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	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Could better food information help win the EU's war on obesity? The European Union has begun addressing the relatively new phenomenon of rising levels of obesity. At Friends of Europe’s Café Crossfire evening debate, food labelling was hailed as a useful weapon in informing and educating consumers, although it was not seen as sufficient to reverse Europe’s obesity problem. With Europe’s obesity rate fast catching up with that of the United States, there is almost universal acceptance of the need to act. But whatever the measures taken, how would the EU know it is winning the fight against obesity, and does a label-based approach risk confusing consumers? Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Shell Energy Scenarios to 2050 Amid a context of surging energy demand, global warming and dwindling oil reserves, Friends of Europe hosted a launch of the Shell Energy Scenarios to 2050, on 7 April 2008, with a view to debating the best paths toward a sustainable energy future. Royal Dutch Shell plc has been preparing its renowned energy scenarios for four decades now to help energy experts and policy leaders around the world anticipate global supply and demand trends in an incessantly changing global operating environment. Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Time to re-assess public-private partnerships linking non-traditional allies? Food prices are soaring. They are being fuelled by high oil prices as well as shortages caused by droughts and increased pressure on land due to rising demand from Asia’s emerging economies and the rush towards biofuels. The situation is rapidly turning into an emergency scenario for developing countries and this example demonstrates how public-private partnerships (PPPs) could emerge as an essential instrument in the fight against poverty. Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Policy Spotlight report The EU's role in global development Speaking at a Policy Spotlight lunch debate organised on 31 March 2008 by Friends of Europe in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID), Under Secretary of State Gareth Thomas MP highlighted how important it is for the EU to strongly reaffirm its commitment to the development agenda in this “crucial” year marking the half-way stage of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) timetable. Thursday, April 10, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Development Policy Forum Is EU development aid entering a new era in the wake of the Lisbon Treaty? Critics at Friends of Europe's first Development Policy Forum (DPF) roundtable on 26 February observed that the EU’s creation of a new foreign policy chief wearing two hats could lead to policy incoherence or, worse, could sideline or marginalise Europe’s aid. The fact that the EU’s overarching development objective of eradicating poverty is enshrined in the new treaty is a plus. To this end, the strengthening of the policy and programming capacity of the European Commission Delegations is an important step. Tuesday, April 01, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: FR EN Friends of Europe
	European Policy Summit report Europe's Looming Demographic Crunch: The Search for New Labour and Welfare Policies The demographic situation throughout Europe, with low birth rates and greater life expectancy leading to higher pension and healthcare costs, calls for action. It has been estimated that some 22 million extra jobs will be needed in the EU in order to meet the Lisbon Strategy's employment targets set for 2010. Friends of Europe's high-level European Policy Summit on 31 January 2008 considered the possible solutions available for averting Europe's looming demographic crunch. Thursday, March 13, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	European Policy Summit report Balkans Crossroads: The Policy Challenges Ahead The Western Balkans region is currently top of the EU’s political agenda and the main focus of its enlargement policy. Of the countries in the region, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is hoping to open accession negotiations soon, and Croatia is aspiring to become a full EU member by the end of the decade. The Balkans Crossroads conference organised on 4 December addressed the challenges still faced by the countries of the region on their road to full European integration. Monday, February 18, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Adapting the CAP to the new realities As Paris prepares to take over the EU’s rotating six-month presidency in July, one of the hottest issues on its plate will be the planned review of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) – the so-called “health check”. The initiative comes ahead of major discussions on the Union’s spending priorities for after 2012, which are expected to slash EU funds for agriculture in favour of more growth-oriented policies, such as research. In a debate co-organised by Friends of Europe and the Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) on 21 January, France’s Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier presented his views on the CAP health check proposed by the European Commission at the end of 2007, and outlined his ambitions to maintain a strong European farming sector. Other speakers were Rolf Eriksson, Swedish State Secretary for Agriculture, and Jean Martin, President of the CIAA. Friday, February 08, 2008 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe