Feed aggregator

I am happy to be in Cyprus today on my first visit as President of the European Council. President Anastasiades, thank you for welcoming me. Our meeting takes place at a challenging time for this island and for Europe. And this is what we have discussed today.

First, I warmly welcome the promising resumption of Cyprus settlement talks. I see a real chance to solve this with both parties committed to achieving a lasting solution. A real interest and willingness to act from all parties is the way forward.

The next three months will be critical to eliminate obstacles to the necessary mutual understanding and trust. I have told President Anastasiades today the European Union will continue full and resolute support to the settlement process within the UN framework. We stand ready to provide whatever practical support both parties and the UN would find most useful.

A historical moment is at hand. It should not be missed. Let me assure you that I am ready to do whatever it takes not to miss this one. To the benefit of all of Cyprus, and of Europe.

We also discussed the Middle East and the role of Cyprus as a regional player. I am grateful for President Anastasiades' constructive contribution to help resolve crises in our neighbourhood. Europe has a huge interest in this part of the world. Recent events have underlined how deeply we are all affected by what happens in our neighbourhood.

In this context we also discussed the refugee crisis. This visit is part of my consultations with Member States on how to tackle this huge challenge, incl. the questions of relocation and resettlement. Cyprus is a good example of a country that is ready to help and show solidarity. The time has come to take decisions. Justice and Home Affairs ministers are meeting Monday at an emergency session. From that meeting we will need a concrete, positive sign of solidarity and unity. After contacts that I had with Member States the last few days, I feel more hopeful today that we are closer to finding a solution based on consensus and genuine solidarity. Without such a decision, I will have to call an emergency meeting of the European Council still in September.

President Anastasiades and I also discussed the economic development of Cyprus. I was pleased to hear how the efforts by the people of Cyprus are bringing positive results. It will be important to maintain this momentum and to advance on structural reforms. This will strengthen public finances and lay the ground for sustained growth and job creation now and in the future. I am thankful for the constructive role you have played and will continue to play in the European Union. Thank you.

http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/20424c66-5865-11e5-83ad-bc764e083742_1.48_thumb_169_1441964006_1441963877_129_97shar_c1.jpg

President Tusk visits Cyprus to discuss how EU can help to reach a settlement to end the division of the island of Cyprus. The agenda includes regional issues, cooperation and the management of the migration crisis.

Download this video here.

The MIDCAS (Mid Air Collision Avoidance System) consortium together with the European Defence Agency (EDA) announced the final results of theMIDCAS project at the final stakeholder workshop in Brussels. Major milestones included flight tests with fully automatic avoidance manoeuvres of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS). 

Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) represent an important part of future aviation. RPAS operations are expected to benefit European citizens in the fields of security, disaster relief and many other activities. It is therefore important that RPAS can fly in non-segregated airspace together with today's manned aviation. MIDCAS as the European Detect and Avoid project is a cornerstone to prepare a safe integration of RPAS in non-segregated airspace. 

The sixth and final MIDCAS Workshop in Brussels 

Since 2010, five MIDCAS stakeholder workshops have been organised providing opportunity for valuable discussions and exchange of information with stakeholders about the project results and findings. The final workshop, which took place 8 and 9 September, provided a summary of the project, final results and conclusions regarding operational and technical recommendations. ”About a hundred committed and engaged stakeholders from around the world took part in the workshop. This manifests the will and necessity of working together to bring Detect and Avoid to a conclusion” says Johan Pellebergs, MIDCAS project leader. 

 

Flight tests and simulations

Flights with a demonstrator Detect & Avoid (D&A) system integrated in the Sky-Y RPAS test bed have been successful. Fully automatic coupled avoidance manoeuvres were performed by the RPAS based on combined cooperative and non-cooperative detection as well as non-cooperative detection only against manned aircraft on collision course. Flight tests have covered numerous scenarios and sensor combinations bringing RPAS traffic integration a significant step closer to reality. The Detect and Avoid system tested, performs collision avoidance and traffic avoidance using data fusion for various combinations of the included detection technologies. 

Several types of simulations including Monte Carlo simulations, real-time simulations and Air Traffic Control operational simulations have also been performed to validate the system and operational requirements successfully. 

 

MIDCAS is the European Detect & Avoid Project 

The MIDCAS project was launched in 2009 by five contributing Member States (France, Germany, Italy and Spain under the lead of Sweden) under the framework of the European Defence Agency, with a total budget of €50 million. “EDA together with its participating Member States are committed to the operation of RPAS in European airspace coordinated with all other military and civilian traffic. MIDCAS has taken a key step forward to prepare the next generation of high performance European RPAS”, Peter Round, EDA Capability, Armament & Technology Director, says. 

MIDCAS has been carried out by an industrial consortium composed of eleven partners: Saab (project leader) from Sweden, Sagem and Thales from France, Airbus D&S, Diehl BGT Defence, DLR and ESG from Germany, Alenia Aermacchi, Selex ES, CIRA from Italy and Indra from Spain. Throughout the project, external stakeholders such as EASA, EUROCONTROL, EUROCAE and JARUS, were involved in the process. 

 

More information:

• News "MIDCAS demonstrates progress for RPAS integration into civil airspace" (30 April 2015)  
• News "Successful ESA-EDA Flight Demonstration on RPAS Insertion into Civil Airspace" (26 April 2015) 
• EDA initiatives in the field of RPAS

Dans le cadre du projet sur « la construction des savoirs français sur l'Europe médiane » qui s'articule sur l'axe 2 de l'UMR IRICE et le Labex « Écrire une histoire nouvelle de l'Europe », axe 3, il s'agit d'approfondir la connaissance des différents médiateurs et des lieux de médiation qui ont permis de connaître, d'évaluer et de définir des politiques à l'égard de cette région de l'Europe. Un précédent colloque (printemps 2014) avait été consacré aux militaires, des guerres balkaniques aux (...)

La direction générale de l’aviation civile (DGAC) a délivré, mercredi 9 septembre 2015, la certification «level D» au Full Flight Simulator (FFS) de l'A400M.

Comentario Elcano 48/2015 - 11/9/2015
Ángel Badillo
El Instituto Cervantes, la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) y la Universidad de Salamanca han acordado la puesta en marcha del Servicio Internacional de Evaluación de la Lengua Española. Se espera que 750.000 hablantes de español certifiquen su competencia lingüística en los primeros cinco años.

A Brit Királyi Légierő újabb Typhoon-ja kapott díszfestést: a 41. repülőszázad 100. évfordulójára készült festés utal a század múltjára, jelenére és jövőjére. A függőleges vezérsíkra festett Szent Omer-kereszt utal a 41-esek múltjára: ezt a jelképet választották 1916. július 14-i megalakulásukkor is. A kereszt jellegzetes színe végigkísérte a századot hosszú története során, és remélhetőleg még fogja a 100. évforduló után is. 

Jean-Claude Juncker war es, der am vergangenen Mittwoch im Scheinwerferlicht der europäischen Öffentlichkeit stand: Der Präsident der EU-Kommission…

À quelques semaines de l'élection présidentielle, la Côte d'Ivoire est sous tension. Jeudi, des violences ont éclaté dans plusieurs villes du pays entre les partisans de l'ex-président Laurent Gbagbo, et ceux du chef d'État Alassane Ouattara.

Le nouvel avion de transport effectue des essais en terrain sommaire.

Le nouvel avion de transport effectue des essais en terrain sommaire.

Du 7 au 9 septembre 2015, la 53ème session du conseil de la fonction militaire air (CFM Air) s’est tenue sur la base aérienne 105 d’Évreux.

Un mois après l'assassinat du général Nshimirimana, le bras droit du président Nkurunziza, le chef d'état-major de l'armée, le général Niyongabo, a réchappé à un attentat à Bujumbura, vendredi, lors duquel sept militaires ont été tués.

Budapesten rendezi meg első alkalommal a Trans Europe Halles a TEH Tábort 2015 novemberében.

Durant un mois, le C160 Transall de l’escadron de transport 50 « Réunion » a effectué neuf rotations sur l’île d’Europa, située à quatre heures de vol de l’île de La Réunion, pour y projeter des engins du 25èmerégiment du génie de l’air.

A la suite de l'annonce du plan d'urgence de relocalisation et d'accueil des réfugiés lors du discours sur l'état de l'Union européenne, mercredi, le texte de la Commission a été adopté jeudi par le Parlement européen, à une large majorité. Cependant, les réticences des chefs d’État n'ont pas disparu pour autant. Aujourd'hui encore l'opposition à ce plan se manifeste, tant au niveau européen qu'au sein de certains États membres, dont la France.

There are 6 nominationsfor the 2015 Sakharov Prize:

• Edna ADAN ISMAIL
• Raif BADAWI
• Democratic oppositionin Venezuela embodied by the Mesa de la Unidad Democrática andpolitical prisoners
• Boris NEMTSOV
• Nadiya SAVCHENKO
• Edward SNOWDEN, AntoineDELTOUR, Stéphanie GIBAUD

The candidates will be presented at a Joint AFET / DEVE / DROI meetingon Monday 28 September 2015 scheduled at 15:00-17:00 in the József Antallmeeting room 2Q2.

For the list of nominees together with their biographies please see link below.
Further information
List of nominees
Source : © European Union, 2015 - EP