No trade war with China, EU presidency says
BRUSSELS - Business between the EU and China is running as usual, despite highly-public trade differences between the two economic powerhouses, the Danish trade minister has said.
"I wouldn...
19 March 2012 - Read more
The European Commission wants to phase out conventional engines in cities by 2050. This will require changes in building, fuelling and propelling vehicles
A great deal has changed since 1972, and not just in hair and fashion. Today we take for granted personal computers, mobile phones and instant access to entertainment. Forty years ago these things w...
16 March 2012 - Read more
Passenger Cars: registrations drop by 9.7% in February 2012
In February, new car registrations were down by 9.7% in the EU*, compared to February 2011, totalling 888,878 units. In the region, the month counted on average one more working day than last year....
15 March 2012 - Read more
EU challenges China’s rare earth export restrictions
The European Union launched a second challenge of China's export restrictions on raw materials including 17 rare earths, as well as tungsten and molybdenum.
Together with the US and Japan, the...
14 March 2012 - Read more
European researchers driving road safety
Safety while driving is paramount and Europeans are making efforts to ensure our well-being in vehicles — whether we are behind the steering wheel or in a passenger seat. The project partners ha...
13 March 2012 - Read more
Commission proposes to improve common greenhouse gas accounting rules for forestry and agriculture
In adopting a new proposal on accounting of greenhouse gases emissions, the European Commission has taken a first step towards incorporating removals and emissions from forests and agriculture into...
12 March 2012 - Read more
Japan car sales jump on subsidies for green vehicles
Japanese car sales, including those of 660cc mini vehicles, rose in February as government subsidies for energy-efficient vehicles lured buyers.
Passenger car sales jumped 33% from a year earlier,...
12 March 2012 - Read more
Environment: Better implementation will lower costs and improve the environment
Failing to implement environment legislation is thought to cost the EU economy around €50 billion every year in health costs and direct costs to the environment. In an effort to reduce that figu...
09 March 2012 - Read more
Peugeot backs call for EU common policy
PSA Peugeot Citroën’s chief executive has endorsed growing calls for a common policy in Europe to solve the car industry’s overcapacity and competitiveness problems.
Philippe Varin on Wednesda...
08 March 2012 - Read more
The 2012 Geneva Motor Show
The 2012 Geneva Motor Show comes at a time of particular economic uncertainty in Europe - on the markets in general and in the automotive industry in particular.
"Europe is at a critical ju...
07 March 2012 - Read more
Financial transaction tax: a better design is possible
The proposed financial transaction tax should be better designed to capture more traders and to make evading it unprofitable, say proposals presented in the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee...
06 March 2012 - Read more
ACTA: MEPs want clarity before taking a decision
International Trade Committee MEPs from all political groups want to know more about how the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) would be enforced before advising Parliament as a whole on w...
05 March 2012 - Read more
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