EU web links

A collection of links to web sites of the European Union institutions and other European business web sites.

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European Bank for Reconstruction and Development — 25 July 2012, 12:22 CET

Since its establishment in 1991, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has become the largest financial investor in its region of operations which stretches from central Europe and the Western Balkans to central Asia. With the ability and willingness to bear risk on behalf of its clients, the EBRD helps their countries in the region to become open, market economies. The EBRD is owned by 63 countries, the European Union and the European Investment Bank. It provides project financing for banks, industries and businesses, both new ventures and investments in existing companies. It also works with publicly owned companies.

International Tax Guide Romania (Deloitte) — 12 July 2012, 12:42 CET

Country Business guide from Deloitte featuring information on Taxation in Romania.

European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs — 11 July 2012, 11:11 CET

The home page of ESPAD – the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs. ESPAD is a collaborative effort of independent research teams in more than forty European countries and the largest cross-national research project on adolescent substance use in the world. The overall aim with the project is to repeatedly collect comparable data on substance use among 15–16 year old students in as many European countries as possible.

Packaged Retail Investment Products — 05 July 2012, 12:06 CET

The retail investment market is largely dominated by “packaged retail investment products”. These provide retail investors with easy access to financial markets, but can be complex for investors to understand. Those selling these products can also face conflicts of interest since they are often remunerated by the product manufacturers rather than directly by the retail investors. A complex patchwork of regulation has grown up to address these risks, and inconsistencies and gaps in the patchwork have raised concerns as to the overall effectiveness of the regulatory regime, both in relation to its capacity to protect investors and its ability to ensure the markets work efficiently. These concerns have been further heightened by the impact of the financial crisis.

Passenger rights - EU mobile app — 04 July 2012, 19:47 CET

Passengers stranded at airports or awaiting missing luggage may now use a mobile application from the EU for free to check their rights immediately and on the spot. The European Commission has launched this application to cover air and rail transport; the app will also be extended to bus/coach and waterborne transport in 2013. The application is available on four popular mobile platforms: Apple iPhone and iPad, Google Android, RIM Blackberry and Microsoft Windows Phone 7.

Doing business in Malta: PKF guide — 04 July 2012, 18:49 CET

PKF Malta is a national association of legally independent Malta member firms. Their guide on Doing Business in Malta includes six chapters on the following topics: Introduction Malta, Business Entities available, Financial Services Regulation, Prime Activities in Malta, Taxation, and Grants and Incentives.

EU Directive 2002/58 on Privacy and Electronic Communications — 02 July 2012, 17:47 CET

Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications)

Key Enabling Technologies — 26 June 2012, 23:14 CET

A significant part of future goods and services are as yet unknown, but the main driving force behind their development will be Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), such as nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics including semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and photonics. Mastering these technologies means being at the forefront of managing the shift to a low carbon, knowledge-based economy. They play an important role in the R&D, innovation and cluster strategies of many industries and are regarded as crucial for ensuring the competitiveness of European industries in the knowledge economy. These technologies enable the development of new goods and services and the restructuring of industrial processes needed to modernise EU industry and make the transition to a knowledge-based and low carbon resource-efficient economy. Whilst the EU has very good research and development capacities in some key enabling technology areas, it has not been as successful at translating research results into commercialised manufactured goods and services. Key Enabling Technologies are of systemic relevance as they enable the development of new goods and services and the restructuring of industrial processes needed to modernise EU industry and secure the research, development and innovation base in Europe.

Key Enabling Technologies — 22 June 2012, 12:23 CET

A significant part of future goods and services are as yet unknown, but the main driving force behind their development will be Key Enabling Technologies (KETs), such as nanotechnology, micro- and nanoelectronics including semiconductors, advanced materials, biotechnology and photonics. Mastering these technologies means being at the forefront of managing the shift to a low carbon, knowledge-based economy. They play an important role in the R&D, innovation and cluster strategies of many industries and are regarded as crucial for ensuring the competitiveness of European industries in the knowledge economy.

Together against Trafficking in Human Beings — 19 June 2012, 18:29 CET

Trafficking in human beings is a serious crime and a gross violation of human rights, classified as a modern form of slavery. The European Commission's website raises awareness of the problem and shows what is being done at EU-level and in the EU Member States to fight this injustice. It is hoped that the website will also help to promote exchange of ideas and cooperation between all organisations and people involved in the fight against trafficking in human beings and the protection of victims. On the 19th of June 2012, the Commission adopted "EU Strategy towards the eradication of trafficking in Human Beings (2012-2016)”. The strategy is a set of concrete and practical measures to be implemented over the next five years. It is based on five key priorities: better identifying and protecting the victims increasing prosecution of traffickers development of child protection systems setting up of national law-enforcement units on human trafficking the creation of Joint investigation teams including national authorities and EU agencies.

Multiannual financial framework 2014-2020 — 19 June 2012, 11:41 CET

The multiannual financial framework (MFF, formerly ‘financial perspectives’) is a spending plan that translates the EU priorities into financial terms. It is not a seven-year budget, but the basis for the annual budgetary exercise; it limits expenditure over a fixed period and defines the maximum amounts available for each major category of spending. It therefore provides a political as well as budgetary framework for focusing resources and investments where needed. The current MFF period started in 2007 and will end in 2013. To put in place reforms and start implementation of the new programmes on time, the MFF should be adopted before the end of 2012.

Regulatory Capital — 07 June 2012, 17:35 CET

EU rules on capital requirements for credit institutions and investment firms aim to put in place a comprehensive and risk-sensitive framework and to foster enhanced risk management amongst financial institutions. Legislation in force (CRD I, CRD II and CRD III packages) - New proposals (CRD IV package)

Online Resource Efficiency Platform (OREP) — 06 June 2012, 22:35 CET

Resource efficiency means using the Earth's limited resources in a sustainable manner while minimising impacts on the environment. It allows us to create more with less and to deliver greater value with less input. The resource-efficient Europe flagship initiative is part of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the EU's growth strategy for a smart, inclusive and sustainable economy. It supports the shift towards sustainable growth via a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy. The Roadmap to a resource efficient Europe is one of the main building blocks of the resource efficiency flagship initiative. The Roadmap sets out a framework for the design and implementation of future actions. It also outlines the structural and technological changes needed by 2050, including milestones to be reached by 2020. This website aims to bring together business, scientists, NGOs, local and national authorities and other interested stakeholders. We will share the latest developments, your ideas and findings as well as hear your views. Your input will help examine opportunities and challenges and recommend new pathways to sustainable resource-efficient growth.

Youth Opportunities Initiative — 26 May 2012, 12:11 CET

The Initiative is a set of measures, planned for 2012 and 2013, to drive down youth unemployment. It is part of the EU's Youth on the Move education and employment initiative. Goals: to support unemployed young people. In particular it aims to help: people who left school or training without having achieved upper-secondary education to return to school or enrol in vocational training for in-demand skills; and graduates to get a first work experience.

Quality of bathing water - 2011 bathing season — 23 May 2012, 15:31 CET

To allow Europeans to make an informed choice on which beach to choose, an annual report on the quality of coastal and freshwater bathing areas, as reported by EU Member States is prepared. This year the report has been prepared by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in cooperation with the European Commission DG Environment. The report assesses the bathing water quality in all 27 EU Member States in the 2011 bathing water season and thereby gives an indication of the areas where the quality of bathing is expected to be good this year.

Taxation trends in the European Union 2012 — 21 May 2012, 16:28 CET

The average standard VAT rate in the EU27 has risen strongly since 2008. In 2012, the standard VAT rate varies from 15.0% in Luxembourg and 17.0% in Cyprus to 27.0% in Hungary and 25.0% in Denmark and Sweden. This report contains a detailed statistical and economic analysis of the tax systems of the Member States of the European Union, plus Iceland and Norway, which are Members of the European Economic Area. The data are presented within a unified statistical framework (the ESA95 harmonised system of national and regional accounts), which makes it possible to assess the heterogeneous national tax systems on a fully comparable basis.

EU Register of nutrition and health claims made on foods — 16 May 2012, 17:36 CET

The EU Register is for information only, showing: Permitted nutrition claims and their conditions of use Authorised health claims, their conditions of use and applicable restrictions, if any; Non-authorised health claims and the reasons for their non-authorisation; EU legal acts for the specific health claims; National measures mentioned in Art. 23(3) of Regulation EC 1924/2006. The Commission will update the EU Register when required, namely upon adoption of EU decisions on applications for claims or on changes to conditions of use and restrictions.

European citizens' initiative — 09 May 2012, 18:28 CET

The European citizens' initiative allows one million EU citizens to participate directly in the development of EU policies, by calling on the European Commission to make a legislative proposal. This website provides information on all citizens' initiatives, it explains the rules, and enables you to launch your initiative.

CLIMATE-ADAPT: tool for climate adaptation policy-making — 28 March 2012, 00:03 CET

The European Climate Adaptation Platform is a publicly accessible, web-based platform, designed to support policy-makers at EU, national, regional and local levels in the development of climate change adaptation measures and policies. Adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damage they can cause. CLIMATE-ADAPT has been developed with the support of the European scientific and policy making community, and will help users to access, disseminate and integrate information on: Expected climate change in Europe; The vulnerability of regions, countries and sectors now and in the future; Information on national, regional and transnational adaptation activities and strategies; Case studies of adaptation and potential future adaptation options; Online tools that support adaptation planning; Adaptation-related research projects, guideline documents, reports information sources, links, news & events

European Patent Office Annual Report 2011 — 25 March 2012, 13:53 CET

2011 was a record year at the EPO. It received almost 250 000 patent filings, the highest number ever in its 34-year history, showing that European patents are in high demand across the globe, and that Europe remains attractive for innovative industries. In the European Patent Office annual report, you will find key trends and detailed statistics, a report on its strategies and activities, plus a video message from President Benoît Battistelli.

Successions in Europe — 13 March 2012, 21:50 CET

An Italian woman who marries a German and settles in Belgium would have the option of choosing whether her heirs inherit under Italian or Belgian law, under new rules backed by the European Parliament on 13 March 2012. The new regulation aims to make it easier to settle inheritances and avoid disputes when someone dies and leaves a will and the legal systems of more than one Member State are involved.

Communication on implementing Environment Law — 07 March 2012, 22:14 CET

Commission Communication on Improving the delivery of benefits from EU environment measures: building confidence through better knowledge and responsiveness

Welfare of Laying Hens Directive — 06 March 2012, 16:50 CET

Council Directive 1999/74/EC, adopted in 1999, distinguishes three types of rearing systems for laying hens: enriched cages where laying hens have at least 750 cm² of cage area per hen; non enriched cage systems where hens have at least 550 cm² of cage area per hen. From 1 January 2003 onwards such cagesmay not be built anymore or utilised for the first time. By January 2012 at the latest this system must be prohibited; and non-cage systems with nests (at least one for 7 hens), adequate perches and where the stocking density does not exceed 9 laying hens per m² usable area.

Gender pay gap — 05 March 2012, 13:53 CET

The average difference between men's and women's hourly earnings is known as the gender pay gap. The gender pay gap reflects ongoing discrimination and inequalities in the labour market which, in practice, mainly affect women. Its causes are complex and interrelated. Visit these pages to understand why the gap exists and learn more about the EU's work to close it.

Single Market Act — 27 February 2012, 23:59 CET

The Single Market Act is a series of measures to boost the European economy and create jobs.