Brussels, 10 July 2008 - As a primary civil dialogue partner in the social field, the Social Platform attends a consultation session in the framework of the Informal Meeting of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers, held today and tomorrow (10-11 July) in Chantilly, France.

Oracle has launched its new Innovate Program in Bucharest, Romania. It is designed to identify and nurture young, promising technology entrepreneurs across Eastern Europe by providing them with access to business advice, venture capital funding and technical resources.

European steel producers seem determined to squeeze the European lemon, announcing additional massive price increases that further threaten the competitiveness of the European steel processing industry and the whole supply chain including metal transformation, machine building, shipbuilding and manufacturing of marine equipment, car suppliers and household producers, inevitably leading to higher prices.

Informing and educating motorists about road safety issues and promoting defensive and responsible behaviour by all road users are the commitments made in Paris by the Automobile Club Action Plus and Automobile Club Prévention of France when signing the European Road Safety Charter.

“The proposals published today by the European Commission will only raise the costs of motoring while not bringing any benefits to the environment” declared Wil Botman, Director-General of the FIA European Bureau.