The European Parliament reversed the Council’s proposed cuts in research and employment expenditure in 2014 in a plenary vote in Strasbourg on Wednesday. MEPs also reversed cuts in funding for international policy, such as humanitarian aid to the Middle East and Syrian refugees and added funds for the external border control agency Frontex. Parliament proposes […]
Standard European VAT Return Proposed
A new standard VAT return, which can cut costs for EU businesses by up to €15 billion a year, has been proposed by the Commission today. The aim of this initiative is to slash red-tape for businesses, ease tax compliance and make tax administrations across the Union more efficient. Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner for Taxation, said: “The […]
Cummins Launches Green Power System Campaign
Cummins Power Generation, a leading global manufacturer of power generation systems, has launched a new initiative to help engineers and specifiers understand how they can future-proof their facilities with low-emission power systems. The new initiative includes the launch of http://now.cumminspower.com/greenprint, a digital video channel using an ambitious “talking heads” advertising campaign. The campaign demonstrates Cummins […]
Q&A With Aline Fitzgerald, Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin
European Business Express sat down for a Q&A with Aline Fitzgerald, Sales & Marketing Director, Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin, Ireland. “Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.” Oscar Wilde, Irish Poet, Novelist, Dramatist and Critic, 1854-1900 EBX: What motivates you most – in practical terms, and in emotional terms? AF: In practical terms it’s really knowing […]
Colombia, Peru and UAE May Get Right To Visit EU Without Visas
Citizens of Colombia, Peru and the United Arab Emirates should be able to travel to the Schengen area without a visa, said the Civil Liberties Committee on Monday, amending a draft update of the EU visa regulation to this effect. The Commission’s initial proposal envisaged a visa waiver only for citizens of five Caribbean island […]
The Italian, The Austrian And The Brits
This month we feature three rock-steady design teams, Italian luxury brand ‘Jexika’ led by Jessica Rampezzotti, tailor-made excellence by Austrian-born Oscar Usedi, and the chic informality of ‘Allium B’ the London-based sister act, Clare and Mary Burgess. Allium B’s perfectly cut Autumn-Winter collection starts with versatile dresses blending the chic of original vintage pieces reworked […]
The Left Doesn’t Need More Laws. It Needs Better Lawyers.
Ok. This is what they want: “…a World Court that will judge and sanction economic, political and ecological corporate crimes…” This is the political equivalent of giving a ten year old a toy catalogue and asking “What would you like Sweetheart?” The kid will want one of everything, except, the Lego City on Page 10; […]
World Quality Report from Capgemini, HP and Sogeti
As the importance of application quality increases, average spending on quality assurance as a %age of the total IT budget, has grown from 18% in 2012 to 23% in 2013. Still, many organizations struggle to demonstrate to the wider business the true value of their testing function. These are the findings reported in the fifth […]
James Lakeland, The Business of Design
James Lakeland’s design passion began at his father’s luxury suede and leather business. Specialising in the creation of men’s and women’s wear, it was here that he learnt the importance of quality, great design, the value of detail, and personal service. His “grass roots” experience and love of fashion encouraged Lakeland to start his own […]
Sodastream – Fizzing Up, Or Bubbling Over?
Establishing that the concept has been around for quite some time does not help answer the question that many investors have in mind about Sodastream: ‘Is this a fad, or could this be a disruptor of long established bottlers such as Coca Cola & Pepsi?’ A few retail investors-oriented research firms touting Sodastream stock seem […]