Europe has enormous wealth in terms of intellectual, scientific, cultural and human resources. Yet, it is in danger of becoming a secondary region, as we seem to be incapable of bringing our strength to bear. To counter this trend, a paradigm change will be required. We need to liberate the human potential that we have in our institutions and organizations, by overcoming a culture adverse to innovation and entrepreneurship, counterproductive regulations, ineffective organizations and inadequate management practices.

Michael Gahler MEP has been appointed as Head of the Election Observation Mission of the European Union for the elections in Pakistan on 11 May 2013 by the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Gahler previously headed the EU mission for the parliamentary elections in 2008.

The current and future application of capitals in Integrated Reporting <IR> are explained today in a new report prepared for the IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council) by a group led by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and the Netherlands Institute of Chartered Accountants (NBA).

A call for renewable energy project funding, which potentially totals tens of millions of Euros under NER300, was launched by the European Commission today.

Brussels, 3rd April 2013 - The long road to finalize a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty aimed at regulating legal international trade in conventional arms and combating illegal trade came to a successful end on 2nd April. After a two week long final negotiation in New York, under the very skilful leadership of the Chair of the negotiation, Ambassador Woolcott from Australia, the conference agreed on a treaty text which was put forward to and subsequently voted through, with an overwhelming majority, in the UN General Assembly.