Major renovation, expansion and construction projects are evidence...
Invest In EU News
Finland’s dynamic shopping centre scene continues to grow
Major renovation, expansion and construction projects are evidence of the continued popularity of shopping centres among Finnish consumers.
Itis shopping centre in Helsinki is undergoing a major EUR 95 milllion renovation project. With 106,000 square metres of lettable retail space, Itis is the largest shopping centre in the Nordic countries. In addition to renovating the shopping centre’s interior and exterior spaces, the project will improve functionality and boost attractiveness with the arrival of more top international brands.Speech by President Barroso on the preparations of the European Council of 22 May
José Manuel Durão Barroso
President of the European Commission
Speech by President Barroso on the preparations of the European Council of 22 May
European Parliament plenary session/Brussels
21 May 2013
Dear President,
President in office of the Council,
Honourable members,
At moments like these, when growth forecasts for the near future are low, our job is to make Europe work and that to the benefit of European citizens. Of all of our citizens.Speech: Success All Year Round: Challenges and Opportunities for Maritime and Coastal Tourism
Maria Damanaki
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Success All Year Round: Challenges and Opportunities for Maritime and Coastal Tourism
European Maritime Day/Valetta
21 May 2013
Ministers, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to this year's edition of European Maritime Day. Over the years, this celebration of Europe's maritime community has had great popular success, proving that the maritime dimension is one that strongly resonates with citizens.EU to provide over €37 million to fight piracy in Eastern and Southern Africa
The EU will provide some €37 million to strengthen the fight against piracy in several Eastern and Southern African countries through support for the Programme to promote Regional Maritime Security (MASE).
In the past decade, the level of maritime insecurity in the region’s waters has become the highest in the world, undermining development and affecting the wellbeing of millions of people.Finland is bringing wind power know-how from Spain
Business opportunities in Finland interest wind power companies.
Why invest in wind power in Finland? What’s the best way to do it? What is the Spanish wind power company Gamesa doing in Finland?
These questions were answered during the wind power seminar organised by the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE) and Team Finland in Madrid on 13.5.2013. About 30 representatives from the Spanish wind power industry attended the event.Press points by Štefan Füle Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood policy following the meeting with President of Republic of Moldova Nicolae Timofti
'I came to Moldova to participate in Europe Day. I have enjoyed the European village. I met a lot of enthusiastic people. I saw at first hand their deep attachment to European values such as rule of law,fundamental freedoms, democracy, prosperity– those are the values that protect the citizen against arbitrariness, values that give a chance to personal realisation, values that are the most fit to transform human endeavour into lasting prosperity.
European Union and Switzerland sign Cooperation Agreement in Competition Matters
The European Union and the Swiss Confederation have signed an agreement that will strengthen co-operation between their respective competition authorities, the European Commission and the Swiss Competition Commission. This is the fifth such agreement signed by the EU after agreements concluded with the United States, Canada, Japan and Korea. An innovative feature of the agreement with Switzerland is that it will enable the two competition agencies to exchange information they have obtained in their investigations.
EUR 31.5 million in Commission funding to bring environmental solutions to market
The European Commission has launched a call for proposals of EUR 31.5 million for the best 45 eco-innovation projects. Businesses throughout Europe have until 5 September 2013 to put in their proposals for bringing novel environmental solutions to the market in the following 5 areas:
• material recycling
• water
• sustainable building products
• green business
• the food and drink sectorRepsol receives EUR 200 million EIB loan for its RDI programme
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is supporting Repsol S.A.’s research, development and innovation (RDI) programme with a EUR 200 million loan. EIB Vice-President Magdalena Álvarez Arza and Repsol’s CEO Antonio Brufau signed the finance contract in Madrid this morning.
Speech - Moldova belongs to Europe
Štefan Füle
European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy
Moldova belongs to Europe
Official opening of Europe Day/ Chişinău, Moldova
18 May 2013
Dear friends,
Dragi prieteni,
It is a real pleasure to be here in Chisinau to celebrate Europe Day together with you. I am delighted to witness your enthusiasm first hand. Thank you for your warm welcome.EIB lends CaixaBank EUR 300 million to finance projects of SMEs and midcaps
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 300 million loan agreement with CaixaBank to finance small and medium-scale investment projects promoted by SMEs (with fewer than 250 employees) and midcaps (companies with up to 3 000 employees), along with their working capital needs.
CaixaBank is matching this EIB loan with the same amount, meaning that a total of EUR 600 million will be made available for financing such projects.Speech: Cultural diversity and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Androulla VASSILIOU
Member of the European Commission responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth
Cultural diversity and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Council meeting/Brussels
17 May 2013
Remarks by Commissioner Vassiliou during an exchange of views with EU Culture Ministers on the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.March 2013 compared with February 2013 Euro area production in construction down by 1.7% Down by 1.1% in EU27
In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production1 fell by 1.7% in the euro area2 (EA17) and by 1.1% in the EU272 in March 2013, compared with the previous month, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In February 20133, production declined by 0.3% in the euro area and remained stable in the EU27.
Compared with March 2012, production decreased by 7.9% in the euro area and by 7.2% in the EU27 in March 2013.
Monthly comparisonApril 2013 Euro area annual inflation down to 1.2% EU down to 1.4%
Euro area1 annual inflation was 1.2% in April 20132, down from 1.7% in March. A year earlier the rate was 2.6%. Monthly inflation was -0.1% in April 2013.
European Union3 annual inflation was 1.4% in April 2013, down from 1.9% in March. A year earlier the rate was 2.7%. Monthly inflation was 0.0% in April 2013.
These figures come from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.March 2013 Euro area international trade in goods surplus 22.9 bn euro 15.8 bn euro surplus for EU27
The first estimate for the euro area1 (EA17) trade in goods balance with the rest of the world in March 2013 gave a 22.9 billion euro surplus, compared with +6.9 bn in March 2012. The February 20132 balance was +10.1 bn, compared with +1.2 bn in February 2012. In March 2013 compared with February 2013, seasonally adjusted exports rose by 2.8% while imports fell by 1.0%. These data3 are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
Emissions trading: 2012 saw continuing decline in emissions but growing surplus of allowances
Emissions of greenhouse gases from installations participating in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) decreased by 2% last year, according to the information recorded in the Union Registry.
Stronger EU cooperation leads to higher consumer safety
In 2012, a total of 2,278 measures against dangerous non-food products, were taken by Member States and reported in the EU Rapid Information system (RAPEX). This indicates a 26% rise in alerts when compared to 2011 figures, an increase that could be attributed to the improved enforcement work carried out by the authorities in EU countries.
Flash estimate for the first quarter of 2013 Euro area GDP down by 0.2% and EU27 down by 0.1% -1.0% and -0.7% respectively compared with the first quarter of 2012
GDP fell by 0.2% in the euro area1 (EA17) and by 0.1% in the EU271 during the first quarter of 2013, compared with the previous quarter, according to flash estimates2 published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the fourth quarter of 2012, growth rates were -0.6% and -0.5% respectively.
Compared with the same quarter of the previous year, seasonally adjusted GDP fell by 1.0% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU27 in the first quarter of 2013, after -0.9% and -0.6% respectively in the previous quarter.State aid: Commission approves €39.8 million in aid for the “Genesys” research programme for the development of third-generation biorefineries
The European Commission has decided that the aid granted by France to the P.I.V.E.R.T. Institut d’Excellence en Énergies Décarbonées (IEED, institute of excellence in the field of low-carbon energy) to conduct the Genesys research and development programme complies with the EU rules on state aid. The aim of the project is to develop a new generation of biorefineries using biomass to produce, among other things, clean energy. The aid addresses a genuine market failure without giving rise to an undue distortion of competition.
State aid: Commission authorises public co-financing of Copenhagen multiarena in Denmark
The European Commission has concluded that the proposed public co-financing of a new multiarena in Copenhagen, Denmark was in line with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Commission found that the public funding was both proportionate to the objective pursued and limited to the minimum necessary to attain that objective.
Signature of Association Agreement with the EU will depend on Ukraine's performance
Without prejudice to a future political decision on possible signature, the Commission adopted today the proposals for Council Decisions on (i) the signing and provisional application as well as (ii) the conclusion of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which will be transmitted to the Council for further processing. The Commission accompanied the two proposals with a political statement (see below).
Finnish Cleantech business grew by 15 % in 2012
29 % growth prognosis for small companies in 2013
Cleantech was one of Finland’s fastest-growing business sectors in 2012. Combined turnover for cleantech business was EUR 24.6 billion and annual growth 15 %, according to a survey by Cleantech Finland.
According to Statistics Finland, the Finnish GDP diminished by 0.2 % and the combined turnover for Finnish industrial companies diminished by 0.6 % in 2012.Climate finance: the EU delivers more than its fast start finance pledge
"Despite difficult economic circumstances, the European Union has met and even surpassed its fast start finance pledge to developing countries by providing more than €7.3bn of climate finance. This is a very clear demonstration of the EU's commitment to finding a global solution to the benefit of all to the impacts of climate change," said Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner for Climate Action. The ECOFIN Council today adopted a report which shows that the EU provided about a third of the total commitment by developed countries for 2010–2012.
Increased education opportunities between Tunisia and EU
The European Union (EU) has agreed on additional funding to further develop the modernisation of higher education as well as the international cooperation capacity of higher education institutions in Tunisia under the Erasmus Mundus and Tempus programmes. This will be achieved by providing more scholarships to Tunisian students, researchers and academic staff to study and to perform research in the EU as well as through the setting up of cooperation projects between European and Tunisian universities.