Why is it so hard to find a job? With more than 26 million Europeans out of work, unemployment is one of the biggest issues that Europe is facing today. New approaches are needed and many were discussed at the ReACT conference organised by Parliament in Paris on 15 October.

93 % Vilnius residents are satisfied with their lives in Vilnius – it is a better rate than in Riga, Prague, Berlin or Paris.

Parliament has been calling for an EU-wide youth guarantee for years and in 2010 adopted a resolution urging the Commission to come up with a proposal. The Commission has now included a youth guarantee in its proposal for a Youth Employment Initiative.

Vilnius is taking part in a contest to become European Youth Capital. It is an annual contest organized by the European Youth Forum at the end of which one city is awarded the title of European Youth Capital for the duration of one year.

During the Fisheries Council on October 17 in Luxembourg Ministers will seek to reach political agreement on fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea for 2014. This is an annual exercise to fix for the subsequent year the limits of fish resources to be caught by EU fishermen from the main commercial fish stocks in the Baltic Sea (total allowable catches (TACs)) and set the fishing effort limits (numbers of days at sea for EU vessels fishing for cod).

Travel and Tourism is today one of the worlds' biggest generators of employment and export earnings, and a key driver for economic growth and development. Travel and Tourism generates one in twelve jobs worldwide and accounts for 30% of the global exports of services. Through its direct, indirect and induced impacts, Travel and Tourism contributes 9% of global GDP. This makes Travel and Tourism a vital contributor to the global development agenda, affording it a unique role in building strong, sustainable and balanced global growth.

Bicycle Cyclocity self-service system season will close on October 15, 2013. The system was operational since mid July. These bicycles will return to Vilnius' streets next April.

EU member states will be better equipped to prevent, detect and combat irregular migration, but also to save migrants' lives, thanks to the "Eurosur" border surveillance system, whose operating rules were approved by Parliament on Thursday. Eurosur will enable member states to share real-time images and data on developments at the EU's external borders.

Polet Airlines is planning to launch direct flights from Vilnius International Airport (VIA) to Saint Petersburg on 4 November this year. The flights to the second largest city of Russia by aircraft SAAB 2000 with 50 passenger seats will be operated twice a week – on Mondays and Fridays.

The first Environment Council meeting under the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the EU will take place in Luxemburg on Monday, 14th October. The meeting will be chaired by the Lithuanian Minister for the Environment, Mr Valentinas Mazuronis. The Commission will be represented by Commissioners Janez Potočnik and Connie Hedegaard.