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Reduced red-tape for Micro-entities in accounting! - On 10 March MEPs approved changes to EU accounting rules so that very small companies can be exempted from having to draw up annual accounts. It would be up to each Member State to grant the exemption... [read more]
International Woman's Day on Equal Rights - On 8 March International Woman's Day was celebrated focusing on equal rights and equal opportunities. Eurfound published a comparative analytical report which provides an overview of national studies ... [read more]
EP look at revision of 'fines only' policy - On 9 March the European Parliament adopted the revision of the "fines only" policy to rethink the fines strategy and tackle state aid. On-line advertising, and the telecoms, pharmaceuticals and dairy ... [read more]
EC on European strategy for growth and jobs - During its meeting on 8 March, Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) held a discussion on the European strategy for growth and jobs, with a view to preparing for the S... [read more]
Council on social protection of self-employed - The Employment Council has adopted its first-reading position on a draft directive aimed at improving the social protection of self-employed workers and of "assisting spouses" at its meeting on 8 Marc... [read more]
Parental Leave Extended! - At its meeting on 8 March, the Employment Council adopted a directive extending workers' rights to parental leave from three to four months for each parent. At least one of the four months cannot be t... [read more]
Council adopts European microfinance facility - At its meeting on Monday 8 March, the Employment Council adopted a decision establishing a 100 million euros European microfinance facility for employment and social inclusion following a first-r... [read more]
Europe 2020 - EC Proposes New Economic Strategy - On 3 March the European Commission launched the Europe 2020 Strategy to go out of the crisis and prepare EU economy for the next decade. The Commission identifies three key drivers for growth, to be i... [read more]
Top Marks For Internal Market Directives - Member States have never performed better in writing agreed Internal Market rules into national law on time, but still need to improve the way those rules are applied in practice, according to the Eur... [read more]
EC proposals on cultivation of GMO's - On 2 March the European Commission announced its proposals to allow Member States to have decision on the cultivation of GMO's. Under the current legal framework, as decided by the European Council an... [read more]
New European Strategy For Jobs & Growth - At its meeting on 1 March 2010, the Competitiveness Council discussed a new EU strategy for the creation of growth and jobs, following a presentation by the Commission on the main elements of its comm... [read more]
Adoption of Green Paper on forest protection - On 1 March the European Commission adopted a Green Paper which sets out the options for a European Union approach to the protection of forests and to information about forest resources and their condi... [read more]
EP lock-down on EU roaming rules - As from 1 March 2010, European mobile phone operators are obliged under EU roaming rules to offer their customers a cut-off limit facility to protect them from 'bill shocks' for surfing the Internet w... [read more]
EuroStat on EU Organic Farming - On 1 March it was announced by EuroStat that Organic farming in the EU between 2005 and 2008 was up by 21%. In 2008, the five Member States with the largest organic area in the EU27 were Spain (1.3 mn... [read more]
EC register two more agricultural products - On 1 March the European Commission added two names of agricultural products and foodstuffs to the Register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI).The tw... [read more]
EP adopts report on Common Fisheries Policy - On 25 February MEPs set out their fishery reform priorities by adopting a non-binding report on a complete overhaul of the EU common fisheries policy. The report, drafted by Maria do Ceu Patrao Neves,... [read more]
EC adopts sustainability on biomass and biogas - On 25 February the European Commission adopted a report on sustainability requirements for the use of solid biomass and biogas in electricity, heating and cooling. The report makes recommendations on ... [read more]
Promotion of fish farming quality in Europe - On 24 February Guido Milana's, vice-chair on the Committee of Fisheries in the European Parliament, put forward an own-initiative report on how to promote aquaculture. MEPs at the hearing stressed the... [read more]
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: one year on - On 24 February the 'Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs' pilot project, financed by the European Commission, celebrated its one year anniversary from its official launch date in 2009. The second phase of ... [read more]
EP present updates on Late Payments - On 24 February the European Parliament put forward a draft report on late payments which allows companies to get money owed to them quicker thanks to an update of the existing EU directive on late pay... [read more]
Extention of maternity leave approved in committee - On 23 February the Women’s Right's Committee approved for minimum maternity leave in the EU to be extended from 14 to 20 weeks, and be fully paid. Paternity leave was also approved to be two weeks l... [read more]
EP promote boosting of EU quality policy - On 23 February the Agriculture Committee from the European Parliament met and stated that compulsory labelling of farm produce can ensure that consumers are fully informed on food quality and boost ag... [read more]
Ministers discuss CAP after 2013 - On 22 February, the Agriculture Council from the European Council, met to discuss "market and crisis management" on the common agricultural policy (CAP) and where it will be heading after 2013. Minist... [read more]
Launch of EU Organic Aquaculture dossier - On 18 February the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements EU Group (IFOAM), in cooperation with The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari launched a dossier on the EU Organic Aq... [read more]
EC launch two new Directorates-General - On 17 February, the European Commission announced that there are now two new Directorates-General which have been created following the approval of the new European Commission:
DG Energy (ENER)
DG... [read more]
EC publish European Gender Equality Law Review - On 16 February the Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Committee from the European Commission published its fourth issue of the European Gender Equality Law Review which several experts... [read more]
PCG launch 'Britains Brain Gain' campaign - On 16 February PCG (Professional Contractors Group) launched a campaign on 'Britain's Brain Gain', a national advertising campaign spotlighting the rich talent pool amongst the UK's 1.4 million freela... [read more]
Agri Commissioner stresses importance of CAP - On 15 February the European Commissioner Dacian Cioloş for Agriculture and Rural Development stated that "We need an extensive public debate for a reformed, better tailored CAP". Commissioner Cioloş... [read more]
Start-up entrepreneurs allocated potential funding - On 11 February MEPs from the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and the Spanish Presidency reached an agreement on EU funding to help Europe's unemployed start up small businesses. A "microfinanc... [read more]
Heads of states discuss the EU2020 Strategy - On 11 February the 27 heads of states held an informal meeting to discuss the EU2020 Strategy. Despite discussions venturing onto the financial difficulties of Greece, the main points covered were the... [read more]
"New Climate Diplomacy" - The EU should create a "new climate diplomacy", and its future budget must provide enough funding to protect against, and adapt to, climate change, say MEPs in a resolution approved on Wednesday 10 Fe... [read more]
New Commission Approved! - The European Parliament elected the new European Commission by 488 votes to 137, with 72 abstentions, in Strasbourg on Tuesday 9 February. The vote took the form of a single ballot on the whole Colleg... [read more]
New Deal Between Parliament & Commission - The European Parliament approved on Tuesday 9 February a set of key principles to be implemented in the cooperation agreement governing relations between the EP and the Commission. Commission Presiden... [read more]
New Logo For EU Organic Products - The European Commission announced the winner of the EU organic logo competition on 8 February 2010. Over the past two months, some 130,000 people have voted online to choose the new organic symbol fro... [read more]
New CoR President Mercedes Bresso Makes Her Mark - The newly elected President of the Committee of the Regions, Italian Socialist Mercedes Bresso, has encoraged the CoR to be more courageous in pursuing its political aims. The leader hailed the enormo... [read more]
EU2020 Strategy - What's Next? - Following the initial consultation on the EU2020, the Commission will shortly present a formal proposal for the EU 2020 strategy, with a view to the EU's Heads of State and government adopting the str... [read more]
EU Micro-finance Facility for business start-ups - The EU Micro-finance Facility for business start-ups will be funded partly by its "Progress" employment and social solidarity programme and partly by unallocated margins in the EU budget, says a compr... [read more]
Support small firms while tackling the crisis - Small firms have been hard hit by the economic crisis, and so must be given incentives and support, including easier access to credit, help with innovation, tax breaks and less red tape, MEPs on Parli... [read more]
Crisis Ends When Employment Recovers? - Q: When will the Crisis End? A: When Employment Recovers!
At its recent informal Employment Council meeting in Barcelona, Ministers discussed the economic crisis and the different measures that are b... [read more]
Poor Show for the Services Directive - A Eurochambres survey conducted among Chambers of Commerce throughout the EU shows that only 9 out of the 27 member states complied fully with the Services Directive by the 28 December 2009 deadline. ... [read more]
New Micro-Loans to Boost Employment - At their recent informal Employment Council meeting in Barcelona, Ministers expressed grave concern over unemployment rates in the EU. The European Commissioner for Employment, Vladimir Špidla, confi... [read more]
New Waste Agency On The way? - A European Commission study, published on 1 February, recommends setting up a dedicated European body to oversee the implementation and enforcement of EU waste law. The study is part of a series of st... [read more]
European Entrepreneurship Video Awards Launched! - The Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry has launched its new video award focusing on entrepreneurship. The award aims to encourage enterprising film lovers to prove their creativity and sk... [read more]
€5 Billion Injected Into Rural Programmes - The European Parliament’s Rural Development Committee has voted on the last proposals from Member States/regions for using EU Recovery Plan and CAP Health Check funding and other transfers within th... [read more]
EU Agriculture & Climate Change - Agriculture can contribute to solving major problems such as climate change and the reduction of green house gas emissions, according to a European Parliament hearing. A report by Stéphane Le Foll ME... [read more]
EC add agricultural products names to PDO/PGI - On 15 December the European Commission named five agricultural products and foodstuffs to the Register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). The names... [read more]
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