European carmakers take share of funds
Among the 800 institutions that tapped the second round of three-year funding from the European Central Bank were some of the region’s biggest carmakers.
Germany’s Mercedes-Benz, Daimler’s ca...
02 March 2012 - Read more
Interview: “End result has to be zero”: CLEPA CEO Lars Holmqvist on India tariffs
Automotive supplier body CLEPA CEO Lars Holmqvist has just returned from attending the recent European Union-India trade summit in New Delhi, where the contentious issue of tariffs formed the back...
01 March 2012 - Read more
Innovation Partnerships: new proposals on raw materials, agriculture and healthy ageing to boost European competitiveness
Brussels, 29 February 2012 – The European Commission has today proposed decisive action to meet three key challenges facing our society, in areas that are crucial to growth and jobs: the supply...
29 February 2012 - Read more
Marchionne: EU must counter economic headwind with a strong industrial policy
The EU needs to urgently refocus on its industrial future and address the fundamental issues that constrain the region’s competitiveness in a global perspective, steering away from the short-ter...
29 February 2012 - Read more
Making the Single Market work better: boosting Europe’s potential for growth
The Single Market celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2012. In the past 20 years, the Single Market has helped create millions of jobs and make Europe increasingly competitive. But the job is not fin...
28 February 2012 - Read more
The Commission publishes an updated edition of the EU funding opportunities’ overview for SMEs
The European Commission published a new edition of the overview of the main funding opportunities available to European SMEs. The funding is available in different forms such as grants, loans and,...
27 February 2012 - Read more
Interim forecast: euro area in mild recession with signs of stabilisation
The unexpected stalling of the recovery in late 2011 is set to extend into the first two quarters of 2012. However, modest growth is predicted to return in the second half of the year. On an annua...
24 February 2012 - Read more
The automotive industry must prepare for e-mobility
The use of electric vehicles and the establishment of a new network of players - is set to drive the automotive industry in a radical new direction. In recently commissioned research (Managing the...
23 February 2012 - Read more
Joint Research Centre to create permanent forum on science needs of industry
The JRC has decided to create a permanent Forum to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on the science needs of industry in key sectors for European competitiveness.
The initiative was launched follow...
22 February 2012 - Read more
The new frontier of Smart Regulation
At the Competitiveness Council meeting on 20 February, ministers adopted conclusions on a future smart regulation agenda with a strong end-user focus, following an invitation by the European Counc...
21 February 2012 - Read more
Japan’s trade deficit hits record high on fuel imports
Japan's trade deficit surged to a record high in January as a strong yen hurt exports and its nuclear crisis resulted in increased fuel imports.
The deficit stood at 1.5tn yen ($19bn; 12bn) as expo...
20 February 2012 - Read more
China automotive industry zooming ahead
The Chinese automotive industry has witnessed a huge development as consumers have more purchasing power, and road infrastructure has improved.
The country's low labour costs and supportive geo...
17 February 2012 - Read more
Education and training: emphasis on employability
How can education and training support the EU's strategy to promote growth and jobs, and how, in particular, can they contribute to reducing youth unemployment? Those were the main topics discusse...
16 February 2012 - Read more
CARS-21 Working Group on Vertical Agreements
15 February 2012 - Read more
Commission’s first Alert Mechanism Report: tackling macroeconomic imbalances in the EU
The EU’s new rules on economic governance, the so-called "six-pack" has two legs: fiscal and macroeconomic surveillance. The macroeconomic imbalances procedure is a new tool that helps detect and co...
15 February 2012 - Read more
New Classification and Labelling Inventory opens way to safer use of hazardous substances
A big step towards a safer use of hazardous chemicals was taken today with the publication of the first EU Classification and Labelling Inventory. Released by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), i...
14 February 2012 - Read more
New cars offer glimpse of hope on economy
New car registrations rose marginally in January, showing what manufacturers and dealers described as a “stabilizing trend” for a bellwether consumer market.
The total rose by 42 units to 128,8...
13 February 2012 - Read more
EU and India sign Joint Declaration on Energy
A Joint Declaration on Energy cooperation was signed today in the margins of the EU-India Summit. It renews the commitment of both sides to enhance cooperation in the energy field and identifies pri...
10 February 2012 - Read more
SIAM opposes India-EU FTA; says it can kill auto mfg sector
The auto industry body SIAM is opposing the proposed India-EU free-trade agreement (FTA) and is worried about the impact of the FTA on the Indian auto sector. President of SIAM, S Sandilya discusses...
10 February 2012 - Read more
Environment Committee backs “roadmap” to low carbon economy
As reserves of fossil fuels decline and the world tries to tackle the problems of greenhouse gases, the EU wants to shift to a low carbon economy. On Tuesday MEPs on the Environment Committee called...
09 February 2012 - Read more
Cars, software, services threaten EU-India trade deal
Hopes of India and the European Union striking a free trade deal at a summit this week are fading fast, with differences over duties on cars and market access for software and service companies stan...
08 February 2012 - Read more
Obama urged to restrict Chinese auto parts
Lawmakers from Midwestern US states and groups from the auto parts sector urged Barack Obama, US president, to take action to restrict imports of auto parts from China.
“I think all of us...
08 February 2012 - Read more
Enterprises must boost innovation as global competition becomes stronger
Almost all Member States have improved their innovation performance according to the Innovation Union Scoreboard 2011. However, innovation performance growth is slowing down and the EU is not clos...
07 February 2012 - Read more
Tax Coordination: TPG discusses FATCA, VAT and national tax reforms
Improving and accelerating tax coordination in key areas that can contribute to economic stability and growth is the focus of today's meeting of the Tax Policy Group (TPG) in Brussels. Algirdas Šeme...
07 February 2012 - Read more
Fold-up car of the future unveiled for Europe
A tiny revolutionary fold-up car designed in Spain's Basque country as the answer to urban stress and pollution was unveiled Tuesday before hitting European cities in 2013.
The "Hiriko," the Basque...
06 February 2012 - Read more