebrate ex-smokers’ achievements on the 30th October This year’s Day of the Ex-Smoker, held on the 30th October, celebrates the hard-earned achievements of ex-smokers across Europe. Ex-smokers are invited to participate in the new Ex-smokers sparkle brighter challenge, by lighting a sparkler to celebrate their healthier, smoke-free, life. iCoach users can also share photos of their “brightest moments” on the EU_Health Twitter and Instagram social media accounts. As this time…

Sport and games play a key role in social inclusion MOVE, a non-profit organisation dedicated to nurturing children’s creativity through play, today held a half-day event in Valletta as part of the European Year for Development 2015 (EYD2015) to promote social inclusion through games and sport by exposing local as well as migrant children and youths to the intercultural dimension in a fun and lively way.

Eurobarometer reveals that tobacco use is down by 2 percentage points in the EU since 2012, but 26% of Europeans are still smokers Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Sunday 31 May, the Commission publishes a Eurobarometer on Europeans’ attitudes towards tobacco. The survey reveals a downward trend in tobacco use across Europe. The overall reduction compared with 2012 is 2 percentage points (26% vs. 28%). The age category…

Sign up to the new and improved iCoach and set your personal challenge today! One in three of the more than 431,000 registered users of previous campaigns stopped smoking after three months with the free digital health coach, iCoach. With new and improved functions, the revamped online and mobile tool should help even more smokers stub out their last cigarette. In the run-up to World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on…

Young people running projects with a European dimension have until 23 February to register for the 2015 edition of the Charlemagne Youth Prize and win cash prizes, as well as trips to Aachen and the European Parliament. The aim of the Prize is to encourage the development of European consciousness among young people, as well as their participation in European integration projects.

As 2015 begins, so does the European Year for Development (EYD2015) − a year dedicated to raising awareness, engaging Europeans everywhere in the EU’s development cooperation and sparking a debate around the motto ‘Our world, our dignity, our future’. The EYD2015 was proposed by the European Commission and unanimously adopted by the European Parliament and Council. It is an opportunity to showcase the strong commitment of the EU and its…

The EU has dedicated 2015 to development cooperation and aid to highlight the importance of international development and the key role played by the EU and its member states. The Parliament will be closely involved with the events that will include the European Development Days, thematic hearings organised by the EP’s development committee and the World EXPO in Milan.