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DPF 'Future World' Evening Debate 28 June 2010
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Minister Moratinos support for FVF Nobel nomination |
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In the first half of 2010 Spain put development cooperation as a key issue of its EU presidency. Despite the crisis, the presidency made a point of sticking to its commitment of 0.7% of GDP in development aid by 2015. However, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain went one step further to say that the EU also had a responsibility to give hope as well as aid. The Minister was at the DPF evening debate addressing the MDGs and presenting the Fundacion Vicente Ferrer with Anna Ferrer, its director. Read more. |
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European Policy Summit 29 June 2010
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Towards a new Latin America-EU partnership? |
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The Spanish presidency has done much to revive relations with the region, Spain’s minister for Latin America, Juan Pablo Laiglesia, told the Friends of Europe summit. The region came out of the financial crisis in a strong position, and is an increasingly attractive place to do business, said Carlos Lopez Blanco of Telefonica, the region’s largest foreign investor. Europe should be looking to do more business with Latin America, said Henrique de Campos Meirelles, governor of the Central Bank of Brazil, while Karel De Gucht, the EU Trade Commissioner talked up a better free trade agreement. |
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'Café Crossfire' Lunch Debate 30 June 2010 |
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National Renewable Energy Action Plans: Between ambition and reality
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Only two out of 27 member states have submitted proposals for meeting the EU-wide 20% of energy from renewable sources by the year 2020. Though some sources need to be further developed, others such as photovoltaic and wind are very close to becoming sustainable, with investment, economies of scale and cross-border cooperation driving down costs. “Europe needs to move away from thinking about developing renewables in terms of sovereignty and realise that it is just plain and simple self-interest,” commented Philip Lowe, European Commission Director General for Energy. |
| Road to Cancun: stuck in reverse or stumbling forward? |

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Debate and cocktails, Mission of Mexico to the EU, 8 September 2010, |
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After the disappointing first meeting in Bonn, hopes for a binding climate deal at Cancun seem to be fading. But climate ambassadors remain confident about making progress on specific dossiers such as clean technology transfer, protection of forests and financial aid to developing countries. To discuss these and other topics, Friends of Europe’s Greening Europe Forum is hosting a gathering of high-level diplomats, policy makers and other stakeholders at an evening debate on 8 September 2010 with Mexican Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Juan Manuel Gomez Robledo. |
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Partnership Africa: New horizons for the EU and inter-African cooperation
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International Policy Summit, 27 September 2010
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European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, will open Friends of Europe’s International Policy Summit on Africa addressing a select audience of development and Africa experts from EU institutions, national governments, pan-African institutions, business and industry. Just two months ahead of the forthcoming EU-Africa Summit in November, discussions will focus on the role of the EU in enhancing African peace and security architecture, tackling Africa’s energy challenges and meeting Africa’s infrastructure and human capital needs.
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| Just what the doctor ordered: An EU response to medication non-adherence |

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Policymakers' Lunch Debate, 28 September 2010 |
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The cost to EU governments of patients not following prescribed treatment regimes is estimated at a staggering €125 billion per year. With chronic diseases rising to unprecedented levels, and the number of deaths related to prescription drug abuse approaching 200 000, there is a clear need for a breakthrough policy initiative. Topics for discussion will include whether it is time for EU and national legislators to consider applying European-level responses to deal with non-adherence to medication, and will explore ways in which the pharmaceutical sector can participate in the search for innovative solutions.
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| The State of Europe: Tough questions for the EU |

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High-level Roundtable, 14 October 2010 |
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President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, Commissioner Michel Barnier and Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme Josette Sheeran, will be amongst senior policy makers and opinion-formers to debate the EU’s toughest questions at the 7th annual State of Europe roundtable. Topics will cover the credibility of the EU’s “single voice”, the significance of economic governance for the EU’s future, whether the EU is in danger of losing sight of its long-term vision, and the impact growing Middle East tensions could have on European security.
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Counter measures in the Balkans against organised crime and corruption
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High-level Roundtable, 28 October 2010
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Just as corruption is the enemy of economic and political governance, frontiers are the friends of organised crime. The lack of regional cooperation between national authorities in Balkan countries has severely hindered efforts to stamp out criminal activity. Discussions at this roundtable will focus on Europe-wide policy for ensuring the rule of law across boundaries as well as on regulatory norms and supervision practices that could potentially be adopted so as to stamp out corruption and increase investor confidence in the region.
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| Annual President’s Dinner 2010 |

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14 October 2010
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President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso will be the guest of honour at Friends of Europe’s annual President’s Dinner, which is organised with the support of Belgium’s EU Presidency and co-hosted by our President, Viscount Etienne Davignon. This highlight in the Brussels calendar will be held at the Royal Museums of Art and History (MRAH) and will bring together several hundred high-profile guests including Commissioners, MEPs, national government ministers, business and industry leaders, civil society and the international press.
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Economy:
Jean-Claude Trichet has called for Europe to speak with a united voice to ensure it retains the number of seats it controls on the IMF executive board. “A common EU position on IMF reform is very important for global governance," he said. Member state finance ministers are meeting in a bid to stave off pressure to reduce European representation after the US rejection of a proposal to maintain the board in its current form
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06/09/2010
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Kosovo:
Britain and Germany have piled pressure on Belgrade to withdraw, or at the very least to soften, its draft resolution on Kosovo submitted to the UN General Assembly. German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned, “In our view, one can only be a member of the EU if one aims for cooperation and is prepared to resolve neighbourly difficulties cooperatively.” A “reconsideration of the resolution would really help Serbia’s bid for EU membership,” echoed William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary.
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02/09/2010
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ACE – the Alliance for beverage Cartons and the Environment - is the European ambassador and knowledge hub for beverage carton manufacturers and their EU paperboard suppliers, studying and communicating the environmental value of cartons as a renewable, recyclable and low carbon packaging solution. ACE members include beverage carton producers Tetra Pak, SIG Combibloc and Elopak; they develop, manufacture and market systems for the processing, packaging and distribution of food, and produce packaging material at 23 plants in Europe. About 98% of the paperboard used by ACE members in beverage cartons in Europe is produced by Stora Enso in Skoghall (Sweden) and Imatra (Finland), and Korsnäs in Gävle and Frövi (Sweden), who are also members of ACE. These paper mills and the beverage carton manufacturers in ACE together employ close to 30,000 people worldwide. |
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www.ace.be | |
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Amgen strives to serve patients by transforming the promise of science and biotechnology into therapies that have the power to restore health or even save lives. In everything we do, we aim to fulfill our mission to serve patients. And every step of the way, we are guided by the values that define us.
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www.amgen.com | |
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APCO Worldwide, an award-winning, independent public affairs and strategic communication firm, specialises in providing targeted solutions to issues and opportunities faced by clients. With offices throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, APCO’s areas of expertise include: Corporate, investor and internal communication; Crisis management; Government relations; Issue management; Litigation communication; Market entry; and Strategic philanthropy. Governments, corporations, industry associations, and non-profit organizations benefit from an array of services including strategic counsel, media relations, opinion research, grassroots advocacy, coalition building, event management, spokesperson training and technology solutions for communication programs. Founded in 1984, APCO is an independent firm with a global headquarters in Washington, D.C. Clients include seven of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies. |
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www.apcoworldwide.com | |
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Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 160,000 employees in 67 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed. For more information, visit |
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Coca-Cola Europe is the world's largest beverage company. Along with the world's best-known brand, Coca-Cola, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings a day.
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Eni is one of the most important integrated energy companies in the world committed to growth in finding, producing, transporting, transforming and marketing oil and gas. Eni ranks first among the Italian listed companies according to its market capitalization amounting to €93.8 billion at the end of 2006. |
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www.eni.it | |
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EUROPIA - the European Petroleum Industry Association, represents the oil refining and marketing industry in Europe. EUROPIA contributes in a constructive and proactive way to the development of EU policies, while promoting and enhancing the reputation of the oil industry. |
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www.europia.com | |
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ExxonMobil is the largest private oil, gas and petrochemical company in the world. The company explores for oil and natural gas on six of the seven continents. Activities include the refining and supply of petroleum products as well as the marketing of fuels under the Exxon, Mobil and Esso brands. The company also markets lubricants, both conventional and synthetic in every major geographic region. Other petroleum products are lube base stocks and petroleum specialties such as waxes, process oils and asphalt. ExxonMobil Chemical is a leading manufacturer and global marketer of olefins, aromatics, fluids, synthetic rubber, polyethylene, polypropylene, oriented polypropylene packaging films, plasticizers, synthetic lubricant base stocks, additives for fuels and lubricants, zeolite catalysts and other petrochemical products. ExxonMobil has been active in Europe since 1888. Today, it is the largest oil and gas producer in Europe and supplies 15 per cent of Europe's natural gas and 10 per cent of Europe's oil. |
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www.exxonmobileurope.com | |
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McKinsey & Company is a management consulting firm that helps leading corporations and organizations make distinctive, lasting and substantial improvements in their performance. Over the past eight decades, the Firm’s primary objective has remained constant: to serve as an organization’s most trusted external advisor on critical issues facing senior management. With consultants deployed from over 80 offices in more than 40 countries, McKinsey advises companies on strategic, operational, organizational and technological issues. The Firm has extensive experience in all major industry sectors and primary functional areas as well as in-depth expertise in high-priority areas for today’s business leaders. |
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www.mckinsey.com | |
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For more than 20 years, Microsoft has been operating in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), enabling people and businesses throughout the region to realise their potential. The Microsoft EMEA organisation encompasses more than 60 local offices and delivers products and services in 139 countries across the region. The company’s 12,000 regional employees engage in a wide range of functions including research, product development and distribution, sales and marketing, customer service and support, and partner support. An industry leader, Microsoft is also committed to corporate responsibility and community participation. The company works with all levels of government and academia, and supports numerous programmes for social and economic development. Neil Holloway, president of Microsoft EMEA, sets the direction of the company in this vast and varied region. |
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www.microsoft.com | |
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Novartis AG is a world leader in offering medicines to protect health, treat disease and improve well-being. Our goal is to discover, develop and successfully market innovative products to treat patients, ease suffering and enhance the quality of life. Novartis is the only company with leadership positions in both patented and generic pharmaceuticals. We are strengthening our medicine-based portfolio, which is focused on strategic growth platforms in innovation-driven pharmaceuticals, high-quality and low-cost generics (Sandoz), human vaccines (Vaccines & Diagnostics) and leading self-medication OTC brands (Consumer Health). In 2005, the Group's businesses achieved net sales of USD 32.2 billion and net income of USD 6.1 billion. Approximately USD 4.8 billion was invested in R&D. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 99,000 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. |
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www.novartis.com | |
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NYSE Euronext (NYX) is a leading global operator of financial markets and provider of innovative trading technologies. The company's exchanges in Europe and the United States trade equities, futures, options, fixed-income and exchange-traded products. With approximately 8,000 listed issues (excluding European Structured Products), NYSE Euronext's equities markets – the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Euronext, NYSE Amex, NYSE Alternext and NYSE Arca – represent one-third of the world's equities trading, the most liquidity of any global exchange group. NYSE Euronext also operates NYSE Liffe, one of the leading European derivatives businesses and the world's second-largest derivatives business by value of trading. The company offers comprehensive commercial technology, connectivity and market data products and services through NYSE Technologies. NYSE Euronext is in the S&P 500 index, and is the only exchange operator in the S&P 100 index and Fortune 500. For more information, please visit: www.nyx.com. |
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www.nyx.com | |
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Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 26,550 employees in 80 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ‘NVO’. |
| www.novonordisk.com | |
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With Group sales of EUR 20.04 bn and a workforce of 33,665 employees in 2007, OMV Aktiengesellschaft is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies. As the leading oil and gas group in Central Europe, OMV is active in Refining and Marketing (R&M) in 13 countries. In Exploration and Production (E&P) OMV is active in 20 countries on five continents. In Gas & Power (G&P) OMV sells more than 13 bcm gas per year. Via Baumgarten, one of the most important turntables for gas in Europe, approximately 64 bcm gas is transported annually. OMV’s Central European Gas Hub is amongst the three largest hubs in Continental Europe. |
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www.omv.com | |
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PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. We are networking with European and national plastics associations and have more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU27 member states plus Norway, Switzerland, Croatia and Turkey. The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource efficiency and climate protection. More than 1.6 million people are working in about 50.000 companies (mainly small and medium sized companies in the converting sector) to create a turnover in excess of 300 billion € per year. The plastics industry includes polymer producers - represented by PlasticsEurope, converters - represented by EuPC and machine manufacturers - represented by EUROMAP. |
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www.plasticseurope.org | |
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Schuttelaar & Partners is a large communications consultancy firm deeply rooted in stakeholder dialogue on issues related to the life sciences. From our offices in Brussels and The Hague, we help our clients build public support for innovations that we firmly believe will lead towards greater health and sustainability. Such clients include multinational corporations and SMEs, governments, research institutions, and NGOs. Our 60 consultants cover a wide spectrum of backgrounds and operate in areas such as sustainable commodity supply chains, the role of nutrition in public health, global development, and application of bio- and nanotechnologies. |
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www.schuttelaar-partners.com | |
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Veolia Environnement is the only world-wide Group dedicated wholly to environment-related activities and capable of offering a complete range of services covering the fields of Water (Veolia Water), Cleaning (Onyx), Energy (Dalkia) and Transport (Connex). The group deploys an integrated services offer providing made-to-measure solutions to the challenges facing local authorities in France and abroad. Research & Development play a central role in Veolia’s sustainable-development policy, designed to enable the group to anticipate the needs of tomorrow and to implement effective technological solutions and services meeting the expectations of our customers. Veolia Environnement commits itself to caring for the environment wherever the group operates, in particular by stringent application of international and local environmental regulations and by the commitment of its employees to improving inhabitants’ everyday quality of life. |
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www.veoliaenvironnement.com | |
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With operations in more than 100 countries, the Group's activities span all aspects of the energy industry from Upstream oil and gas exploration and production to Downstream transport, refining and marketing of refined products as well as international trading in both crude and refined products. Total is also a major player in the Chemicals market. |
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www.total.com | |
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Unilever is a multi-local multinational with consumers, employees, business partners and shareholders on every continent. It makes and sells brands. The Unilever Group consists of Unilever N.V. in the Netherlands and Unilever PLC in the UK and has two divisions – Foods (including frozen foods) and Home & Personal Care. |
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www.unilever.com | |
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Based in Hartford, Connecticut, United Technologies Corporation (UTC) is a diversified company whose products include Carrier heating and air conditioning, Hamilton Sundstrand aerospace systems and industrial products, Otis elevators and escalators, Pratt & Whitney aircraft engines, Sikorsky helicopters, UTC Fire & Security systems and UTC Power fuel cells. |
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After the Spanish EU Presidency: Towards a new Latin America-EU partnership?
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| “The goal is to move from instability to predictability; from one-sided dependence to true partnership” |
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Karel De Gucht, EU Commissioner for Trade
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This European Policy Summit report examines the the next steps in EU-Latin American trade and investment links, potential strategy for energy relations between the two countries as well as the EU's Latin American priorities.
Download the report here |
New transatlantic trends in competition policy
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"The barriers to convergence I had previous identified are either dissipating or are lower than I had thought."
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J. Thomas Rosch, Commissioner of the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
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This report defines the global dimensions of EU and US competition policies and explores how multinationals have encouraged the respective antitrust authorities to greater interact.
Download the report here
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| OUR VIP MEMBERS: Adecco – Amgen – APCO Worldwide – Areva – BP Europe – BT Group – Cargill – Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton – Coca Cola Europe – Confederation of Food & Drink Industries of the EU (CIAA) – CropLife International – Deutsche Post DHL – Dow – Embassy of Qatar to Belgium – European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) – ExxonMobil Petroleum and Chemical – First Solar – Hewitt Associates – Hill & Knowlton International – International Fragrance Association (IFRA) – Logos Knowledge Network – McKinsey & Company – Merifin Capital – Microsoft EMEA – NYSE Euronext – Novartis – Novo Nordisk – ÖMV Aktiengesellchaft – Pfizer – Plastics Europe – Schuttelaar & Partners – Shell International – Solvay – Europe – Statoil – Suez – Telefónica – Total – The Alliance for beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE) - The McGraw-Hill Companies – Toyota Motor Europe – Unica – Unilever – United Technologies Corporation – Veve Group – Veolia Environnement – Vinyl 2010 – Volvo Group – WWF |
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With the support of the European Commission: Support for bodies active at European Level in the field of active European Citizenship |

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The Only EU-wide Policy Journal |
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Current issue includes:
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National renewable energy action plans: Between ambition and reality
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“We must fight to make investment in renewables and infrastructures a realistic proposal for bankers." |
| Philip Lowe, European Commission Director General for Energy |
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This paper includes input from a range of actors discussing EU and member state strategies for meeting the EU-wide target to source 20% of their energy needs from renewables by 2020.
Download the report here
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John Monks:
How we can get out of this financial crisis without increasing the levels of poverty? John Monks tells it like it is in an interview with Andy Carling for New Europe...
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05/08/2010
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www.understandingchina.eu
Understanding China is a three year programme that aims to improve the knowledge and understanding of China by business, especially SMEs. |
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www.securitydefenceagenda.org |
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Our sister think-tank, the Security and Defence Agenda (SDA), is Brussels' leading think-tank on security and defence issues, and aims to raise awareness of how EU and NATO policies can complement each other. |
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Friends of Europe is privileged to be headquartered in the Bibliothèque Solvay in the Parc Léopold next to the European Parliament. |
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The building houses the Friends of Europe team and hosts almost all of the think-tank's events in Brussels. |
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