Over the last two weeks, the EU and Turkey have been conducting secret negotiations aimed at putting into practice the so-called Ankara Protocol from 2005.

Reportedly, this would allow the EU to unblock some of the accession chapters frozen as a result of Ankara's refusal to admit ships and aircraft from the Republic of Cyprus to Turkish ports and airports (see 'Background').

The main actor in the negotiations is Štefan Füle, reports Turkish newspaper Milliyet, describing a strategy of "mutual concessions".

The UN High-Level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing handed over a report detailing how developed countries can make good on their financial pledges to help poor countries reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change.

The group was set up in February and features heads of state, finance ministers and economists, including financier George Soros and Lord Nicholas Stern, author of an influential report on the economic costs of climate change.

In the upcoming 2020 trade strategy, seen by EurActiv, EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht intends to highlight the illegal state aid that helps the EU's competitors export to the bloc.

The EU is seeking greater reciprocity in trade, echoing calls by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has asked for the bloc's openness not to come at the expense of its businesses.

Many foreign countries are providing direct financial support to firms or sectors, or indirectly by exempting them from taxes or extensively purchasing their goods.

A team of more than 100 border guards from Frontex, the EU's external border cooperation agency, started work at the Greek-Turkish border on Friday (5 November).

According to the Greek authorities, the concerted effort has managed to curb the influx of illegal immigrants by 25%.

The initial patrols by the Frontex team – most of whom are to be stationed at a 12-klilometre section of a river border between the towns of Nea Vyssa and Orestiada – were supposed to be reconnaissance exercises.

The new strategy will set out priorities for 2020 in order to deliver on the EU's energy and climate goals.

This will require the EU to spend €1 trillion over the next decade on infrastructure, new technologies and electricity storage, according to a draft, seen by EurActiv.

"Worldwide, water is not only a problem for billions of people who lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation," said Maria Otero, US under secretary for democracy and global affairs.

"It is also an issue of security as we see scarcity emerging more and water becoming potentially a source of conflict," she told journalists during a visit to Brussels last week (4 November).

"And that raises a security issue for everyone," she warned.

Last week, Croatia closed the chapters related to "free movement of capital," "transport policy" and "institutions".

Croatia has now provisionally closed 25 chapters, leaving the country with nine more areas to be closed, or ten if the policy area "other issues" is counted.