The EU and U.S. EU negotiators met on Monday November 11th in Brussels for the first day in a second round of talks to foster progress in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The beginning of the week will be devoted to discussions on investment rules and trade in services. The teams of negotiators will continue working on those topics during the course of the week, as other negotiators meet to discuss a range of regulatory issues, including regulatory...

Read more

The Lithuanian Presidency of the EU Council is paying special attention to promoting vocational education and training (VET). Directors general responsible for VET in the EU member states, together with experts and social partners, have gathered in Vilnius to discuss how to enhance quality of vocational training, making VET directly meet the demands of the labour market, as well as promoting VET openness and inclusiveness to all. Dainius Pavalkis, this semester presiding over the meetings of EU ministers of education...

Read more

On 11 November the Council and the European Parliament agreed on the 2014 EU budget and on the financing of € 400.5 million to redress damages from natural disasters in four member states. In the Conciliation Committee, the two institutions agreed on € 135.50 billion for overall payment appropriations and € 142.64 billion for commitment appropriations for the EU budget for 2014. This is a decrease of 6.5% for payments and of 6.2% for commitments compared to the EU budget for 2013. Both institutions...

Read more

The Governing Council of the ECB decided that the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the interest rates on the marginal lending facility will decrease to 0.25% and 0.75% respectively. The interest rate on the deposit facility will remain at 0.00%. IN THIS CONTEXT: Introductory statement to the press conference by Mario Draghi Key ECB interest rates More information on monetary policy

Read more

Business Incubator Will Build Upon an Ongoing Renaissance and Provide Work Spaces to Freelancers, Start-Ups, Small Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations Part of the City's Growing Network of Incubators to Encourage Entrepreneurship and Create Jobs in Harlem New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced the opening of the Harlem Garage, part of the growing network of business incubators throughout New York City. Located on 118th Street, just west of Frederick Douglass Blvd., the Harlem Garage is an approximately 6,000...

Read more

In recent months, there have been encouraging signs that an economic recovery is underway in Europe. After contracting up to the first quarter of 2013, the European economy started to grow again in the second quarter and real GDP is set to continue growing in the remainder of this year. Growth in the second half of 2013 is expected at 0.5 % compared to the same period in 2012 in the EU. On an annual basis, real GDP growth this...

Read more

Benjamin Franklin, who helped negotiate the original trade treaties between America and Europe more than two centuries ago, gave the following advice: “To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.” Franklin was our first Ambassador, becoming U.S. Minister to France in 1776, long before our nation won its independence from Britain.  He saw an opportunity to build a strong relationship with a powerful ally.  Thanks to his work, the U.S. and France signed treaties in 1778...

Read more

In October the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) increased by 0.9 points in the euro area (to 97.8) and by 1.1 points in the EU (to 101.8). While the upward trend observed since May has been continued, the magnitude and sectoral scope of the improvement in confidence has moderated compared to recent months.   The Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) conducts regular harmonised surveys for different sectors of the economies in the European Union (EU) and in the...

Read more

EUROPEAN  COUNCIL  | Brussels, 25 October 2013 Signs of economic recovery are visible but the EU needs to pursue its efforts to increase growth potential, enhance job creation and boost European competitiveness. Today the European Council focused on the digital economy, innovation and services. These areas have a particular potential for growth and jobs which must be rapidly mobilized. The European Council provided concrete guidance so as to take full advantage of the existing potential. The European Council also looked...

Read more