In its 2002 Lisbon Agenda the European Union set out its goal of making Europe "the most dynamic competitive knowledge-based economy in the world". Oracle is deeply committed to supporting this goal, reflected in its significant and widespread contributions to the EU’s new Seventh Framework Programme initiatives .

As a major industry player and employer in Europe, Oracle has always been committed to helping the EU achieve its stated goal of making Europe the most dynamic, competitive, knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010.

The European Parliament Conference of Presidents has called on the authorities of Belarus to lift their entry ban on EU politicians. The leaders of the European Parliament's political groups demanded on Thursday that Belarus reciprocate the Council's decision earlier this week to lift travel restrictions imposed on certain leading Belarusian politicians for a trial period of six months.

Brussels, 15 October 2008 - A deepening global slowdown along with gloomy growth prospects and tumbling consumer confidence starts to take a toll on European auto makers, which are faced with the need to sustain high levels of investment to support the market transition to low-emission vehicles without the backing of sufficiently strong consumer demand and political support.

Please also see the press release on the drop in new car registrations in September, issued earlier this morning: