European Union

September 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "I welcome the results of today's emergency summit of European Union leaders in Brussels. The EU made clear, as I have repeatedly insisted, that Georgia's territorial integrity must be respected, that Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states must be rejected, that the six-point peace plan of August 12 must be implemented in its entirety, and that Georgia must be given substantial humanitarian and economic assistance.    » read more »

15 May 2008 -- A House of Representatives committee has voted down attempts by Republicans to restore more than $200 million for a planned U.S. missile defense system in Europe. A final decision on funding must await House and Senate votes on separate versions of a more than $500 billion defense authorization measure for 2009, and negotiations to resolve differences.

The Bush administration wants to place 10 land-based interceptor missiles in Poland, and a related radar installation in the Czech Republic, as a NATO defense against potential ballistic missile launches on Europe, with a focus on potential Iranian threats.

The plan is controversial, and has increased tensions with Russia, which views the future system as a threat, and has faced opposition from congressional Democrats.    » read more »

May 13, 2008 -- LANSING - Lt. Governor John D. Cherry, Jr., representing Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, today announced that the city of Flint and alternative energy leader Swedish Biogas International (SBI) will undertake a project to produce alternative energy from waste removed from the city's wastewater treatment plant.

The plant will produce biogas - an alternative energy that can fuel vehicles and generate heat and electricity. Granholm called the announcement of the plant "a major building block in creating the state's alternative energy industry" and said that it will lay the groundwork for creating jobs in the industry.    » read more »

May 1, 2008 -- WASHINGTON - Today Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), and Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Chairman, Ranking Minority Member, and Member of the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, introduced the Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act to help law enforcement stop the misuse of U.S. corporations.    » read more »

Explores Challenges Policymakers Face in Seeking to Limit the Impact of Financial Turbulence

April 21, 2008 -- Europe is facing slower growth as a result of protracted financial turbulence, high inflation and spillovers from an expected mild recession in the United States.

IMF headquarters: Washington, D.C.

The IMF's Regional Outlook (REO) for Europe released today projects economic growth in advanced European economies to slow significantly over the next two years to 1.5 percent in 2008 and 1.4 percent in 2009, from 2.8 percent in 2007.

In Emerging Europe, growth is also expected to moderate, to 5.5 percent in 2008 and 5.2 percent in 2009, down from 6.9 percent in 2007.    » read more »

Business development mission pursues business leads around renewable energy and electric cars that will drive green collar jobs back home to Oregon

April 3, 2008 -- (Jerusalem, Israel) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski continued his business development mission in Israel today where he met with officials from ORMAT Technologies, Solel Solar Systems and the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

Solar cell in Pummer circuit: Photo by Greg Borenstein (CC)    » read more »

April 2, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement in response to the announcement that the Irish Prime Minister, Bertie Ahern, will resign on May 6, 2008.

“Bertie Ahern has been a steady and effective leader of the Irish people. He has been a good friend of America and a good friend personally.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern banner: Photo by Johnny Hailstones (CC)

His skillful leadership in the search for peace in Northern Ireland was indispensable in finally achieving a successful resolution of that long-standing conflict.    » read more »