Brussels, 25 March 2013: Europe’s digital companies welcome the EU and Japanese leaders’ decision to start negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Trade relations between the EU and Japan took a major step forward today when European and Japanese leaders announced the start of negotiations for an ambitious FTA. The EU digital technology industry has long called upon the EU and Japan to launch these negotiations. DIGITALEUROPE is convinced that the FTA has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits for both the EU and Japan.

Since 2009, our nine European associations, comprising regulators, exchanges, brokers, clearing houses, gas and electricity transmission system operators, energy trading firms as well as gas and electricity utilities, have united to take action to combat VAT fraudsters’ attempts to penetrate our markets, as previously mentioned in our December 2011 Joint Statement. Despite the coordinated actio

Brussels, 22 March 2013. AquaFed calls on the European institutions to amend the Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union1 to include the recognition of the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. This would contribute to making this right effective to all individuals across Europe and beyond.

The three Aftermarket Federations EGEA (European Garage Equipment Association), CECRA (European Council for Motor Trades and Repair) and FIGIEFA (European Federation of Automotive Aftermarket Distributors), under the hosting of Phil Bennion MEP (ALDE/UK), organised on the 19th of March a Policy breakfast in the European Parliament to highlight the implications of the Commission’s Roadworthiness package for their industry sector.