Today the European Union produces a sixth of its electricity using renewable energy sources like wind, solar and hydro power.But that proportion will have to more than double over the coming decade if the EU is to keep its promise of tackling climate change by ensuring that 20 percent of our energy comes from renewable sources by 2020.This film, shot in Germany, Denmark and Spain looks at a number of projects supported by the EU's Intelligent Energy Europe Programme, which are designed to help the Union meet this ambitious target. Download subtitles:

Cars have long served as the chief means of transport in cities. Their use has risen from one year to the next: for every 100 trips, 82 are made by car, 12 in public transport and 6 by bicycle. Over the longer term, this creates two major problems: ever longer (and more stressful) traffic jams and increasingly dense air pollution in cities. The latter aspect is particularly alarming because it has a direct harmful impact on people’s health.In societies undergoing steady demographic changes, traffic has risen significantly in cities. Urban areas are sources of growth ... continua

With more and more people travelling within the EU, what happens if a European citizen needs healthcare in another Member State, and especially, what about the cost?
The European Health Insurance Card covers the costs if you fall ill during a trip in another EU country. Costs are also covered for patients who have been authorized by their national health system to go toanother Member State for medical treatments. But what happens if the authorization is not granted?
Interviews:Nick Fahy, European Commission DG Health and Consumer Protection
Nicolas Decker
Monique ... continua

The past six years in Afghanistan have been marked by a struggle to maintain the peace and build the institutions of economic and social revival. This is no easy task in a country driven by two and half decades of conflict. The EU has developed a comprehensive range of measures and missions, with an emphasis on areas of greatest concern, like the burgeoning drugs production and its impact on the security situation, as well as on progress in rural and economic development and supporting the rights of women. What progress lies beneath the ... continua

This morning, Stefano Schio is using his car to go to the Venice town hall, where he works. He drives a few kilometres before arriving at a transit car parking which has been recently created by the Venice city council.After a short wait, he gets on a bus. He will not have to walk for more than a few minutes before he gets to his office.
Interviews:Anna Bressan, Municipality of Venice
Eduardo Tognon, Venetian Energy Agency
Gianfranco Federici, ITER Garching
Laura Fincato, Member of Parliament and Environmental Councillor
Jaroslav Stercl, ZS Namesti ... continua

Every year Bidendum Challenge brings cars of the future together for a series of races. It's a lot of fun, but it's also a chance to compare new technologies.Some of the vehicles doing battle in the French capital, Paris, this year are prototypes equipped with highly sophisticated technology that could save many, many lives.It's drivers like Frédéric Blanc that new safety features will help in particular. The Frenchman's still wounded by a serious accident he had two years ago.
Interviews:
Frederic Blanc,Maxime FlamentMatthias SchlzeAngelos Amditis
Visit the ... continua

As Europe grows wealthier it creates more and more rubbish. Every man, woman and child in the EU generates over a kilo of waste every day. Multiply that figure by nearly half a billion EU citizens and it quickly becomes clear that managing our waste without harming the environment is a major headache.
European citizens are deeply concerned about the waste mountain building up around them and there is a growing realization that we cannot continue dumping vast quantities of rubbish without serious environmental consequences. But this has not stopped the amount of waste ... continua

Food products will need to meet the requirements of nutrient profiles to bear nutrition and health claims. Nutrient profiles will be based on the content of nutrients such as fat, saturated fat, trans-fatty acids, salt and sugars, excessive intakes of which in the overall diet are not recommended. Nutrition claims can fail one criterion, i.e. if only one nutrient (salt, sugar or fat) exceeds the limit of the profile a claim can still be made. In such cases the high level of that particular nutrient must be clearly marked on the label, ... continua

As the summer holidays approach a new European regulation will guarantee more rights for both the disabled and people with reduced mobility when they travel by air. Nearly one in five Europeans can require assistance for travelling or communicating.
From 26 July 2008, these people will have the right to assistance and certain services in all European Union airports, as well as on board aircraft operating throughout European territory.
Under the new regulation the following changes must be made:
- Refusing reservation or boarding on the grounds of a disability or a ... continua

Already effective in nine Member States, the liberalisation of gas and electricity markets comes into effect throughout the European Union from July 1, 2007. Consumers of electricity and gas across the whole EU now have the right to freely choose their supplier. Competitive prices, a quality service and consumers’ rights protection should be the benefits of this liberalisation, started more than 10 years ago by the European Commission. The liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets should also reinforce the interconnections between the Member States and ... continua