Energy efficiency votes

From 2021, all new buildings in the EU will have to be energy-efficient, following the approval by the European Parliament of energy efficiency legislation yesterday (19 May). MEPs also approved a separate law overhauling the colour-coded energy labels for domestic appliances. The current A-G scale will be replaced with an A***- D scale.

Central American trade

The EU yesterday (19 May) concluded a trade agreement with six central American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama – at its summit with Latin American countries in Madrid. After three years of negotiations, a last-minute breakthrough was achieved on Tuesday (18 May).

The European Commission did not hold its weekly meeting because many commissioners attended the EU-Latin America summit.

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Police in Afghanistan

EU member states on Tuesday extended the EU’s police mission in Afghanistan by three years, until 31 May 2013.

Crisis loan to Ukraine

MEPs on Tuesday endorsed a loan to Ukraine to help the country deal with the financial crisis. The loan, which is worth up to €500 million, must be repaid within 15 years.

Asylum office

MEPs on Tuesday approved the creation of a European Asylum Support Office to co-ordinate member states’ asylum-related activities and to help member states that receive large numbers of asylum claims. It will be based in Malta.

Schengen data system

MEPs agreed on Tuesday to extend, for an unstipulated time, the transition period needed to set up the EU’s second-generation Schengen Information System. Officials hope the system will become operational next year. It was due in service in 2007.