Brussels, 26 May 2015 -- Today, the European Commission is launching the European Smart specialisation platform on energy, which will support regions and Member States in using Cohesion Policy funding more effectively for promoting sustainable energy. The Platform will help regions to share their expertise on sustainable energy investments and especially on the deployment of innovative low-carbon technologies. By supporting the optimal use of Cohesion Policy funds for sustainable energy projects, the Platform will directly contribute to the European Energy...

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The ultimate owners of companies will have to be listed in central registers in EU countries, open both to the authorities and to people with a "legitimate interest", such as investigative journalists, under new rules already agreed with the Council and endorsed by Parliament on Wednesday. The new anti-money laundering directive aims to step up the fight against tax crimes and terrorist financing. New rules to make it easier to trace transfers of funds were also approved. The fourth anti-money...

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Stockholm, 18 May 2015 Ladies and gentlemen, There is an old saying that “with money, Latin and a good horse, you can get through all Europe”. These days a good command of Latin does not help you much outside of the Vatican City. Most of us prefer to travel by plane or train. But at least in the 19 countries of the euro area, the money a citizen holds in his or her pocket crosses all national borders. This only remains the...

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In this latest Climate Change and Energy update, the Administration announces the Solar Ready Vets Program and the POWER Initiative, releases a partnership with farmers and ranchers to address climate change, and issues an Executive Order to cut federal government emissions 40 percent by 2030. Keep reading to find out more! Solar Ready Vets Program On April 3, at an event at Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, Utah, President Obama announced a suite of commitments to help drive growth in...

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Brussels, 13 May 2015 – Further policy is needed to return to self-sustaining growth. The European Commission today adopted country-specific economic policy recommendations for 2015 and 2016 asking for national actions to create jobs and stimulate growth. These recommendations reflect the Commission’s economic and social agenda. Since President Juncker’s Commission took office in November 2014 and published its Annual Growth Survey 2015, this agenda has focused on three mutually reinforcing pillars: boosting investment, implementing structural reforms and pursuing fiscal responsibility. The successful...

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Improving Europe's capacity to innovate and be globally competitive requires further efforts to encourage disruptive ideas and foster their commercial up-take. These are some of the conclusions to be drawn from the latest ranking of innovation performance across Europe. The European Commission's Innovation Union Scoreboard 2015 reveals that the EU’s overall level of innovation has remained stable. However, the crisis has left an impact on the private sector's innovative activity: the number of innovative firms is in decline, as are...

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The Internet and digital technologies are transforming our world – in every walk of life and in every line of business. Europe must embrace the digital revolution and open up digital opportunities for people and businesses. How? By using the power of the EU's Single Market. Today, the European Commission unveiled its detailed plans to create a Digital Single Market, thereby delivering on one of its top priorities. At present, barriers online mean citizens miss out on goods and services:...

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Brussels, 05 May 2015 -- Economic growth in the European Union is benefitting from positive economic tailwinds. According to the European Commission's Spring 2015 Economic Forecast, these short-term factors are boosting an otherwise mild cyclical upswing in the EU. Europe’s economies are benefitting from many supporting factors at once. Oil prices remain relatively low, global growth is steady, the euro has continued to depreciate, and economic policies in the EU are supportive. On the monetary side, quantitative easing by the European...

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