Latest News articles

News article, Competitive Europe, Fact Sheet
09/05/2012
Rise and fall: When the fate of political leaders is tied to that of financial markets
When investment bank Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy in September 2008, the global economic decline that had begun in late 2007 took an abrupt downward turn. The ensuing economic crisis has not only impacted on business, but also on the political arena. Leaders across Europe struggle to maintain credibility as their electorate protest against austerity measures and public spending cuts.
News article, Future of Europe
07/05/2012
Votes speak louder than words: France and Greece say no to austerity
Socialist candidate François Hollande is to be France’s first left-wing president in 17 years, after securing nearly 52% of the vote in the second round of elections on May 6. Hollande has notably vowed to renegotiate the current European budget discipline pact, moving the focus away from austerity and towards growth.
News article, Competitive Europe
30/04/2012
Rising unemployment in Spain, credit rating downgrade confirms bleak outlook
The number of unemployed people in Spain has hit a record 5.64 million, according to the Spanish statistics agency. This puts the current unemployment rate at nearly 25% - a dramatic increase from the 7.9% rate registered in April 2007.
News article, Global Europe
27/04/2012
Myanmar reforms accelerate progress in EU-ASEAN cooperation

Foreign ministers from the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Brunei Darussalam on 26-27 April to enhance commercial ties, strengthen political cooperation and share experiences in crafting regional integrations.

News article, Greening Europe
24/04/2012
Carbon Fund for Africa
The West Africa Development Bank (BOAD), CDC Climat and PROPARCO have announced at Africa Carbon Forum (April 18th, 2012) the creation of the Carbon Fund for Africa. The fund will invest in carbon credits from projects that contribute to the green development of Sub-Saharan Africa.
News article, Global Europe
24/04/2012
Dutch government resigns, escalating euro crisis
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte has offered his cabinet’s resignation following the collapse of weekend talks over the country’s 2013 austerity budget. Rutte’s resignation was tendered shortly after crisis cabinet talks on Monday 23 April.
News article, Global Europe
23/04/2012
EU opens “new chapter” in Myanmar ties
EU foreign ministers on April 23 suspended sanctions on Myanmar, keeping only a weapons embargo in place. The EU said it was ready to “open a new chapter” in relations with the country following recent reform efforts.
News article, Future of Europe
23/04/2012
French elections: Hollande ahead of Sarkozy, record vote for far-right
Socialist presidential candidate Francois Hollande has emerged as the victor in the first round of the French presidential elections on May 22, with more than 28% of the votes, ahead of President Nicolas Sarkozy, who scored just over 27%. This is the first time in French election history that an opposing candidate has beaten the incumbent at this stage.
News article, International Development
18/04/2012
American nominee Kim gets top World Bank job

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, an American national and current President of Dartmouth College, is to become the 12th President of the World Bank Group, following a decision taken April 16 by the Executive Directors of the World Bank.
News article, Global Europe
16/04/2012
Cuba casts a shadow over Americas Summit
The Sixth Summit of the Americas in Colombia ended April 15 without a joint declaration due to divisions over US sanctions against Cuba and Argentina’s claims to the disputed Falkland Islands.
News article, Global Europe
11/04/2012
ASEAN calls for end of Myanmar sanctions
Southeast Asian leaders have called for an end to Western nations' sanctions on Myanmar, saying recent positive developments, including the recent election of Nobel laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to the Myanmar parliament, demand a change of Western policy towards the country.
News article, Global Europe
04/04/2012
US seeks continent wide accord ahead of upcoming Summit
In the face of increasing global competition, the upcoming Sixth Summit of the Americas, which occurs every three years, will look at ways of enhancing regional integration and addressing the challenges of poverty, inequality, citizen security, natural disasters and access to technology.
News article, Global Europe
03/04/2012
EU to look beyond sanctions after Myanmar's by-elections
EU foreign ministers will discuss a possible easing of sanctions on Myanmar at a meeting on April 23 following the historical by-elections held on April 1. Myanmar election officials confirmed that the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) secured 40 of the 45 parliamentary seats. Aung San Suu Kyi will take a seat in the lower house of parliament.
News article, Global Europe
02/04/2012
BRICS push for greater role in global financial system
Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have signed an agreement to strengthen the bloc’s economic cooperation and reinforce its global political clout. The five leading emerging economic powers took the first steps towards facilitating intra-BRICS trade and investment in local currencies under the BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism.
News article, International Development
27/03/2012
Photo and video report: New perspectives on the South
Friends of Europe's partner Agence Française de Développement (AFD) in association with Magnum Photos present the photo and video report Nouveaux regards sur le Sud (New perspectives on the South).
News article, Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Climate Chaos, Climate and Environment, Future of Europe
26/03/2012
2012 Nuclear Security Summit, Seoul
The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul will gather over 50 heads of state and international organisations. Main discussion points are measures to combat nuclear terrorism, protection of nuclear materials and facilities, and preventing nuclear trafficking. It seems inevitable that North Korea’s nuclear programme will also be addressed following recent threats to launch a rocket in April.
News article, Global Europe
21/03/2012
Myanmar to allow international observers to monitor April’s by-elections
Myanmar’s government has invited observers from the United States, the European Union and the United Nations to join more than two dozen election observers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to monitor next month’s elections. ASEAN will send five observers, 18 parliamentarians and some media representatives to oversee the vote on 1 April.
News article, Greening Europe
21/03/2012
World Bank warns against illegal logging
“Every two seconds, an area of forest the size of a football field is clear-cut by illegal loggers around the globe,” according to a new World Bank report which underlines the need to fight illegal logging practices through the criminal justice system.
News article, Global Europe
15/03/2012
Bo Xilai removed as head of Chongqing CP as Wen presses for political reform
In a major shakeup in the Communist Party’s top ranks, Bo Xilai, has been dismissed as party chief in the city of Chongqing, according to the Xinhua news agency. The report came one day after Prime Minister Wen Jiabao publicly rebuked Bo for a scandal in Chongqing, and also called for more political openness in China.
News article, Greening Europe
14/03/2012
Clean water crisis spotlighted at World Water Forum

Coinciding with the publication of the United Nation’s Fourth World Water Development Report, which warns of greater pressures on freshwater following the intensification of climate change and the expanding needs of agriculture, food production and energy consumption, the World Water Forum has made a clear call to bring clean water and appropriate sanitation to billions of people in need.
News article, Future of Europe
09/03/2012
Diamantopoulou appointed new Development Minister for Greece
Anna Diamantopoulou, former EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, and Friends of Europe Trustee, was named Greece’s new Development Minister on Tuesday 6 March, following a partial Cabinet reshuffle.
News article, Global Europe
09/03/2012
Asia to surpass Europe’s military spending
This year Asia’s military spending will surpass that of Europe’s for the first time in modern history, according to a recent report by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
 
The IISS’s annual assessment of global military capacity says that European defence budgets remain under pressure since the financial crisis in 2008.
News article, Competitive Europe
06/03/2012
EU moves closer to mandatory quotas for women directors

The presence of women on European corporate boards should soon be regulated by mandatory quotas, said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, on Monday 5th March.
News article, International Development, Global Europe
02/03/2012
North Korea agrees to stop nuclear program in exchange for US aid
North Korea has agreed to halt its nuclear tests, long-range missile launches and enrichment of uranium in exchange for United States aid, according to officials in Pyongyang and Washington. The announcement followed bilateral discussions between the United States and North Korea last week in Beijing.
News article, Global Europe
01/03/2012
ASEAN moves a step closer to a single market

The ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), aimed at creating a freer investment environment and enhancing economic integration, entered into force on 1 March. The ACIA is one of the cornerstones in establishing the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.
News article, International Development, Global Europe
24/02/2012
World leaders discuss the future of Somalia
Leaders from over 40 countries and international organisations have met at a London conference on February 23, promising increased efforts to tackle Somalia's many problems.
News article, Competitive Europe
23/02/2012
European Commission: mild eurozone recession in 2012
The European Commission has lowered its growth forecast for 2012, predicting that the Eurozone economies will suffer a “mild recession”. The latest figures constitute a downward revision compared to the forecast published in November last year.
News article, International Development, Global Europe
20/02/2012
ADB says South Asia not meeting key MDG targets
South Asian nations are making the least progress in the Asia-Pacific region on meeting the Millennium Development Goals they pledged to achieve by 2015, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
News article, International Development, Food
17/02/2012
Save the Children warn about the global malnutrition crisis
Almost half a billion children are at risk of permanent physical and mental growth damage over the next 15 years due to malnutrition, Save the Children warn in their latest report entitled “A Life Free from Hunger: Tackling Child Malnutrition”.
News article, International Development, Global Europe
14/02/2012
Piebalgs announces €150 million aid package for Burma/Myanmar
EU Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs has expressed support for easing sanctions against Burma/Myanmar, noting the importance of sending a message of political support to the reform efforts being undertaken by the country.
News article, Global Europe
13/02/2012
Autumn deadline for EU-India FTA
Negotiations on an EU-India free trade agreement (FTA) could be concluded by the autumn, according to European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. EU and Indian leaders have made “substantial progress” on the negotiation at the 12th EU-India Summit held in New Delhi February 10.

News article, Greening Europe, Global Europe, Climate and Environment
07/02/2012
China opposes EU carbon emissions scheme
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has prohibited the country's airlines from taking part in the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), adding to the list of items likely to be discussed at the EU-China summit on February 14.
News article, Global Europe
06/02/2012
Spotlight on EU-Latin America relations
Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is in Latin America this week to reinforce the EU’s relations with its two strategic partners in the region, Brazil and Mexico.
News article, Global Europe
03/02/2012
EU and China strengthen a third pillar of the strategic partnership
On 1 February the EU and China launched the EU-China Year of Intercultural Dialogue, which aims to go beyond already well-established political and economic partnership and strengthen cultural cooperation, the so-called 'third pillar' of the EU-China strategic partnership. 
News article, Global Europe
02/02/2012
Asia and Europe: are we prepared for future pandemics?
On 2 February the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) Public Health Network organised a Public Briefing to discuss scenarious in developing multi-sectoral pandemic preparedness plans for Asia and Europe.
News article, Global Europe, Competitive Europe
19/01/2012
EU-India FTA postponed
Despite initial hopes, the long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union (EU) is unlikely to be signed at the EU-India Summit scheduled to take place in New Delhi on 10 February. Instead, the Summit is expected to deliver yet another roadmap for the conclusion of the negotiations, which started in 2007. Read more
News article, Global Europe
14/12/2011
Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Song Zhe at China-EU seminar
"The international community, especially people in Europe, have in recent times showed strong interest in China and China-EU relations. I believe if you were at the first Brussels China Europe Forum, you would share the same observation."
News article, International Development
17/11/2011
Liberalisation and Regulation of Trade in Banking Services in Bilateral Trade and Regional Integration Agreements
On 1 December 2011 Trade.Com Facility, ECDPM and GIZ on behalf of BMZ, will be hosting a seminar at the GIZ Representation in Brussels on the liberalisation and regulation of trade in banking services in bilateral trade and regional integration agreements. 
News article, Competitive Europe, Future of Europe
14/11/2011
Mario Monti becomes new Italian Prime Minister
Mario Monti, a member of Friends of Europe’s Presiderium and former EU Commissioner, is set to be sworn in as Italy’s new Prime Minister on November 16. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano offered him the post less than 24 hours after the resignation of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
News article, Greening Europe, Energy Revolution
10/11/2011
Greater cooperation between Europe's grid operators and environmental organisations
The European Grid Conference in Brussels on 10 November 2011 saw a declaration entitled “European Grid Declaration on Electricity Network Development and Nature Conservation in Europe” between grid operators and environmental organisations to modernize Europe’s grid whilst preserving the environment.
News article, International Development, Greening Europe, Green Economy, Social Equity
03/11/2011
UN report warns: Human development could go in reverse
Development progress in the poorest countries could be reversed if no steps are taken in the developed world to tackle climate change and social inequality. This was the dire warning from the annual Human Development Index published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on 2 November.
News article, Greening Europe, Energy Revolution
20/10/2011
IEA sees dire energy future for the planet
The International Energy Agency (IEA) released its latest statistics on global CO2 emissions on 19 October. According to this free publication called CO₂ Emissions from Fuel Combustion 2011, carbon dioxide emissions in developing countries continued to grow in 2009 (+3.3%) but emissions of developed countries fell sharply (-6.5%).
News article, Greening Europe, Infrastructure
19/10/2011
EU Commission to invest 50 billion euros in transport, energy and broadband networks
No less than three commissioners and President Barroso will present today (19 October) the new “Connecting Europe Facility”. The new financial fund will support infrastructure modernisation in the areas of transport, energy and information technologies.
News article, Greening Europe, Agriculture and Food
17/10/2011
Commission presents legal proposals for EU agriculture policy after 2013
The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday 12 October what it calls the “new partnership between Europe and its farmers”. The legislative proposals presented by Commissioner Ciolos for a future CAP (Common Agriculture Policy) include a partial “greening” of farming subsidies and “capping” payments to single farms.
News article, Greening Europe, Natural Resources, Editor's Pick
11/10/2011
Editor’s Pick: New report measures Europe’s land footprint
Europe requires more than 1.5 times its own size in land for the food and forestry products it consumes and is therefore dependent on “imported” land according to a new report presented by Friends of the Earth Europe and the Sustainable Europe Research Institute.
News article, Greening Europe, Green Economy, Natural Resources, Editor's Pick
06/10/2011
Editor’s Pick: GRI study proposes new approach to measure business impact from biodiversity
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has presented new tools for measuring what benefits companies derive from ecosystem services and how their business operations impact these services.
News article, Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Climate Chaos
04/10/2011
New report makes case for fast global phase-out of fossil-fuel subsidies
Removing public subsidies for the production and consumption of fossil fuels could help tackling the economic uncertainty and sovereign debt crisis, stimulating investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, says a new report presented by the OECD and the International Energy Agency.
News article, Green Economy, Governance, Editor's Pick
30/09/2011
Editor’s Pick: Integrated Reporting drives businesses to sustainability
A new analysis by Deloitte underlines the move of several global companies towards reporting not only on their financial health but also on their environmental, social, and corporate governance challenges and opportunities.
News article, International Development, Greening Europe, Agriculture and Food
22/09/2011
Oxfam report: ‘Land grabbing’ worsening plight of world’s poorest
According to a new Oxfam report nearly 227 million hectares, the size of Western Europe, have been sold or licensed for global agri-business since 2001, with the bulk occurring in the last 2 years.
News article, Global Europe
16/09/2011
US says Asia up, Europe down
Americans are turning their attention away from Europe to rising Asia. According to the Trans-Atlantic Trends 2011 survey, a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and the Compagnia di San Paolo, 51 percent of Americans identified Asian countries as more important to their national interest than European Union member states.
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