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Evaluation of the impact of the free movement of EU citizens at local level by EUbusiness — last modified 11 February 2014, 14:16 CET

EU citizens go to other EU countries mainly for job opportunities and are on average younger and more likely to be working. This is confirmed by a new, independent study on the impact of the right to move freely within the EU which was published on 11 February 2014.

ANEC Brochure: What we do for you by ANEC, the European consumer voice in standardisation — last modified 03 February 2014, 18:30 CET

Few people are interested in technical standardisation and even fewer have heard of ANEC. Yet, although standardisation may not seem at all sexy at first glance, it is an essential component of modern life and the role of ANEC is key. Standards make products work: from the simplest of nuts & bolts to the most complex of smartphones. But without effective consumer representation in the writing of standards, products need not be as safe, as interoperable, as accessible or as green as they might be. ANEC fulfils that role in European standardisation.

Take action with credit reports, before it's too late by EUbusiness — last modified 31 January 2014, 19:34 CET

Did you know that you can find out what your credit history is? Credit reports have traditionally been a main source for financial institutions in deciding whether to make credit available to customers. You can also get access to yours.

Data collection pervades our lives every day and more and more by Nick Prag — last modified 30 January 2014, 14:33 CET

Were you out celebrating Data Protection Day on Tuesday? Probably not. Maybe you shouldn't be. The issue of data protection pervades our lives every day and more and more.

EUROCHAMBRES' better policy-making priorities for the next EU term by European Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry — last modified 30 January 2014, 22:28 CET

EUROCHAMBRES presented 10 better European policy-making priorities for the next five year EU legislative term during a major conference the association hosted today in the European Parliament.

Doing Business 2013: Smarter Regulations for Small and Medium-Size Enterprises by EUbusiness — last modified 28 January 2014, 13:16 CET

Tenth in a series of annual reports comparing business regulation in 185 economies, Doing Business 2013 measures regulations affecting 11 areas of everyday business activity: Starting a business Dealing with construction permits Getting electricity Registering property Getting credit Protecting investors Paying taxes Trading across borders Enforcing contracts Closing a business Employing workers The report updates all indicators as of June 1, 2012, ranks economies on their overall “ease of doing business”, and analyzes reforms to business regulation – identifying which economies are strengthening their business environment the most. Doing Business illustrates how reforms in business regulations are being used to analyze economic outcomes for domestic entrepreneurs and for the wider economy. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the report. It is a flagship product produced in partnership by the World Bank and IFC that garners worldwide attention on regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship. More than 60 economies have used the Doing Business indicators to shape reform agendas and monitor improvements on the ground. In addition, the Doing Business data has generated over 870 articles in peer-reviewed academic journals since its inception. This year's report includes two new economies: Barbados and Malta.

Commission report on the implementation of Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia by means of criminal law by EUbusiness — last modified 27 January 2014, 22:24 CET

Against the backdrop of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, this new report published today finds most EU Member States have not yet correctly implemented EU rules designed to tackle racist and xenophobic hate crimes. Member States unanimously adopted the 2008 Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia through criminal law, yet national laws in a number of countries remain inadequate. In particular, national provisions against denial, condoning or grossly trivialising certain crimes – such as crimes against humanity – remain inadequate in 20 Member States.

Europe opens doors to dangerous fracking - FoEE by Friends of the Earth Europe — last modified 23 January 2014, 21:46 CET

Europe is opening its doors to dirty and dangerous unconventional fossil fuels, Friends of the Earth Europe and Food & Water Europe said today. The warning comes as the European Commission published a framework to guide member states on how to regulate shale gas which fails to provide mandatory protection for Europe’s citizens against the environmental and health risks of fracking.

Energy 2030 & European Industrial Renaissance: Unilateral climate action contradicts 20 pct industrial target by Susetesampaio — last modified 25 February 2015, 18:28 CET

EUROCHAMBRES is critical of the incoherence between the communications on industrial policy and energy 2030 presented today by the European Commission, arguing that they reveal a lack of governance and coordination between the administration’s services.

EU energy targets slammed - Friends of the Earth by Friends of the Earth Europe — last modified 22 January 2014, 18:25 CET

EU plans to tackle climate change by 2030, announced in Brussels today (Wednesday 22 January 2014), have been slammed by Friends of the Earth.

Go-ahead for new public procurement rules by Nick Prag — last modified 16 January 2014, 16:51 CET

Better quality and value for money when public authorities buy or lease works, goods or services are promised in new EU rules on public procurement and concession contracts, which received the green light in the European Parliament this week.

Legislation that applies to workers in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland - practical guide by EUbusiness — last modified 13 January 2014, 16:15 CET

A practical guide on the 'Habitual Residence Test' to help Member States apply EU rules on the coordination of social security for EU citizens that have moved to another Member State has been published by the European Commission.

New year, new leaders, new laws by Nick Prag — last modified 09 January 2014, 23:45 CET

2014 looks like being a big year for the EU, with a number of important laws coming into force, and some key decisions set to affect Europe's future.

International 'Meat Atlas' - Friends of the Earth by Friends of the Earth Europe — last modified 09 January 2014, 16:11 CET

Intensive meat and dairy production is having an increasingly devastating impact on society and the environment, according to a new 'Meat Atlas' published today by Friends of the Earth Europe and the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

Next Generation Emergency Services project to be funded by the European Commission by European Emergency Number Association — last modified 06 January 2014, 22:10 CET

On December 11th, the European Commission launched its Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2014-2015. A specific topic entitled "Communication technologies and interoperability: Next Generation emergency services" (Reference DRS -19-2014) has been included to develop a testing regime for Next Generation 112 products, using existing standards and protocols.

New de minimis regulation on State aid receives lukewarm welcome from SMEs - UEAPME by European craft and SME employers’ organisation — last modified 19 December 2013, 21:09 CET

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, gave a lukewarm welcome to the new de minimis Regulation on State aid, adopted yesterday by the European Commission.

SMEs, resource efficiency and green markets by EUbusiness — last modified 18 December 2013, 18:52 CET

The European Commission has published an extensive survey - the second of its kind - to understand the views and attitudes of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) towards three core environmental themes: green jobs, resource efficiency and green markets. The results show that in 2013, European SMEs added more green jobs, made improvements in resource efficiency and are contributing to the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Food from cloned animals: consumers left in the dark - BEUC by European Consumers’ Organisation — last modified 19 December 2013, 21:10 CET

Despite European consumers having no appetite for food from cloned animals or their offspring, they might be eating it unawares. Today’s European Commission proposals will not help obtain more information as they ignore food from clone offspring.

Support for creative Europe - EUR 170m available by Nick Prag — last modified 12 December 2013, 21:39 CET

Are you the creative sort? Are you maybe a film-maker, an author or an artist or actor, looking for funding to get your project off the ground. If you work in the creative industries, you will be interested to know that Creative Europe launched on 11 December.

European Union & Public Affairs Directory 2014 by EUbusiness — last modified 12 December 2013, 14:17 CET

The European Union & Public Affairs Directory (EPAD) 2014 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. (Amazon UK)