EU leaders meet this WEEK
BRUSSELS - EU leaders gather in Brussels for their last summit of the year with a discussion agenda that includes economic integration, jobs and defence.
Merkel is due to visit Hollande in Paris on...
17 December 2013 - Read more
Horizon 2020 launched with €15 billion over first two years
The European Commission has for the first time presented calls for projects under Horizon 2020, the European Union's €80 billion research and innovation programme. Worth more than €15 billion...
12 December 2013 - Read more
Chinese cities limit car sales but growth is still possible
The port city of Dalian in northeast China has approved a plan to restrict sales of new cars. Dalian is the fifth city in China -- along with Beijing, Shanghai, Guiyang and Guangzhou -- to restrict ve...
11 December 2013 - Read more
Renault-Nissan steers toward closer partnership with Daimler
Renault-Nissan hopes to reach an agreement with German partner Daimler to deepen the alliance between the carmakers during the first quarter of next year.
The agreement would allow Daimler to build...
10 December 2013 - Read more
Council adopts regulation on the Connecting Europe Facility
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council adopted the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the future funding instrument for the trans-European networks in the fields of transport, energy and te...
09 December 2013 - Read more
Transport Ministers agreed on alternative fuel infrastructure
Ministers agreed a general approach on a proposal aimed at building up a minimum infrastructure for alternative fuels across the EU. The draft directive is part of the Clean Power for Transport initia...
06 December 2013 - Read more
Council approved programme in support of SMEs
The Council approved a programme in support of the competitiveness of EU enterprises for the years 2014 to 2020.
The COSME programme, which has a budget of EUR 2.3 billion in current prices for the...
06 December 2013 - Read more
Member states are on course to water down plans to promote the use of electric cars
In theory, many people would be happy to drive an electric car. But the main hurdle in creating a mass market for these vehicles has been so-called ‘range anxiety' – the fear that you will run out...
05 December 2013 - Read more
Youth employment: Commission proposes traineeship standards, Bosch makes a pledge for apprenticeships
Guidelines to enable trainees to acquire high-quality work experience under safe and fair conditions, and to increase their chances of finding a good quality job, have been proposed today by the Europ...
04 December 2013 - Read more
Council adopted “Horizon 2020”: the EU’s research and innovation programme for 2014-2020
The Competitiveness Council met on 2 and 3 December in Brussels. Ministers adopted the "Horizon 2020" programme for research and innovation for the years 2014 to 2020 (PE-CO_S 67/13).
Horizon...
04 December 2013 - Read more
Alternative fuel infrastructure tops agenda
The member states’ transport ministers, meeting in Council on 7 December, will try to agree on the deployment of infrastructure for alternative fuels in the EU. The Council is expected to adopt a ge...
04 December 2013 - Read more
Japan’s self-driving cars: safety over excitement
The car is cruising noiselessly along a busy highway on the crispest of autumn mornings in Tokyo.
The vehicle, a Lexus hybrid, is relatively unremarkable but inside hangs an air of expectation. The...
03 December 2013 - Read more
Saab to restart 9-3 production two years after bankruptcy
Saab's new owner, National Electric Vehicle Sweden, will begin series production of the 9-3 mid-sized sedan at its plant in Trollhattan, Sweden, almost two years to the day since the company was force...
02 December 2013 - Read more
Alternative fuel stations: Transport Committee backs draft law to expand networks
EU member states would have to ensure that specified numbers of electric vehicle recharging points and hydrogen and natural gas stations are built by 2020, under a draft directive endorsed by the Tran...
02 December 2013 - Read more
5 th CLEPA Automotive Aftermarket Conference
29 November 2013 - Read more
2020 CO2 targets for cars finally agreed by EU Member States
29 November 2013 - Read more
Informal agreement on car CO2 emissions reduction
The Council's Permanent Representatives Committee today confirmed the agreement reached with the European Parliament on the 2020 reduction of CO2 emissions from new passenger cars.
The text still n...
29 November 2013 - Read more
Car CO2 emissions: MEPs reach a deal with Lithuanian Presidency of the Council
An informal agreement on new rules to achieve the 2020 CO2 emission target of 95g/km for new cars was reached by EP and member state negotiators on Tuesday afternoon. The file had to be reopened after...
27 November 2013 - Read more
COSME: € 2.3 billion to foster the competitiveness of SMEs over the next seven years
The European Commission welcomed today's adoption of the programme COSME by the European Parliament. COSME aims to ease the access to credit problems that small businesses currently face. With a € 2...
21 November 2013 - Read more
Parliament approves EU’s 2014 budget and plugs 2013 payment gaps
The European Parliament approved the EU’s budget for 2014 on Wednesday. This budget is the result of the deal struck with the Council in last week’s negotiations. For payments €500 million were...
21 November 2013 - Read more
VW tops global R&D ranking, but EU companies put in mixed performance
For the first time since 2004, an EU company – the German carmaker Volkswagen – is the world’s largest private sector R&D investor. Volkswagen tops the European Commission's 2013 EU Industri...
18 November 2013 - Read more
Stricter new vehicle noise standards from 2014
A new regulation setting stricter noise standards for new vehicles will enter into force in 2014, but will not be fully effective for another 15 years. The agreed regulation will now reduce, in three...
12 November 2013 - Read more
EU budget 2014: Parliament and Council strike a deal
After negotiating through the night, Parliament and Council struck a deal on the EU budget for 2014, which also provides for remedying payments shortfalls in in the current fiscal year. MEPs ensured t...
12 November 2013 - Read more
EU-South Korea: 7th summit celebrates 50 years of bilateral cooperation
In addition to a declaration marking this 50th anniversary, European and South Korean leaders are to sign an agreement on exchanges of scientific researchers.
On 8 November, Brussels will host the...
07 November 2013 - Read more