Innovation is central to economic growth and business competitiveness, and is in the center of the EU's EU-2020 strategy. Two thirds of the EU population now lives in urban areas. These areas therefore have a key role to play in making Europe more innovative.

A reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40% below the 1990 level, an EU-wide binding target for renewable energy of at least 27%, renewed ambitions for energy efficiency policies, a new governance system and a set of new indicators to ensure a competitive and secure energy system. These are the pillars of the new EU framework on climate and energy for 2030 presented today by the European Commission.

During his visit in the United Kingdom (UK), Lithuania's Minister of Education and Science Dainius Pavalkis met with the Lithuanian students and encouraged them to cherish their nationality.

The NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius and the Vilnius University signed the agreement on the cooperation in the sphere of energy safety.

It is planned to renovate and modernize more than 100 buildings of the educational institutions in Lithuania's capital Vilnius.

Commissioners Maria Damanaki and Günther Oettinger today presented a new action plan to facilitate the further development of the renewable ocean energy sector in Europe. A central element in this action plan will be to establish an Ocean Energy Forum, bringing together stakeholders to build capacity and foster cooperation. The action plan should help drive forward this nascent 'blue energy' sector towards full industrialisation. Ocean energy covers all technologies to harvest the renewable energy of our seas and oceans other than offshore wind. Its exploitation would contribute to the decarbonisation of the EU's economy and provide secure and reliable renewable energy to Europe.

Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology (MITA) is launching a new technology entrepreneurship project Promotion of Innovative Business Development. In two years more than 50 innovative companies are expected to be established in Lithuania.

Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU) invests in the studies infrastructure. This week, the flight training unit in Kyviskes acquired two new helicopters Cabri G2, the value of which is almost 3 million Litas. The air crafts will be used to prepare qualified helicopter pilots. The integrated master's degree study programme, which will prepare such specialists, will be the first and only in Lithuania, and will be implemented by VGTU Antanas Gustaitis' Aviation Institute (AGAI).

Androulla Vassiliou, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, is visiting Rīga in Latvia from 18-20 January to take part in the 2014 European Capital of Culture's opening events, as well as to launch in the country the EU's new Erasmus+ program funding for education, training, youth and sport, in the country.

Applications for the Charlemagne Youth Prize 2014 have been extended to midnight on 10 February 2014. The prize is awarded every year to young people participating in projects designed to promote Europe among the young. Winning projects will not only benefit from recognition and media coverage, but also from prize money to further develop the initiative.