A CE standard for wood products has been recognised in Japan for the first time. This will simplify exports of construction timber to Japan, for European sawmills.

CEI-Bois has worked through EuropeanWood to facilitate exports of wood products to Japan.

“Recognition of the CE marked products for 2”x4” construction timber is a major breakthrough in our efforts to harmonise standards between Europe and Japan,” says Jan Söderlind, Chairman of EuropeanWood.

European Liberals and Democrats deplore the commitment made in Beijing yesterday by the European Council President, Herman van Rompuy, to open discussions on the recognition of market economy status to China.

- It is crucial to strike the right balance between financial stability and ensuring sufficient access to finance for the real economy. To that end, we need to revise the risk weights for SME loans when implementing the “Basel III” rules on capital requirements in the EU, and further develop and encourage alternative sources of funding, such as equity –oriented instruments and leasing - were the conclusions of a roundtable recently organized by UEAPME, ACCA and Leaseurope.

The European Parliament today approved a compromise solution on a scheme under the CAP, which provides food aid to the most vulnerable persons in the EU. The compromise follows the lines of a Green proposal made last year and would see the scheme continued until 2013 (around €500 million per year). This will ensure food banks across Europe are given sufficient time to prepare for a change in the scheme, rather than the disruption that would be caused by ending it abruptly.

Today, through a resolution, the European Parliament gave a first response to the official consultation launched by the European Commission last November 23rd 2011 on the "feasibility of introducing stability bonds". On the same topic, the EP has also decided to produce a report with more detailed recommendations on the Commission's work in producing a more concrete proposal in the future.