Views
6 years ago

Business in Europe

  • Text
  • Europe
  • Union
  • Commission
  • Business
  • Employment
  • Smes
  • Corporations
  • Competition
  • Antitrust
  • Brexit
  • Tax
  • Trade
  • Economy
  • Industry
  • Business
  • Euobserver
The first edition of EUobserver's Business in Europe magazine looks at business and industry in Europe.

Corina

Corina Cretu noted that the atmosphere in the EU since the start of the crisis had not been good, with across the EU. But "no matter how hard discussions are between EU leaders, at the end of the day it is up to local noted. She said that Barcelona had offered to take more than 100 refugee from German cities, but the Spanish national government did not approve. She also noted that large cities were not the only "I admire mayors of small cities," she said, mentioning the example of a 6,000-inhabitant town in Slovenia that had dealt with more than 10,000 migrants a day at the height of the crisis. Linked with the migration issue, other areas covered by the Urban Agenda are social housing and "It is important to avoid ghettos and segregation. Social inclusion is not only for migrants, but it is now the most important issue," Cretu said. "We want to tackle areas where there is a structural concentration of poverty." France and Belgium are the pilot countries in this domain. One of the areas where the agenda is being tried out is the Brussels neighbourhood of Molenbeek, which has become infamous in recent months for being the home town of some of the terrorists from the Paris and Brussels attacks. The commission will also present in June its Integration Agenda, which will complete what is in the Urban Agenda. Corina Cretu during a visit to the Swietokrzyskie Region in Poland. Photo: European Commission 32 — BUSINESS IN EUROPE JUNE 2016

US president Barack Obama’s term is likely to end before but there is no guarantee that the would support it. ARE THE EU AND US READY FOR FREE TRADE? While Europe is one single market, America remains decentralised with different rules and standards, adding extra costs for European companies to enter the US market. By Lisbeth Kirk European business broadly backs the The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), because the EU-US pact is expected to boost economic growth. amber light, saying that the two markets are very unlike and that a lot of effort is needed to be able to achieve a good trade deal. American firms would get direct access to a single European market, which has the same rules and standards in all 28 countries. But the US market is not as unified or easy to sell into. Testing of products is regulated by the US Department of Labour's Occupational Safety & Health Administration, (OSHA). Currently, 39 different product types are subject to testing and certification in the US. why it operates under the Labour department. The products are tested and certified at 17 privately owned test centres (NTRLs), but the 17 US entities are not obliged to recognise each other's results. ONE THIRD OF EXPORT AFFECTED Up to one third of Europe's exports to the US is subjected to this system. As much as 75 percent of electronic exports are affected. BUSINESS IN EUROPE JUNE 2016 — 33

More magazines