Policy and Innovation
Agreement reached to liberalise trade in Agricultural and Fishery Products between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt
A preliminary agreement has been reached by negotiators to further liberalise trade in agricultural, processed agricultural and fish and fishery products between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Questions and Answers on the revised Ecolabel scheme
Answers to questions such as:
What is the Ecolabel scheme?
How does the scheme work?
Which products and services are covered by the Ecolabel?
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Action Plan for sustainable consumption, production and industry
Our current patterns of consumption and production have significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gases, pollution and the depletion of natural resources. Much can be done to make the way we consume and produce in Europe more sustainable, without additional costs for companies and households, and can bring benefits. The European Commission therefore today proposed a package of actions and proposals to improve the environmental performance of products and stimulating the demand for more sustainable goods and production technologies. EU industry will be encouraged to take up new opportunities and innovate in order to ensure its continued leadership in environmental performance. The Action plan also explores means for promoting sustainable production and consumption internationally.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
EU promotes sustainable products and technologies: a package of actions for sustainable consumption, production and industry
Improving the environmental performance and in particular the energy efficiency of products and stimulating their market uptake are the core objectives of a package put forward by the European Commission today.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Commissioner Hübner calls on regions to boost SMEs with Cohesion Policy investment
D. Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, called on EU regions to boost prospects for their small businesses with Cohesion Policy investment. At a presentation on opportunities for SMEs in Brussels, she explained how Cohesion Policy was making available over EUR 27 billion to create and develop such businesses over the 2007-2013 programming cycle.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
May 08 compared with April 08: Industrial producer prices up by 1.2% in euro area - Up by 1.3% in EU27
In May 2008 compared with April 2008, the industrial producer price index rose by 1.2% in the euro area (EA15) and by 1.3% in the EU27. In April, prices increased by 0.9% and 1.1% respectively. In May 2008 compared with May 2007, industrial producer prices gained 7.1% in the euro area and 8.9% in the EU27. These figures come from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
UN legislation for cars: 50 years of international automotive cooperation
Global technical harmonisation is a key factor in strengthening the competitiveness of the European automotive industry world-wide. The more we regulate at UN/ECE level, the better for European industry and the less EU legislation is needed.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Albania joins EU innovation and competitiveness programme
Albania is the fifth country of the group of EU candidate and potential candidate countries to join an important part of the EU's Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) Under the CIP, the European Commission promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and growth in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Categories: Policy and Innovation
FAQs on E-commerce in the EU – Eurobarometer results
The Special Eurobarometer 298 aims to measure consumer attitudes and experiences on cross-border transactions across Europe as well as consumer views on specific measures aimed at protecting their rights. The Flash Eurobarometer 224 aims to assess cross-border trade from a retail perspective by interviewing managers of retail enterprises on their experiences in cross-border transactions, as well as on their views on certain consumer policy measures.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Boosting SMEs investment in research: "Eurostars" Programme
On 23 June, the Council of Ministers agreed to provide EUR 100 million from the EU's 7th Framework Programme (FP7) budget to Eurostars, a R&D) programme jointly set up by 31 countries to boost research capacities of SMEs in Europe. The EUR 100 million from FP7 will leverage at least EUR 300 million in public funding from the participating countries, resulting in a package of EUR 400 million for financing trans-national research partnerships driven research-performing SMEs in Europe.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Statute for a European Private Company: FAQs
Find answers to questions like:
- What is the European Private Company Statute?
- What benefits can the European Private Company Statute bring to SMEs?
- Will the European Private Company be governed by the same rules in all Member States?
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Small Business Act: how to make public procurement more SME-friendly
In the context of the Small Business Act (SBA), the European Commission has published a set of practical examples and guidelines which will enable Member States and public authorities to make their public procurement rules and practices more friendly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Further steps to cut red tape and make life easier for small businesses
Cutting administrative burdens in Europe is gathering speed thanks to the Action Programme put in place in 2007. In addition to the impressive progress at EU level (IP/08/115) 17 Member States have now set national reduction targets (from - 20 to 30% by 2012) compared to only six countries a year ago.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Commission's / EU's response to the high oil and food prices
What are the structural factors behind the rising oil prices? How is the rising oil price affecting price of other fuels? How should the public authorities react to current trends? How can energy efficiency be improved for vehicles and fuels?
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Nanotechnologies: FAQs
What are nanotechnologies? Why are them important for the economy and job creation? What are the expected benefits of nanotechnologies for European industry, citizens and consumers, and the environment?
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Construction output down by 0.8% in the euro area: 04/08 compared with 03/08
In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production1 fell by 0.8% in the euro area (EA15) and by 0.4% in the EU272 in 04/08, compared with the previous month. In 03/08, production decreased by 2.8% and 2.7% respectively.
Compared with 03/07, output in 04/08 dropped by 2.4% in the euro area and by 0.3% in the EU27.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Commission starts public dialogue on nanotechnologies - tapping economic and environmental potential through safe products
Nanotechnologies have enormous potential benefits for manufacturers, consumers, employees, patients and the environment. They will bring more energy and resource efficient processes, improve computer memories and processors and could usher in a new age of customised pharmaceuticals and medical procedures.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
Commission starts public dialogue on nanotechnologies – tapping economic and environmental potential through safe products
Nanotechnologies have enormous potential benefits for manufacturers, consumers, employees, patients and the environment. They will bring more energy and resource efficient processes, improve computer memories and processors and could usher in a new age of customized pharmaceuticals and medical procedures. While current EU legislation covers in principle the challenges for health, safety and environment with regards to nanomaterials, there is further need for research and international cooperation.
Categories: Policy and Innovation
First meeting of High Level Group on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry
The first meeting of the High Level Group (HLG) on the Competitiveness of the Agro-Food Industry today will help pave the way to boosting the performance of this important sector in Europe. The group’s task is to identify and address issues that determine the competitiveness of the Agro-Food industry and to formulate a set of recommendations to achieve predictable and stable framework conditions for years to come
.Categories: Policy and Innovation
2008 EU-US Summit Declaration
- TransAtlantic Economic Council Report to the EU-US Summit 2008
- EU-US open investment statement
Categories: Policy and Innovation