(Sir Europe - Brussels) - “Emissions of greenhouse gases from installations participating in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) decreased by more than 2%” in 2011, according to the information provided by the European Commission which released the figures for last year. The EU ETS covers more than 12,000 power plants and manufacturing installations in the 27 EU member states, Norway and Liechtenstein and, from this year, emissions from airlines flying to and from airports in these countries. A statement from the Commission reads: “Despite an expanding European economy (ed.’s note: information that would need to be checked), verified emissions of greenhouse gases from these installations dropped to 1.889 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent last year, more than 2% below the 2010 level”. Climate Action Commissioner Connie Hedegaard declared that the decrease in greenhouse gases emissions “shows that the ETS is delivering cost-effective emissions reductions. It also emphasizes why the ETS remains the engine to drive low-carbon growth in Europe. However, there is still a growing buffer of unused allowances. This is why the Commission, as announced last month, is now reviewing the time profile of phase 3 auctions with a view to reducing the number of allowances for auction in the early years of phase 3”.

According to Kovacik, “this Prize gradually becomes an award with real value because it is important that the work of journalists is appreciated. And if the awardee is someone who is able to promote real values in a world full of commerciality and vanity, this form of appreciation is something that society needs a lot”. The Holy Mass at the conclusion of the pilgrimage will be presided over by the archbishop of Bratislava and head of the Council for Social Communication, Mons. Stanislav Zvolensky.

(Sir Europe - Bratislava) - The fourth edition of the Pilgrimage of Catholic Media, initiated by the Council for Social Communication of the Bishops’ Conference of Slovakia, will take place on 19 May in Bratislava. Several Catholic media will open their doors to everyone who is interested in getting to know their work and mission, and offer opportunities for mutual exchange of experiences among their employees. “It is important that Catholic media realize that their aim is to be a leaven. To be a decent alternative to commercial and public media in a society that sometimes offers non-culture instead of culture”, explained to Sir Europe the Press Office Director of the Bishops’ Conference, Jozef Kovacik. The day-long program will culminate in the awarding of the Andrej Radlinsky Prize to the journalists who uphold traditional values and truth and with their work contribute significantly to the development of Christian media. (continued)

The official program of Benedict XVI’s pastoral visit to the archdiocese of Milan on the occasion of the 7th World Meeting of Families (1-3 June 2012) was released today by the Holy See Press Office. The Pope will depart for Milan at 4:00pm. At 5:30pm he will meet with the citizens gathered in “Piazza Duomo” and, at 7:30pm, he will attend a concert in his honour at the Scala Theatre. On Saturday, he will deliver a meditation at the Cathedral (10:00am). At 11:15am, he will meet with children who are being confirmed in Meazza Stadium, and at 8:30pm, he will attend the “Celebration of Witnesses” in the park of Bresso. Finally on Sunday, the Pontiff will preside over Holy Mass and will then pray the Angelus. At 4:30pm, he will greet the members of the Family Foundation 2012 and the organisers of the visit, and at 5:30pm, he will depart from Milan’s Airport to return to Rome. He is expected to arrive in the Vatican at 6:45pm. More information and updates about the event are available at www.family2012.com and www.familia.va (Pontifical Council for the Family). Furthermore, on the homepage of www.agensir.it there is a banner dedicated to the special on the 7th World Meeting of Families, with the latest news and in-depth analyses.

The key role played by European family-run businesses is however threatened - as pointed out at the European Parliament’s conference - by the lack of fair competition and the non recognition of their contribution to business culture and social cohesion in Europe. The EU’s Small Business Act has already given fair prominence to the role of the family and has emphasised the need to make the most of such potential, but now all member states need to become more aware of the tax issue. “The tax systems of some member states may hold back the development of family-run businesses, so these countries are asked to carefully revise their legal and tax frameworks to improve their conditions”, Jean-Pierre De Leat, head of the Tax and Customs Unit at the European Commission, concluded.

(Sir Europe - Brussels) - Family-run businesses make up a vast number of going concerns in Europe and play a significant role in European economy. This is the subject addressed today by the European Parliament in Brussels, as in the last few years the political decision-makers in Europe have started to realise that “family-run businesses are the backbone of economy” and “political decisions must reflect possible impacts on family-run businesses”. “Family-run businesses are important, not only because they make an important contribution to European economy, but also for the stability and effective work they do for the local communities and for the responsibility they feel they have for values and traditions; these are precious assets on the background of the current financial crisis”, Othmar Karas, deputy president of the EU Parliament, pointed out. Family-run businesses account for over 60% of all European businesses and for approximately 40-50% of employment, which includes a wide range of different sized businesses working in different industries. “Most small- and medium-sized enterprises, especially micro and small ones, are family-run businesses, and the vast majority of family-run businesses are SMEs”, Philip Aminoff, president of the European Family Business, stated. (continued)