Article | May 22, 2012 - 12:53pm
The European Commission opened on 22 May the competition for the third “Access City Award” for the most accessible cities in Europe. The annual prize is meant to celebrate and recognise cities dedicated to providing an accessible environment, especially for persons with disabilities.
Article | May 22, 2012 - 11:45am
European Union rules requiring pig farmers to keep animals in larger pens may mean production in the world's second-biggest pork exporter is set to tumble as farmers choose between barn remodeling or going out of business.
Beginning 1 Janaury 2013, farmers in the EU-27 will be required to keep breeding animals together in open pens for most of their lives, instead of confining them individually in stalls that are often too small for a pig to turn around.
Article | May 22, 2012 - 11:32am
The 23 May EU leaders summit in Brussels might not be able to come up with ground breaking decisions balancing fiscal discipline with growth nor is expected to decide on the issuance of Eurobonds or the recapitalisation of banks.
The 23 May EU leaders summit in Brussels might not be able to come up with ground breaking decisions balancing fiscal discipline with growth nor is expected to decide on the issuance of Eurobonds or the recapitalisation of banks.
Article | May 22, 2012 - 3:09pm
European stock markets today, Tuesday 22 May, opened in the green and remained there until well into the afternoon.
European stock markets today, Tuesday 22 May, opened in the green and remained there until well into the afternoon.
Article | May 22, 2012 - 12:15pm
"Fiscal consolidation and structural measures must proceed hand in hand, to make the (fiscal) adjustment process as growth-friendly as possible. Finding a careful balance between spending cuts and revenue increases is critically important. The reform agenda (in the Eurozone) must also be specifically targeted at supporting employment, reducing inequalities and protecting the weakest segments of the population”.
Article | May 22, 2012 - 11:43am
CHICAGO – Turkey has recently been at the forefront of international economic and political debates. On the one hand, despite the economic crisis engulfing neighboring Europe, Turkey remains the world’s second-fastest growing economy, after China. On the other hand, there is almost no issue on the global agenda – from Iraq and Afghanistan to Somalia, Iran, and the Arab Spring, and from sustainable development to a dialogue among civilizations – on which Turkey is not playing a visible role.
Article | May 21, 2012 - 2:17pm
'Your first EURES job' is the new project launched by the European Commission to help young people find a job in another EU country.
It's expected that, in its initial phase, the program will improve cross-border mobility for 5,000 people. At this moment, more than 5.5 million young Europeans are looking for a job.
It will also serve as a testing ground for transforming EURES - the network of Member States' employment services – towards a pan-European employment service.
Article | May 21, 2012 - 4:36pm
Growth in the European renewable energy sector, specifically wind and solar, brought on by government policies such as capital grants, subsidies, tax credits and energy production payments may be damaged by economic instability in the region. This is what a report shows researched by GlobalData.
The research found that the level of subsidisation available on renewable power generation cannot be sustained by the current financial environment.
Blog entry | May 21, 2012 - 10:38am
PARIS – When François Hollande, fresh from his election as France’s next president, was asked by a journalist which language he would use when he meets US President Barack Obama for the first time, his answer was revealing. “I speak English more fluently than the former president,” the Socialist leader insisted, referring to the outgoing Nicolas Sarkozy. “But a French president must speak French!”
PARIS – When François Hollande, fresh from his election as France’s next president, was asked by a journalist which language he would use when he meets US President Barack Obama for the first time, his answer was revealing. “I speak English more fluently than the former president,” the Socialist leader insisted, referring to the outgoing Nicolas Sarkozy. “But a French president must speak French!”
Blog entry | May 21, 2012 - 10:54am
ROME – Increasingly, one hears predictions that the euro will go the way of the gold standard in the 1930s. And, increasingly, the reasoning behind such forecasts seems persuasive. But does that mean that the euro doomsayers are right?
ROME – Increasingly, one hears predictions that the euro will go the way of the gold standard in the 1930s. And, increasingly, the reasoning behind such forecasts seems persuasive. But does that mean that the euro doomsayers are right?
Article | May 21, 2012 - 2:17pm
Newly-elected Serbian president, Tomislav Nikolić, announced in his victory speech that Serbia will continue its progress towards the EU.
The leader of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Tomislav Nikolić, was elected president of Serbia on 20 May, managing to capitalise on the complacency of his counterpart's supporters and accomplishing a major upset.
According to nearly-completed official counts, Nikolić won 49.51% of votes, while the incumbent president and leader of the centre-left Democratic Party (DS), Boris Tadić, got 47.35%.
Nikolić announced in his victory speech that Serbia will continue its progress towards the EU.
Article | May 21, 2012 - 8:06pm
On 21 May, Russian President Vladimir Putin named a new Cabinet, keeping several key ministers, including finance, foreign and defence, at their posts, but also replacing the most unpopular ones.
On 21 May, Russian President Vladimir Putin named a new Cabinet, keeping several key ministers, including finance, foreign and defence, at their posts, but also replacing the most unpopular ones.
Article | May 20, 2012 - 9:19pm
Albania’s application for membership to the European Union on 28 April 2009 was an important landmark for a country that 20 years ago had emerged from a communist rule as one of the poorest, most isolated, most repressive and most inscrutable in Europe.
Albania’s application for membership to the European Union on 28 April 2009 was an important landmark for a country that 20 years ago had emerged from a communist rule as one of the poorest, most isolated, most repressive and most inscrutable in Europe.
Article | May 20, 2012 - 9:49pm
Association of the Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) has called on the European fund industry for greater focus and for clarity of definitions in order to foster the Responsible Investment movement.
Blog entry | May 20, 2012 - 10:29pm
Fortunately Greece is the only Eurozone member that faces existential problems to stay or leave the euro area. Ireland and Portugal got last week the seal of 'good direction' by both the Ecofin and the Eurogroup. The two are meeting the programme targets to cut down deficits.
Fortunately Greece is the only Eurozone member that faces existential problems to stay or leave the euro area. Ireland and Portugal got last week the seal of 'good direction' by both the Ecofin and the Eurogroup. The two are meeting the programme targets to cut down deficits. As for Madrid, the Rajoy government got the approval of Brussels for its bank recapitalisation plan. Last but not least Holland even without a government manage to put together a parliamentary agreement to cut down fiscal deficits. But lets take one thing at a time.
Blog entry | May 20, 2012 - 10:22pm
On 18 May, oil prices slipped below $107 a barrel and hit a 2012 low as fears that Greece would leave the euro and a downgrade of 16 Spanish banks by Moody's increased the possibility of a major impact on growth and slower oil demand.
On 18 May, oil prices slipped below $107 a barrel and hit a 2012 low as fears that Greece would leave the euro and a downgrade of 16 Spanish banks by Moody's increased the possibility of a major impact on growth and slower oil demand.
Blog entry | May 20, 2012 - 10:26pm
Last week, on Europe Day, when the eurocrats and the hangers on mark the glory of our eternal, precious union, Herman Van Rompuy announced that the financial crisis was essentially over and everyone would be back in growth by the end of the year.
I said at the time that history has not been kind to European leaders who say ‘it’ll all be over by Christmas’. It only took a few days for history to slap the Council President in the face, although there is no sign that reality has in any way impacted on our Chief Monk.
Blog entry | May 20, 2012 - 10:24pm
2012 was billed as a year of change in Europe, with elections in France, Greece and Russia eagerly anticipated: France for the potential election of a Socialist President, Greece to see how its people would vote in bitter times, and Russia, even though the result was a foregone conclusion, for the clues it might give to the way the largest country in Europe is developing.
2012 was billed as a year of change in Europe, with elections in France, Greece and Russia eagerly anticipated: France for the potential election of a Socialist President, Greece to see how its people would vote in bitter times, and Russia, even though the result was a foregone conclusion, for the clues it might give to the way the largest country in Europe is developing.
Blog entry | May 20, 2012 - 10:48pm
The Kobe City Museum displays a rare map of the world that dates back to 1695. Copied from a Dutch original by a Japanese artist, it shows the four continents, Europe, America, Asia and Africa, surrounded by illustrations of people in traditional costumes.
The Kobe City Museum displays a rare map of the world that dates back to 1695. Copied from a Dutch original by a Japanese artist, it shows the four continents, Europe, America, Asia and Africa, surrounded by illustrations of people in traditional costumes. If the Shogun and his court were always eager to purchase updated maps from Dutch traders, it was less for their geographical interest than for the artistic representations of the unknown world, they offered.
Article | May 20, 2012 - 10:09pm
Italian investors are likely to receive a welcome message from UAE to take their initiatives to the Middle Eastern country. The newly elected President of the Italian Business Council in Abu Dhabi, Alberto Nencha, last week announced that his efforts would remain focused on bringing Italian companies to the UAE as also on encouraging UAE companies to find suitable investment scope in Italy.
Italian investors are likely to receive a welcome message from UAE to take their initiatives to the Middle Eastern country. The newly elected President of the Italian Business Council in Abu Dhabi, Alberto Nencha, last week announced that his efforts would remain focused on bringing Italian companies to the UAE as also on encouraging UAE companies to find suitable investment scope in Italy.
Blog entry | May 20, 2012 - 10:28pm
The Olympic games are a big challenge to London. London is becoming more and more a central Hub in a world of change and it will be an imperative to establish a new ambition as an answer to the expectations of lotos of people, more demanding and more capable of driving the imperative of excellence.
The Olympic games are a big challenge to London. London is becoming more and more a central Hub in a world of change and it will be an imperative to establish a new ambition as an answer to the expectations of lotos of people, more demanding and more capable of driving the imperative of excellence. The new challenge to London is also and above all a possibility to the future of a world in change. London has a strong agenda for the future and it is an imperative for Europe to have the collective intelligence of sharing it in a strategic way.
Article | May 20, 2012 - 9:10pm
Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic said the government is determined to resolve ties with their Russian partner EN+ group of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska in regard to aluminium plant KAP, Montenegro Times reported.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Igor Luksic said the government is determined to resolve ties with their Russian partner EN+ group of Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska in regard to aluminium plant KAP, Montenegro Times reported.
It was recalled that in February, the government took over the troubled KAP aluminium plant including €132m in debts. Owner Deripaska failed to revive the smelter after taking a majority stake in 2005. Montenegro owns 58% stake in KAP along with the Russian partner.
Article | May 20, 2012 - 10:41pm
Article | May 20, 2012 - 9:31pm
European Parliament president Martin Schulz, who has expressed himself in favour of Greece's stay in the eurozone, is visiting the nation's capital on 18 May.
European Parliament president Martin Schulz, who has expressed himself in favour of Greece's stay in the eurozone, is visiting the nation's capital on 18 May.
From Athens, via his iPhone, Schulz tweeted: "In Europe we talk a lot about Greece, but not enough with the Greeks. This is why I'm in Athens today-to talk with and listen to the Greeks."
Schulz also has warned against any Greek exit from the eurozone, saying the country's economy could collapse within days if it abandoned the single currency.
Blog entry | May 20, 2012 - 10:34pm
The election of Francois Hollande as French president, as well as being a big political story, is a big economic one; one propeller of the twin engine of the European Union and its single currency has been replaced, the other, German Chancellor, appears to be stuttering. After recent electoral setbacks, the chancellor looks politically vulnerable ahead of next year’s federal elections, and as more and more under pressure to ease-up on the rhetoric of austerity, as leaders and politicians around Europe take the cue from Hollande and start talking growth.
