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Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe 2012„ - Tracking progress towards Kyoto and 2020 targets by EUbusiness — last modified 24 October 2012, 13:35 CET

This report presents an overview of the progress achieved so far by the EU, its Member States and other EEA member countries towards their respective targets under the Kyoto Protocol and the EU burden-sharing agreement, as well as 2020 targets set at EU level. The assessment is based on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data in Europe for the period 2008…2011, including recent EEA estimates of proxy 2011 GHG emissions.

Commission commits to take Member States to CJEU over illegal national gambling laws by European Gaming and Betting Association — last modified 23 October 2012, 17:47 CET

EU online gambling operators hail the European Commission's decision to start enforcing EU law against illegal national gambling laws. This decision is part of the twofold approach of the Commission´s Communication on Online Gambling that also contains actions for the first common European measures to be set in this sector.

European Patent Office issues patents on chimpanzees by Testbiotech — last modified 22 October 2012, 13:47 CET

In 2012 the European Patent Office (EPO) has granted three patents on genetically engineered chimpanzees as recent research carried out by No Patents On Life shows.

Inland waterway transport and Natura 2000 guidance document - Sustainable inland waterway development and management in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives by EUbusiness — last modified 18 October 2012, 14:03 CET

The European Commission has issued a new set of guidelines on inland navigation and nature protection to assist the sector in applying EU environmental legislation. The guidelines - "Inland waterway transport and Natura 2000 - sustainable inland waterway development and management in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives" - explain how best to ensure that activities related to inland navigation are compatible with EU environmental policy in general and nature legislation in particular. The document also emphasises the significance of the inland navigation for securing the long-term sustainability of the EU's transport network and highlights the achievements of this sector in integrating nature protection into its activities to date.

Biofuels capped but still likely to starve and pollute by Friends of the Earth Europe — last modified 17 October 2012, 23:08 CET

Reforms announced today by the European Commission will not stop biofuels pushing up food prices and accelerating climate change, says Friends of the Earth Europe.

Proposal for a Directive amending Directive relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels, and amending Directive on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources by EUbusiness — last modified 17 October 2012, 16:50 CET

The European Commission has published a proposal to limit global land conversion for biofuel production, and raise the climate benefits of biofuels used in the EU. The use of food-based biofuels to meet the 10% renewable energy target of the Renewable Energy Directive will be limited to 5%.

Business confidence slides down as recession hits SMEs, survey finds by European craft and SME employers’ organisation — last modified 16 October 2012, 14:38 CET

European SMEs have moved from high uncertainty to downright pessimism as the economic outlook has worsened towards a full-fledged recession, according to a survey conducted by UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers’ organisation, and its members.

Google's privacy policy questioned by EU data authorities by European Consumers’ Organisation — last modified 16 October 2012, 15:32 CET

Data protection authorities across Europe - collectively known the Article 29 Working Party – have today issued their conclusions on Google’s privacy policy changes introduced earlier this year.

Towards a genuine economic and monetary union - Interim Report by EUbusiness — last modified 13 October 2012, 00:33 CET

Interim report from Herman Van Rompuy

Special Report No 15/2012: Management of conflict of interest in selected EU Agencies - ECA Special report No 15/2012 by EUbusiness — last modified 11 October 2012, 22:13 CET

Conflict of interest situations can occur almost in any workplace at any time. If they are not handled correctly they can negatively affect the decision-making process, give rise to scandals and cause reputational damage. The Court evaluated policies and procedures for the management of conflict of interest situations for four selected Agencies making vital decisions affecting the safety and health of consumers, namely the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The Court found that none of the selected Agencies adequately managed the conflict of interest situations. A number of shortcomings of varying degrees have been identified in Agency-specific policies and procedures as well as their implementation.

Crisis in auto industry today, maintaining the lead in skills and innovation tomorrow by European Automobile Manufacturers Association — last modified 11 October 2012, 17:45 CET

Today in Brussels, the CEOs of four of Europe's automobile manufacturers, European Commissioners and MEPs came together to discuss 'Innovation for Europe, Skills for the Future' with 40 young Europeans. This debate was held in the framework of Our Future Mobility Now (OFMN), a youth project launched by the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) last year in order to look into the future of transport and mobility through the eyes of young people.

Connecting Europe's energy systems by Stephen Tindale — last modified 11 October 2012, 23:15 CET

In this policy brief published by the Centre for European Reform, Stephen Tindale argues that Europe’s energy infrastructure urgently needs to be modernised, to maximise renewable energy use, so the European Commission’s proposals on infrastructure should be adopted as soon as possible.

Harvard Business School by Harvard Business School — last modified 09 October 2012, 16:51 CET

Today's executives must find creative ways to develop strategic opportunities that ensure the ongoing sustainability and profitability of their organizations. Several HBS Executive Education programs are now offered in Europe, providing easier access to proven curricula that can help you expand core skills, strengthen your leadership capabilities, and create value for your organization.

test 4 by John Knox — last modified 06 October 2012, 14:35 CET

test 4

test3 by John Knox — last modified 06 October 2012, 14:31 CET

test3test3

Commission has approved the acquisition of pharma company Actavis by rival Watson by John Knox — last modified 05 October 2012, 19:04 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the Swiss-based pharmaceutical company Actavis by the generic pharmaceutical company Watson of the U.S. The Commission concluded that the merged entity will continue to face a number of strong competitors.

European food agency issues preliminary review of GM maize rat study by Greenpeace European Unit — last modified 04 October 2012, 16:36 CET

French study raises questions on lack of long-term testing under EU rules

EU Employment Law by EUbusiness — last modified 04 October 2012, 11:33 CET

This new edition of EU Employment Law provides a complete revision and update of the leading English language text in the field. The coverage in the new edition has been expanded with material on all the latest developments, incorporating the changes made by the Lisbon Treaty; the EU2020 strategy; the Charter of Fundamental Rights; the 'Article 19 Directives'; the Temporary Agency Work Directive; the revisions to the existing including the Directives on Parental Leave and European Works Council; and the new Social Security Regulations 883/2004. It also analyses the ever-expanding body of employment case law, including the momentous decisions in Viking, Laval, Rueffert, and Commission v Luxembourg. The book begins with an examination of the development of EU employment law focusing on the shift from employment law to employment policy. The text then studies rule-making in the field of employment law, considering both the traditional routes to legislation and governance techniques such as the Open Method of Coordination. The final chapters look closely at the substantive area of employment law, examining the free movement of persons, equal treatment, health and safety and working conditions, the restructuring of enterprises, worker participation, and collective action. Throughout, the book addresses the fundamental question as to the purpose of EU employment law: is it primarily economic, or social, or both?

Conceptual Gaps in China-EU Relations: Global Governance, Human Rights and Strategic Partnerships by Amazon UK — last modified 04 October 2012, 11:25 CET

China and Europe have few political values in common, even though they employ the same value-laden concepts in their political discourse. Chinese-European disputes over issues from Tibet to human rights, from market economy status to the arms embargo, from Africa to Iran are reflected, to a large extent, in their perceptual gaps on such political concepts as sovereignty, human rights, strategic partnership, multilateralism, and global governance. The authors analyze how differently China and Europe interpret the same political concepts, to examine what implications of their conceptual gaps may have on China-EU relations, and thus to discover how best to manage and bridge them. A multidimensional exploration of how differently China and Europe interpret the same political concepts and how their conceptual gaps impact on the China-EU relations.

Single Market Act II: not the greatest of sequels, say SMEs by European craft and SME employers’ organisation — last modified 03 October 2012, 18:32 CET

UEAPME welcomes points on transport, energy networks, second chance; concerned with costs linked to e-invoicing and MIF