Friends of Europe | Publications

2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002 - 2001 - 2000 - 1999 - All

	European Policy Summit report Invest in the Balkans: Policy options and business priorities in SE Europe Many speakers at the conference focused on the diversity of the region and its troubled past. Others spoke of corruption, problems within the judiciary and a lack of essential infrastructure. But not everyone was pessimistic. There was a certain level of rejoicing that the region was out of the headlines (in the bad sense), it was seen to be preparing the ground for the fight against ‘organised crime’ and the quality of the region’s labour force was frequently praised. Thursday, December 11, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Friends of Europe discussion paper Cross-border Co-operation in Europe This is a chapter written by Giles Merritt, Secretary General of Friends of Europe, from the book The Path to European Defence, which was published this month and edited by Karl Von Wogau, MEP and member of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence. It deals with the common European foreign policy on defence. High-ranking EU personalities, such as Javier Solana, Guy Verhofstadt, Erkii Liikanen and Philippe Busquin, have made valuable contributions to this book. They identified where we stand on defence and what remains to be done to help Europe evolve in the changing global context of the 21st century. Merritt's chapter is a thorough analysis of cross-border relationships in the European Defence. Monday, December 01, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Giles Merritt
	Summary of Debate - Policymakers' Dinner The EU's approach to food, health and nutrition Food, in the context of health and nutrition in an enlarged EU, is one of today’s liveliest debates. Because of this next wave of accessions, Government leaders are seeking to improve and ratify a new European governance model, providing the right framework for European business to compete with the rest of the world. Such an action will allow the EU to take a strong political leadership position globally. Wednesday, November 26, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Corporate Europe: SA, GmBH or Plc The European Company Statute will generally suit large companies eager to operate Europewide, but not small enterprises, who need their own statute and other help. That was one conclusion of the latest Friends of Europe debate, organised with Vlerick School of Management’s Alumni Association. Monday, November 24, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire How have investors responded to corporate social responsibility? Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) is increasingly important to businesses and the investor community. Once a niche concern, it is likely to become mainstream in the future. These arguments emerged clearly during the latest Friends of Europe debate. Tuesday, November 18, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Policymakers' Dinner What are the next steps in the EU's strategy for hydrogen? A hydrogen-based economy will not be a reality for several decades. But industry, civil society and governments should already be cooperating to hasten the adoption of this promising energy carrier. That was the thrust of the latest Friends of Europe Press and Policymakers Dinner, organised with BMW Group, in which participants also insisted on the importance of public acceptance of hydrogen. Monday, October 13, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Café Crossfire Is the EU doing enough to boost business confidence? Many companies in accession countries feel unready for European Union membership, despite massive information campaigns. This was a key message emerging from the latest Friends of Europe debate. However, according to Graham Avery, from the European Commission, the 2004 enlargement was better prepared than any before. His colleague David White argued that the internal market was already a reality in accession countries, thanks to EU agreements, while Paul Skehan of Eurochambres called for more support for business in these countries. Monday, October 06, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Video Conference report - Hearing from Europe Hearing From Europe: The only EU-wide public debate on the Future of Europe The week of June 23-27 saw the first-ever videoconference debate on the FUTURE OF EUROPE involving all 28 countries of the Convention. The debate linked think-tanks from each country in seven videoconferences, each lasting two hours. These interactive debates featured over 100 top political and business leaders ranging from Pascal Lamy to Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and Franz Fischler. The debates also offered participants and the public an opportunity to voice their opinions soon after the Thessaloniki European Council at which Convention President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing presented his reform proposals and draft EU constitution. Monday, June 23, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Background report Benchmarking Business Angels This background report, originally published in November 2002 by the European Commission, seeks to understand the growth of the business angel network. The supply of start-up and early-stage equity finance is becoming more dependent on business angels, wealthy individual investors. Business angels provide both financing and managerial experience, which increase the likelihood of start-up enterprises to survive. Raising awareness about the benefits and services of business angels and angel networks is the first step in increasing business angels’ investments. Informing potential angels and entrepreneurs about the advantages of business angel networks takes time and concentrated efforts of networks and the public sector. Monday, June 16, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN European Commission
	The European Trialogue report When will Europe have a clear and reliable policy on GMOs? Anyone looking for a clear and reliable answer to the question raised at the latest Friends of Europe debate will have been disappointed. Although Commissioner Busquin insisted that the Commission has a comprehensive policy on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), the news has not reached all of the member states and the NGO network remains firmly opposed to commercialisation in Europe. While there were firm calls for the Commission to use its powers to have legislation adopted throughout the EU, MEP John R. Purvis felt that the NGOs would stop at nothing to oppose progress. Friends of the Earth’s Geert Ritsema confirmed its opposition unless the co-existence issue was resolved. This one will run and run. Monday, May 05, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	The European Trialogue report Does corporate governance mean the same in Europe as in the USA? The world does not need a single governance system. That was the thrust of conclusions at the latest Friends of Europe debate, which had its origins in recent high-profile business scandals on both sides of the Atlantic and aggressive new legislation coming out of the United States. Anyone doing business in Europe must be aware of corporate governance, began Lutgart Van Den Berghe, a professor in the subject at the University of Ghent as well as Executive Director and Chairman of the ‘Entrepreneurship, Governance and Strategy’ competence centre at the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School. She added that corporate governance “is about how power is used and the control exercised over that power. Monday, April 28, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Summary of Debate - Policymakers' Dinner Energy policy: Is no nuke good nuke? Nuclear power, seemingly on its way out in Europe, may yet have a future here. At the latest Friends of Europe debate, some participants insisted the nuclear option should remain on the table. Among them were the European Commission’s Derek Taylor, who believes this power source will ensure the European Union maintains security of energy supply, meets its Kyoto Climate Treaty commitments and enjoys economic growth. Belgian parliamentarian Olivier Deleuze explained why his colleagues agreed to phase out nuclear power stations in his country. From Friends of the Earth, Mark Johnston highlighted the high costs of nuclear power in the UK, while criticising both the EU’s new nuclear package and its Euratom Treaty. Monday, April 14, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	Background report Information for the European Citizen This background report has been prepared for the conference, on Understanding Europe – the EU Citizen’s Right to Know on 3 April 2003, organised by the European Parliament, the European Commission, Friends of Europe, and the European Citizens Advice Service (ECAS). The basic conclusion drawn is that there should be a constitutional provision giving citizens of the Union the right to be informed about the activities of the EU. This would oblige the institutions to implement an effective policy to ensure that the general public is much better informed about the Union. Thursday, April 03, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN ECAS - Richard Upson
	Conference report Understanding Europe: The EU Citizen's Right To Know The Understanding Europe conference was Friends of Europe’s third event on European information and communication issues. It built on the previous two conferences on the EU’s information and communications strategies organised by Friends of Europe in 2000 and 2001. This report sets out the proceedings of the 2003 event. Thursday, April 03, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN ECAS
	The European Trialogue report Is business willing and able to pay for the EU's social security crisis? A mere mention of social security invokes a variety of reactions. Panellists gathered by Friends of Europe to debate existing systems all wanted reforms as well as input from business and government for tackling demographic-driven problems. European Commission Director General Odile Quintin highlighted relevant new EU policies and pleaded for societal attitude changes to work. Volvo Cars Belgium’s Managing Director Peter Leyman wanted gradual convergence of Europe’s social security systems, while John Evans, trade union Secretary General to the OECD, said business must campaign for effective public policy and regulation. Monday, February 24, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	The European Trialogue report Is 'sustainable mobility' a new concept or an empty phrase? By the end of the debate, it was clear that while sustainable mobility was neither a new concept nor an empty phrase, it might well be an unattainable goal. Everyone saw eye to eye on the need for an improved European transport infrastructure, but there was little agreement on the means of achieving the objective. The European Commission’s François Lamoureux focussed on a harmonised infrastructure but admitted that many obstacles remained. SN Brussels Airlines’ Rob Kuijpers called for dramatic improvements in the rail network while ACEA’s Ivan Hodac insisted on a level playing field for the automotive industry. Responding on behalf of the rail sector, SNCB’s Karel Vinck agreed that a drastic re-think was needed, declaring – “we have no choice. Monday, February 17, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	The European Trialogue report Is fish farming a long-term answer to the fisheries crisis? Aquaculture, the world's fastest growing food sector, continues to arouse mixed emotions, to judge from the latest Friends of Europe debate. All participants agreed the emerging industry is best seen as a complement to wild fish capture. But while Nutreco's Wout Dekker cited aquaculture's significant progress in tackling associated environmental problems, WWF's Simon Cripps called on the industry to clean up its act and make sustainability its goal. EC Director General for Fisheries Jörgen Holmquist praised fish farming's development so far, while demanding more of the same downstream. Monday, February 03, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	The European Trialogue report The Future of European Telecommunications Doubt continues to surround the future of European telecommunications following the latest Friends of Europe debate. For the European Commission’s Fabio Colasanti, the industry was in “a stage of adjustment” and, somewhat out of character, MEP Nicholas Clegg declared that regulation was the last thing that anyone needed. While the keys to success are broadband technology and third generation mobile phones (3G), consumers – and investors - remain to be convinced. Wednesday, January 29, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe
	The European Trialogue report After Copenhagen: Making Enlargement a Reality There was a buzz in the air at the Bibliothèque Solvay when a completely full house assembled to hear the Friends of Europe debating how to make enlargement a reality. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Günter Verheugen called for patience, Unilever Chairman Antony Burgmans suggested we reach the hearts and minds of the citizens while Alexander Rondos, Ambassador of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned against putting our heads in the sand as we would get our backsides kicked. One thing is certain, this debate will run and run. Thursday, January 23, 2003 Download a copy of the document in: EN Friends of Europe