The European Commission published today a report on its ambitious science and technology Flagships. The report draws the lessons from setting up the first two such Flagships, Graphene and the Human Brain Project, each representing an investment of EUR 1 billion. It also sets out the future working arrangements for the two Flagships underway. European […]
Applause For EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
The signing of agreements is rarely accompanied by applause, shouting and the flashing of victory signs, but this one was years in the making and responsible for a major change in European affairs. Many MEPs were quick to show their joy when the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement was ratified simultaneously by the Ukrainian and European Parliaments […]
Schaake Demands Clarity On Ukraine Trade Deal Postponement
Marietje Schaake, MEP, (ALDE/D66), has asked European Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht for clarity on the implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine. The European Parliament ratified the agreement today, but last weekend it became clear that the European Commission and the Ukrainian government agreed to postpone the implementation of the trade […]
How Russian Import Ban Is Affecting EU Firms
European companies are still reeling from the impact of a Russian import ban on EU, US, Canadian, Australian, and Norwegian products such as meat, fruit and vegetables. Russia introduced the ban on 7 August in retaliation to EU measures triggered by the Ukrainian crisis and the downing of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane. The EU […]
Fighting Stress At Work… Its Stressful…
With Brussels now firmly ‘Back to School’ stress levels should be rising steadily. Eurocrats may have missed a timely summer initiative from the European Commission aimed at tackling the most frequently reported work-related health problem in Europe – stress. Stress is believed to be the cause of the majority of all lost working days, according to […]
EU’s Globalisation Adjustment Fund, Further Aid Approved
Tens of thousands of workers were helped to retrain, look for a new job or launch a new company in 207-2013 if they had been laid off as a result of globalisation or the economic crisis thanks to €400 million in EU funding. This aid came from the EU’s Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF). On 11 […]
Small, But Significant, EU Employment Rise
Small signs of hope are emerging as new figures show the ranks of Europe’s working population increased by 0.2% in the euro area2 (EA18) and by 0.3% in the EU282 in the second quarter of 2014 compared with the previous quarter, according to national accounts estimates published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. […]
Sustainable Cities and Investor Citizens – Making Urban Life Liveable Again?
Riots in the most important cities of Brazil started when taxes on public transport started to rise, just as Brazilians’ rights were going down. Mobility, and moreover, sustainable mobility, is extremely important for the fight against climate change and for the life of inhabitants. According to the United Nations, 70% of the world’s population will […]
Catalan Fashion, An Industry With Expansion Stitched Up
Pertegaz, Antonio, Miró, Rosa Clará, Javier Simorra, Custo Barcelona, Desigual, Mango. These are just a few designers whose pieces of clothing can be visited at the Catalan Delegation in Brussels until the end of June. The exhibition shows a retrospective of how Catalonia has become the scenario of the Haute Couture and Prêt-à-Porter. The exhibition […]
‘Keep It Local’ Says Crowdfunding Innovator, Sweta Chattopadhyay
Supporting local businesses and community projects is the key to helping communities thrive. An innovative new crowdfunding platform, Localfunded, launched in late March unlocks much needed funding to help get local projects off the ground, and reward the backers of these projects with unique rewards, perks and discounts that they can’t get anywhere else. Founded […]