Recovery is underway in the majority of European housing markets, but uncertainty remains in the region, with considerable performance variations, says the latest RICS European Housing Review launched today in Brussels (1 March 2010).

While housing markets were experiencing rising prices in Belgium, France, Germany and the Nordic countries during 2010, other markets were still facing problems. Ireland, Hungary and Cyprus experienced significant falls through the year and in the UK, Netherlands, Poland and Italy prices were slightly down.

The European Commission published earlier this week its Communication: ‘Review of the Small Business Act for Europe’. To strengthen SMEs’ competitiveness the Small Business Act for Europe (SBA) provides a comprehensive SME policy framework, promotes entrepreneurship and anchors the ‘Think Small First’ principle in law and policy making.

SME awareness and participation in European standardization

EurActiv, the leading online media on European Union policies, will be running special coverage, from 28 February to 4 March, on raw materials. In the special report, EurActiv journalists will deal with the European Union’s strategy in the field and the positions of the relevant stakeholders, both NGOs and industry.
 

EurActiv will cover, among other topics: international trade issues, recycling, raw materials use and challenges in downstream industrial supply chain, as well as domestic mining.
 

"Faced with the prospect of civil war and bloodshed on a large scale in Libya if Colonel Gaddafi sticks to his threat to kill all his opponents, European Union leaders must move swiftly from deliberation to decisive action, deploying the full array of the diplomatic and political arsenal to halt the killings", said Guy Verhofstadt today.

Ethanol Summit 2011 Emphasizes Brazil's Role in Global Quest for Low-Carbon Solutions

São Paulo, February 23, 2011 - The third edition of one of the world's top events dedicated to renewable energies, with special focus on ethanol and other sugarcane by-products, is confirmed for June 6th and 7th. The Ethanol Summit, launched in 2007 and held every two years, is organized by the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA).