http://www.eubusiness.com <p>Library of documents, including press releases, newsletters, reports, links, policy papers and studies.</p> <p><a href="../sponsored"><strong>* * Premium Membership - all your content on EUbusiness.com for a year! * *</strong></a></p> daily 1 2006-10-07T12:36:16Z http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/euro/ecb-euro-debt-crisis 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. No publisher inadim Portugal Ireland Greece debt crisis Euro 2012-02-10T17:59:35Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/euro/eastern-europe-credits 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. No publisher inadim Eastern and Central Europe Finance banks SMEs Euro 2012-02-10T17:51:04Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/ubi/ubifrance-takes-20-french-innovators-to-cebit-2012 UBIFRANCE, the French export-support agency, will present 20 companies at CeBIT, where they will showcase their innovative digital products on the French pavilion. The trade show is the digital industry’s biggest event and will take place in Hanover (Germany), from 6 to 10 March 2012. No publisher ubi 2012-02-10T11:21:58Z Press http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/foeeurope/organic-farming Public resistance to genetically modified crops has ensured that the area grown in Europe in 2011 remained at 0.1 per cent of all arable land, shows figures released today by Friends of the Earth Europe. In comparison, organic farming accounted for 3.7 per cent. No publisher foeeurope Environment Agriculture 2012-02-09T18:53:39Z Press http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/sme/mff-2014-20 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. No publisher eub2 SMEs Finance 2012-02-08T22:29:00Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/energy/energy-cost-optimality 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. No publisher inadim Energy cost buildings 2012-02-08T13:40:42Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/energy/iee-mag.11 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". No publisher inadim Energy renewable 2012-02-08T11:19:49Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/energy/eca-nuclear-12 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. No publisher eub2 Energy Lithuania Environment Slovakia Bulgaria 2012-02-08T10:39:11Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/research/inno-scoreboard-11 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. No publisher eub2 Research & Technology 2012-02-07T23:04:49Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/Press/12-02-07 Health and safety is a controversial issue, and so contentious that David Cameron combatively announced plans to tackle the 'Health and Safety Monster' during his first 2012 appearance in the House of Commons. No publisher eub2 2012-02-07T18:24:21Z Page http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/ubi/ubifrance-has-largest-national-pavilion-at-mwc-2012-in-barcelona For the sixth year running, UBIFRANCE, the French export-support agency, will be running a French Pavilion at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona (Spain). The trade show, which takes place from 27 February to 1 March 2012, is the world’s foremost event for the mobile-telecoms industry, covering equipment, services and content. The French Pavilion will host almost 130 companies, representing the largest national pavilion at the event. No publisher ubi 2012-02-09T13:33:27Z Press http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/ubi/vegepolys-takes-fleuron-d2019anjou2019s-melkior-to-fruit-logistica-2012 The VEGEPOLYS competitiveness cluster, the organisers of the SIVAL trade show, and fresh-produce magazine Réussir Fruits et Légumes of France have launched a major Europe-wide competition with the goal of encouraging varietal innovation in fresh produce. Open to all breeders of fruit and vegetables in Europe, the 2012 competition has rewarded Fleuron d’Anjou with the Gold Prize for its Melkior organically certified shallot seedlings. Melkior shallots will be exhibited on the VEGEPOLYS stand at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, between 8 and 10 February 2012. No publisher ubi 2012-02-09T13:33:14Z Press http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/ubi/youpig-pre-starter-feed-wins-the-heart-of-international-porkers YOUPIG, the international piglet pre-starter feed that is made in France by InVivo NSA, is moving further into the international arena. The product, which is manufactured by one of the leading players in the premix and specialties industry, has already gained strong market positions in France, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Spain. YOUPIG will be showcased at Eurotier 2012 and Space 2012. No publisher ubi 2012-02-09T13:33:14Z Press http://www.eubusiness.com/topics/energy/ceer-vision-gas 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. No publisher inadim Energy gas 2012-02-07T08:06:43Z Book http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/britishgas/gas-prices The current economic climate means that businesses are facing a large number of increased expenses, leaving them in a state of financial difficulty and uncertainty. Business gas prices need to be kept low in order to help keep overheads manageable and profits high. No publisher britishgas 2012-02-06T17:37:25Z Page