EU Publications

The HLG Best Practice Report by EUbusiness — last modified 23 February 2012, 18:43 CET

The HLG adopted Europe can do better: Report on best practice in Member States to implement EU legislation in the least burdensome way in November 2011. The report provides concrete examples of best practice proposed primarily by Member States themselves.

The European Union and Member State Territories: A New Legal Framework Under the EU Treaties by EUbusiness — last modified 22 February 2012, 16:49 CET

The book reviews the EU Treaties provisions governing relations between the EU and Member State territories, such as the Netherlands Antilles, the UK Channel Islands and the French Overseas Departments. The book includes an overview of each of the relevant territories, including their present constitutional relations with their Member State and their legal relations with the EU. Prior to the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the over-arching Treaty provision for this relationship was Article 299 of the EC Treaty. Having traced the development of Article 299 from 1957 to the present Lisbon framework, the book identifies many inconsistencies and issues with this current framework and proposes a new model framework, one that is more concise and up-to-date and which is adaptable to possible future developments. Useful for EU Law departments and Research Centres, EU Think Tanks, EU Institutions Libraries, Permanent Representatives to the EU and law firms specializing in EU law.

Standards for Smart Grids: Recommendations for smart grid standardization in Europe by Ina Dimireva — last modified 17 February 2012, 18:57 CET

This report investigates the status of smart grids standardization in Europe. Its main focus is the organization of standardization in Europe. The present version of the report focuses on the smart electricity grid.

ECB Monthly Bulletin - February 2012 by Ina Dimireva — last modified 16 February 2012, 20:31 CET

The ECB Monthly Bulletin provides a detailed overview of recent economic and monetary developments in the euro area in the form of text and statistics.

European Union and Public Affairs Directory 2012 by Amazon UK — last modified 14 February 2012, 22:56 CET

The definitive guide to EU Institutions, policy & public affairs professionals. The European Union & Public Affairs Directory (EPAD) 2012 (published December 2011) is Europe's most comprehensive contact directory, detailing thousands of key European public affairs professionals, officials and policy-makers and covering organisations from media agencies to major corporations and trade unions to think tanks, as well as the European Parliament and Commission.

Alert Mechanism Report 2012 - Report prepared in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of the Regulation on the prevention and correction of macro-economic imbalances by EUbusiness — last modified 14 February 2012, 18:54 CET

The EU’s new rules on economic governance, the so-called "six-pack" has two legs: fiscal and macroeconomic surveillance. The macroeconomic imbalances procedure is a new tool that helps detect and correct risky economic developments. Its first ever annual Alert Mechanism Report (AMR), adopted today, kicks-off the surveillance. The European Commission identifies 12 EU Member States whose macroeconomic situation needs to be analysed in more depth. It is only these subsequent in-depth reviews that will assess whether or not imbalances exist and whether or not they are harmful.

The Euro area sovereign debt crisis: Safe haven, credit rating agencies and the spread of the fever from Greece, Ireland and Portugal (ECB Working Paper No. 1419) by Ina Dimireva — last modified 10 February 2012, 19:59 CET

Since the intensification of the crisis in September 2008, all euro area long-term government bond yields relative to the German Bund have been characterised by highly persistent processes with upward trends for countries with weaker fiscal fundamentals. Looking at the daily period 1 September 2008 - 4 August 2011, the paper finds that three factors can explain the recorded developments in sovereign spreads: (i) an aggregate regional risk factor, (ii) the country-specific credit risk and (iii) the spillover effect from Greece. Specifically, higher risk aversion has increased the demand for the Bund and this is behind the pricing of all euro area spreads, including those for Austria, Finland and the Netherlands. Country-specific credit ratings have played a key role in the developments of the spreads for Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain. Finally, the rating downgrade in Greece has contributed to developments in spreads of countries with weaker fiscal fundamentals: Ireland, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Belgium and France.

Who needs credit and who gets credit in Eastern Europe? (ECB Working Paper No. 1421) by Ina Dimireva — last modified 10 February 2012, 18:51 CET

Based on survey data covering 8,387 firms in 20 countries this ECB Working Paper compares credit demand and credit supply for firms in Eastern Europe to those for firms in selected Western European countries. The paper finds that firms in Eastern Europe have a higher need for credit than firms in Western Europe, and that a higher share of firms is discouraged from applying for a loan.

A simplification agenda for the 2014-2020 MFF by EUbusiness — last modified 08 February 2012, 23:29 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Communication on the simplification of access to EU funds in the next financial period (2014-2020). Within the framework of the MFF 2014-2020, both in the proposal from 29 June 2011, and in the sector-specific proposals, the Commission presented many simplification measures. Through this Communication the Commission demonstrates that the objective of simplification must remain a main principle in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The current rules are both fragmented and complex; by simplifying them and by reducing red tape, we would allow the EU budget to contribute more to the economic growth in Europe through better access to funds for SMEs', local and regional authorities, scientists and others.

Cost optimal levels for energy performance requirements by Ina Dimireva — last modified 08 February 2012, 14:40 CET

The Concerted Action conducted a study on experiences and challenges for setting cost optimal levels for energy performance requirements. The results were used as input by the European Commission in their work of establishing the Regulation on a comparative methodology framework for calculating cost optimal levels of minimum energy performance requirements.

Intelligent Energy - Europe Magazine - October 2011 by Ina Dimireva — last modified 08 February 2012, 12:19 CET

Intelligent Energy – Europe (IEE) magazine is a bi-annual magazine which brings you all the news on the IEE programme. Published by the Executive Agency for Competitiveness & Innovation (EACI) it contains information on the programme, views from the EACI and project managers on the ground. The leading topic of the latest issue of the magazine is "Renewable energy: A new era".

EU Financial assistance for the decommissioning of nuclear plants in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia: Achievements and Future Challenges - ECA Special Report No 16/2011 by EUbusiness — last modified 08 February 2012, 11:39 CET

In the framework of the EU accession negotiations, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia committed to the early closure and decommissioning of eight nuclear reactors, thus facing a significant production capacity loss. The Court assessed the effectiveness of the EU financial assistance (2 850 million euro up to now) in supporting recipient countries’ efforts to decommission their closed nuclear reactors and to address the consequences of the early closure. The Court found that progress has been slow, no comprehensive assessment of future needs exists, and available funding is plainly insufficient. The Court recommended making conditional any further support upon an evaluation of the EU added value.

Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011 by EUbusiness — last modified 08 February 2012, 00:04 CET

The Innovation Union Scoreboard includes innovation indicators and trend analyses for the EU27 Member States, as well as for Croatia, Iceland, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland and Turkey. It also includes comparisons based on a more reduced set of indicators between the EU27 and 10 global competitors.

CEER Vision for a European Gas Target Model by Ina Dimireva — last modified 07 February 2012, 09:06 CET

European energy regulators committed to produce a vision paper on a conceptual model for European gas markets (the “gas target model”). The current conclusions paper sets out the vision for the European Gas Market in 2014 and beyond. Furthermore, this paper proposes measures to achieve the goal of the Internal Energy Market by 2014 in line with the commitment of the European Council of 4 February 2011.

The European offshore wind industry key 2011 trends and statistics by Ina Dimireva — last modified 04 February 2012, 16:02 CET

The report assesses the 2011 European offshore wind power market and trends.

Wind directions February 2012: Bridging the gaps by Ina Dimireva — last modified 04 February 2012, 15:44 CET

Wind Directions is the magazine of the European wind energy industry. The focus of the first issue of 2012 is the topic grids and the single energy market.

Competition Law - 7th Ed by The European Bookshop — last modified 02 February 2012, 21:19 CET

* One of the most definitive and thorough books on competition law available, written by one of the world's most respected academics in the field, providing students with everything they need in one complete stand-alone resource. * The acclaimed critical and contextual approach addresses the wider economic and practical realities of competition law and brings competition law to life making it straightforward to follow for students of all levels. * Written with a clear style, this highly insightful book is the definitive text on competition law for students and practitioners alike. * The accompanying Online Resource Centre includes additional articles by the author, web links, author video podcasts, and an updated table of the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) decisions

Trade between EU and West Africa, 2000-2010 - Issue number 5/2012 by Ina Dimireva — last modified 31 January 2012, 23:04 CET

This publication focuses on ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States. In 2010 the EU-27 had a trade surplus with the ECOWAS countries in goods and, in 2009, in services. Imports and exports both rose strongly in 2010 recovering from the financial crisis. Mineral fuels (crude oil imports from Nigeria) made up two thirds of EU-27 imports from ECOWAS, whilst petroleum products accounted for nearly a third of EU-27 exports.

Tourism in Europe: Occupancy of tourist accommodation surpasses the pre-crisis level - Issue number 8/2012 by Ina Dimireva — last modified 31 January 2012, 22:50 CET

First results for 2010-2011 evolution of tourism in Europe, focusing on nights spent in collective accommodation establishments, but also looking at holiday trips made by EU residents.

Guide to the European Citizens’ Initiative by Ina Dimireva — last modified 31 January 2012, 00:02 CET

Through the European citizens’ initiative, one million EU citizens will be able to invite the European Commission to make a legislative proposal. A successful initiative may therefore be instrumental in setting the EU legislative agenda. This guide explains what the citizens’ initiative is about, how to sign up to initiatives and how to organise your own initiative should you have an idea for EU legislation that you think could gain the support of one million EU citizens.