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EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 22-26 April 2024 by EUbusiness — last modified 21 April 2024, 23:25 CET

This week, EU foreign ministers discuss Russia's aggression against Ukraine; the Commission holds meetings on the transition to a climate-neutral economy, fusion energy, the pandemic, Net-Zero and the Role of Export Finance; and MEPs in their last session of this legislature before the European elections hold final votes on packaging and packaging waste, ambient air quality and clean air for Europe, working conditions for platform workers, due diligence rules for companies, new 'ecodesign' rules and the European Health Data Space. The week's events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 22 to 26 April 2024.

EU Agenda: Week Ahead - 12-17 February 2024 by EUbusiness — last modified 11 February 2024, 18:17 CET

This week, Belgium's ministers continue presenting their priorities in meetings with European parliamentary committees; MEPs in committee vote on a revamp of EU asylum and migration legislation, on textiles and food waste, greenwashing, road transport/weights and dimensions, Artificial Intelligence and an update to EU rules on the safety of toys. The week's events in the European Union including EU Council, Commission and Parliament meetings from 12 to 17 February 2024.

Italy off to green start by Nick Prag — last modified 03 July 2014, 22:09 CET

As Italy took over at the helm of the EU on 1 July, Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi picked out growth as the main objective of his country's six-month stint as EU president.

Implementation of the Green Action Plan for SMEs risks to fail by European craft and SME employers’ organisation — last modified 02 July 2014, 16:55 CET

Today, the European Commission published its new Green Action Plan for SMEs presenting a solid list of actions aimed at improving SMEs' resource efficiency.

Drug use, impaired driving and traffic accidents (second edition) by EUbusiness — last modified 25 June 2014, 16:40 CET

The literature review from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction provides a comprehensive report on the relationship between drug use, impaired driving and traffic accidents. It describes methodological issues, presents the results of prevalence surveys among drivers, provides an overview of findings from major international epidemiological surveys, and gathers evidence from experimental and field studies of the relationship between drug use, driving impairment and traffic accidents.

Country economic forecast - United Kingdom by EUbusiness — last modified 24 June 2014, 11:19 CET

European Economic Forecast Winter 2014

Europe's Crisis, Europe's Future (Kindle Edition) by EUbusiness — last modified 18 June 2014, 13:47 CET

The eurozone crisis started in Greece in 2009–10, spread into Ireland and Portugal, and, from there, quickly spread to the larger economies of Spain and Italy. By the autumn of 2011, it threatened the entire global financial system. In Europe's Crisis, Europe's Future, an international group of economic analysts provides an insightful view of the crisis. How did mismanagement of a crisis in a marginal economy spark such a wildfire? After all, Greece is responsible for only 2% of the eurozone's total GDP, yet the crisis in Athens threatened to grow into a worldwide contagion.

The Euro Crisis and Its Aftermath by EUbusiness — last modified 18 June 2014, 13:39 CET

The Euro Crisis and Its Aftermath was written to inform readers about the history of this enduring European crisis and the alternative proposals for ending it. In four parts, Jean Pisani-Ferry explains the origins of the European currency, the build-up of imbalances and oversights that led to the crisis, the choices European policymakers have both addressed and ignored since 2010, and the evolution of the policy agenda and possible options for the future. The book is as much of an informative and analytical history as it is a prescriptive solution for a more prosperous future world economy.

The European Hospitality Skills Passport by EUbusiness — last modified 17 June 2014, 13:45 CET

In April 2014, 5.26 million young people (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, with an overall youth unemployment rate of 22.5%. In this context it is important to support sectors that have consistently provided European youth with a foothold on the labour market. The hospitality sector is one such industry.

Taxation trends in the European Union - Data for the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway by EUbusiness — last modified 16 June 2014, 13:13 CET

The 2014 edition of Taxation Trends in the European Union is the eighth issue of the report in its current form. The objective of the report remains unchanged: to present a complete view of the structure, level and trends of taxation in the Union over a medium- to long-term period. This year, The overall tax-to-GDP ratio, meaning the sum of taxes and compulsory social contributions in % of GDP, in the EU28 stood at 39.4% in 2012, up from 38.8% in 2011. The overall tax ratio in the euro area increased to 40.4% in 2012 from 39.5% in 2011.

EU introduces new consumer rights by European Consumers’ Organisation — last modified 12 June 2014, 23:16 CET

A range of new consumer rights will apply in all 28 EU Member States as of Friday, June 13.

Ministers support giving biotech companies say in decisions on GM crops by Friends of the Earth Europe — last modified 12 June 2014, 23:21 CET

Today’s vote by EU environment ministers in favour of a new law that would theoretically allow individual countries to ban genetically modified (GM) crops is a poisoned chalice which could open Europe’s fields to more biotech crops, says Friends of the Earth Europe.

EU announces plans to get us off our couches with a European Week of Sport by Nick Prag — last modified 12 June 2014, 19:10 CET

On the eve of the Brazil World Cup, the EU's Sports Commissioner Androulla Vassilio announced plans for the first European Week of Sport, to take place in September 2015. The aim of the event is to promote exercise and sport at all levels.

Taxing the multinationals by Nick Prag — last modified 05 June 2014, 22:22 CET

The issue of transfer pricing may not sound too exciting but it is an important issue of taxation which the European Commission is under increasing pressure to tackle.

The digital economy - opportunities for entrepreneurship and taxation by Nick Prag — last modified 29 May 2014, 16:46 CET

The report on Taxation of the Digital Economy, released by a High Level Expert Group on 28 May, presents an important challenge for tax systems and governments: to balance the need to encourage a vital sector of Europe's economy with governments' wishes to crack down and tax avoidance and tax evasion.

China: Business Confidence Survey 2014 by EUbusiness — last modified 29 May 2014, 10:01 CET

Business conditions in China are getting tougher and this has led to a further weakening of the financial performance of European companies in the domestic marketplace. A new sober reality is developing, exemplified by a sense of pessimism that is becoming entrenched within the European business community in China, as persistent market challenges show little sign of abating. The key market dynamics contributing to these results include: A general slowdown of the Chinese economy; Increasing labour costs; Competition from both privately-owned Chinese companies and resurgent state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

EEA report - European bathing water quality in 2013 by EUbusiness — last modified 27 May 2014, 16:19 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 28 EU Member States, as well as Albania and Switzerland in the 2013 bathing water season and thereby gives an indication of the areas where the quality of bathing is expected to be good this year.

European Drug Report 2014: Trends and developments by EUbusiness — last modified 27 May 2014, 11:23 CET

Europe's drugs problem is becoming increasingly complex with new challenges emerging that raise concerns for public health. This is according to the European Drug Report 2014: Trends and developments from the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) in Lisbon. In its annual review of the drugs problem, the agency again describes an overall stable situation, with some positive signs in relation to the more established drugs. But this is counter-balanced by new threats posed by synthetic drugs, including stimulants, new psychoactive substances and medicinal products, all of which are becoming more prominent in a changing European drug market.

Election countdown: The European Parliament’s significance for consumers by European Consumers’ Organisation — last modified 22 May 2014, 23:30 CET

This week's European elections will be hugely important for the daily lives of 500 million consumers. In the next 5 years, many consumer issues will be at stake – from unfair banking practices to EU data protection laws.

Euro-elections 2014 - don't let your vote be a wasted vote by Nick Prag — last modified 22 May 2014, 18:08 CET

The challenges faced by the EU following the 2014 European elections will no doubt prove a challenge to many of the new MEPs. Voters should consider which candidates are most qualified and capable of doing this work on their behalf. Don't forget to vote.