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Happy World Book Day 2023 to all our readers
- 21 April 2023
- Event report
- gsclibrary
World Book Day, also known as World Book and Copyright Day, is an annual event organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright. It is the date on which several prominent authors including both Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare died.
On April 23 publishers, booksellers and libraries join together with book lovers all over the globe to promote the habit of reading and highlight the importance of books.
Every year the Council Library marks World Book Day with something special. This year Council trainees proposed a theme that is relevant to all aspects of life - courage.
Courage comes in many guises and European literature is filled with examples of courageous acts big and small. The trainees selected a list of books relating to the theme of courage from across the EU. This selection was compiled into a library guide for you to browse through.
Their short video highlights some of their favourite extracts from the selected books.
These days, with so many distractions, reading a book could almost be considered a courageous act in itself. So why not curl up with a good book and immerse yourself in the joy of reading.
Happy World Book Day to all.
This post does not necessarily represent the positions, policies, or opinions of the Council of the European Union or the European Council.
The Council Library reading room is open on Monday to Friday from 12.30 to 15.30. The Info Desk operates during office hours from Monday to Friday.
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© European UnionPress release
19 April 202316:00
Green transition on the agenda for EU environment ministers
Romina Pourmokhtari, Swedish Minister for Climate and the Environment.© Johannes Frandsen/Government Offices
Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtari hosted an informal meeting of EU environment ministers in Stockholm on 18–19 April, which was also attended by business leaders from across the EU. The focal points of the meeting included the green transition and the role of business in promoting biodiversity, circularity and competitiveness.
The green transition should be front and centre for long-term European competitiveness. During this meeting, we’ve discussed what we policymakers can do to reward and further stimulate businesses to contribute to environmental efforts while closing material loops.Romina PourmokhtariMinister for Climate and the Environment
The meeting began on 18 April with plenary discussions on cross-sectoral issues of significance to the green transition. Three invited speakers with different perspectives on investments, sustainability and innovation opened the discussions: Jean-Christophe Laloux from the European Investment Bank, Martin Porter from the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership, and Mariana Mazzucato from University College London.
The meeting then continued with parallel sessions in which ministers and business leaders discussed the conditions, incentives and collaboration needed to overcome bottlenecks and deliver the green transition.
The ministers and business leaders went on to discuss three other themes: how the business sector can help halt and reverse biodiversity loss, how industry can increase materials efficiency, circularity and resilience, and sustainability and how climate neutrality can be combined with competitiveness and prosperity.
We’ve heard strong messages from business representatives on the importance of a stable and predictable regulatory environment. They also focused on creating economic incentives for circular materials and products, and pointed out that access to skills and knowledge is a current bottleneck for innovation, and that infrastructure is a key factor.Romina PourmokhtariMinister for Climate and the Environment
The ministers also discussed the EU’s priorities in the negotiations on a legally binding global agreement on plastic pollution ahead of the negotiating session in Paris at the end of May. It is important that there is consensus on the role that the global agreement may play in the green transition and how it can promote a level playing field and a circular economy for plastics.
The meeting also included a study visit in which ministers test-drove a variety of electric vehicles, including heavy goods vehicles and buses.
Press contact
Niki Westerberg
Press Secretary to Minister for Climate and the Environment Romina Pourmokhtariniki.westerberg@gov.se
+46 70 250 59 40
Read more
Informal meeting of environment ministers, 18-19/4
20/04/2023 06:00 | Press release Conference on Institutional Protection of Fundamental Rights in Times of CrisesOn 20–21 April, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) will hold a conference in Lund, focusing on institutional protection of human rights in times of crisis. |
Press release
20 April 20236:00
Conference on Institutional Protection of Fundamental Rights in Times of Crises
Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg. © Foto: Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden.
On 20–21 April, the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) will hold a conference in Lund, focusing on institutional protection of human rights in times of crisis.
Conference participants will discuss how structures to protect human rights in the EU in times of crisis can be made more robust and resilient. What can we learn from past and present crises? How can we best move forward?
“Crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the climate crisis can severely affect the lives of people and communities in the EU. The Member States must anticipate and be prepared to respond to such crises. In this context, robust and resilient structures to protect human rights are crucial,” says Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg.
Ms Brandberg will speak at the conference, alongside Director of FRA Michael O’Flaherty. Other speakers include Vice-President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley and the new Director of the Swedish Institute for Human Rights, Fredrik Malmberg.
Facts
The Member States of the EU have undertaken to guarantee the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (europa.eu)
More information
The conference will be livestreamed here: Conference on Institutional Protection of Fundamental Rights in times of Crises (europa.eu)
21/04/2023 17:00 | Article Landmark meeting on lonelinessThe very first high-level meeting on loneliness in the European Union was held on 20–21 April, within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. It was held on the initiative of Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed, who hosted the meeting at Scandinavian XPO outside of Stockholm.Article 21 April 202317:00 Landmark meeting on loneliness  Swedish Minister for Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed.© Magnus Liljegren/Government Offices of Sweden The very first high-level meeting on loneliness in the European Union was held on 20–21 April, within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. It was held on the initiative of Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed, who hosted the meeting at Scandinavian XPO outside of Stockholm. The aim was to discuss loneliness from various perspectives and gain a better understanding of how policy on EU, national and local level can address the issue. The ambition was to establish synergies with the European Commission’s new initiative for mental health and the conference on loneliness in Brussels in June. My aim was to raise the issue of loneliness to the top of the political agenda, and I believe that we have laid the ground for doing so here today.Jakob ForssmedSwedish Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health  For the Swedish Presidency, the meeting was an opportunity to increase the political visibility of social relations and speed up the implementation of evidence-based solutions to decrease social isolation and loneliness – and ultimately to improve mental health in Europe. Loneliness and social isolation are growing demographic trends with negative consequences for both individual people’s mental and physical health, and society at large. Research shows that loneliness is a risk factor comparable to lack of physical exercise, obesity, smoking or excessive alcohol consumption, and leads to increased risk of morbidity and even mortality. Since loneliness is a complex phenomenon with many causes, it requires different types of solutions for different groups of people. The meeting included several global outlooks, including on challenges of measuring and comparing loneliness between countries, and how perceived loneliness varies across cultures. Other questions concerned the connection to mental health. Loneliness and social isolation have been shown to increase the risk of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. People with mental health problems are also more at risk of becoming lonely.    Several countries currently have national strategies to reduce loneliness among the population. One important question discussed during the meeting was whether it’s possible to use a similar methodology or strategy in countries with different cultures or varying demographic compositions. Representatives of EU Member States, government agencies and civil society shared their experiences in engaging discussions. What role can – and should – various social actors play in efforts to counter loneliness? How can they work together to identify what efforts work best for various groups and individuals? The meeting was held in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Daniel and around 85 delegates from EU Member states, organisations and institutions took part in roundtable discussions and panels. More informationHigh-level meeting on loneliness – policy options to combat loneliness and strengthening mental health in the EU (event page) Watch the meeting on Youtube |