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 «Brussels in Brief - Interface Europe’s Newsletter» - April 2008

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  General EU Information

  • Council of the EU

    2008-04-01 - 2009 to be European Year of Creativity and Innovation

    The European Commission has announced that it would like to make 2009 the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. Europe is striving to become the world's leading knowledge-based economy by 2010. It is widely agreed that to reach this target will require encouraging people to develop skills in a number of areas that are key to building a knowledge-orientated society.

    Further information

    2008-04-08 - Scientists prove mutation linked to leukaemia

    An international team of scientists has shed new light on how a mutation in a protein causes acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a type of blood cancer. The findings have implications for our understanding of AML, and the way leukaemias are treated. The work, which is partly funded by the EU, is published in the latest edition of the journal Cancer Cell.

    Further information

    2008-04-10 - Commission urges Member States and public research organisations to better convert knowledge into socio-economic benefits

    The European Commission today adopted a Recommendation on the management of intellectual property in knowledge transfer activities of universities and other public research organisations. The Recommendation provides public research organisations (PROs) with operational principles to more effectively manage and exploit intellectual property

    Further information

    2008-04-15 - Launch of ‘Ljubljana Process’ to revive the European Research Area

    The Informal Meeting of the Competitiveness Council, bringing together the EU Ministers competent for Research, started today at Brdo pri Kranju. The Meeting was chaired by the Slovenian Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mojca Kucler Dolinar, who commented that Europe had as yet not fully exploited its research potential – its human resources, institutions and, in particular, the operational synergy between them. This is also the reason why, on scales measuring competitiveness and innovation, the United States and Japan, for example, often rank higher than Europe, while China is about to catch up with all three. “The European Research Area, when fully implemented, should provide the research-friendly environment vital for achieving the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy, which responds to these challenges,” pointed out Mrs Kucler Dolinar.

    Further information

  • European Parliament

    2008-06-02 - Brussels Plenary session

    In two days of debates in Brussels last week, MEPs covered a series of issues ranging from Tibet to climate change. They also approved the EU's new Health Commissioner and considered reports on Croatia's and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's aspirations to join the Union. Also discussed during the twoday plenary session was a new Cancer screening strategy that would extend best practice across the 27 member bloc. Also up for discussion was the situation in Lebanon and two reports by MEPs on ways to boost the European Union's cultural industry. On the issue of the Olympic games and China's policies in Tibet MEPs from across the House called for the Union to adopt a common policy in its response to controversy over the torch and the opening ceremony.

    Further information

    2008-06-02 - Strasbourg Plenary session

    An EU-wide organ donor card and calls for a moratorium on the use of biofuels in the wake of rising food prices were just two items backed by MEPs in Strasbourg when the met 21-24 April. Members also approved funding for the Gallileo space project and the signed off the 2006 budget discharge for the EU. On international issues they passed resolutions calling for the results of the election in Zimbabwe to be honoured and for greater human rights in Burma.

    Further information
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  EU policies and funding programmes for Research, Innovation, Training and Competitiveness

  • Research Policy

    • General points

      2008-04-08 - First international summit conference on National Research Funding Agencies

      Last 21 and 22th of March ANR, the French Research Agency, organized in Paris, the first international summit conference on national research funding agencies. Ten countries were represented. This Summit Conference was organized in order to allow prominent invited personalities to bring a strong insider view of their research financing mechanisms, showing how they adapt successfully to the constraints of their own country, making possible development of basic research as well as partnership research in the most effective manner.

      Further information

      2008-04-11 - European Commission nominates high-level advisory group on research and science

      The European Commission announced today the names of 22 personalities who will make up the European Research Area Board (ERAB). These persons come from the fields of science, academia and business and will provide independent and authoritative advice to the European Commission on European research and science policy, whose objective is to realise a European Research Area.

      Further information

      2008-04-17 - France seeks more ambitious EU globalisation strategy

      The EU's growth and jobs strategy needs to be supplemented by a global arm if Europe wants to remain competitive in the future, argues a new report for the French government, which could become official policy when the country assumes the EU Presidency on 1 July.

      Further information

      2008-04-21 - The COST 2008 pocket guide is now available

      This easy-to-use guide covers the whole of the COST system for research cooperation in Europe, including information about COST governance, contact points and financial instruments plus, most importantly, the COST Actions.

      Further information

      2008-04-25 - Knowledge sharing and infrastructures key to ERA, say research stakeholders

      'Sharing knowledge' and 'developing world-class research infrastructures' are the most important issues to be addressed in order to take the next step towards the European Research Area (ERA). This is the key outcome of the public consultation on the European Commission Green Paper 'The European Research Area: New Perspectives'.

      Further information

    • European Research and Innovation projects

      • ICT

        2008-04-07 - New EU project to boost online security

        A new EU-funded project is set to boost our understanding of the new and existing threats to the internet and its users. The WOMBAT ('Worldwide observatory of malicious behaviours and attack threats') project is funded by the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) programme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

        Further information
        2008-04-15 - CyberCarpet transports users to virtual worlds

        EU-funded scientists have developed a platform which allows users to stroll freely through virtual worlds. The CyberCarpet is currently set up with a programme that allows users to visit the ancient Italian town of Pompeii and see it as it was before Vesuvius buried it under layers of ash and rock in 79 AD. However, its developers believe that it could have applications in a wide range of fields, including training and town planning. The carpet is a product of the EU-funded CyberWalk project, which is funded under the 'Information society technologies' (IST) thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information

      • Health

        2008-04-01 - Scientists discover more genes linked to diabetes

        An international team of scientists has identified six new genes associated with type 2 diabetes, raising to 16 the total number of genes found to be implicated in diabetes. Intriguingly, one of the newly identified genes has also been shown to play a role in the development of prostate cancer.

        Further information
        2008-04-02 - Protein discovery sheds light on autoimmune diseases

        The immune system is made up of a collection of mechanisms that protect our bodies from disease and infection. But if you have an autoimmune disease, your own immune system attacks itself by mistake. Many parts of the body can be affected by these diseases, including nerves, muscles, and the endocrine and digestive systems. Autoimmune diseases are the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the industrialised world and are only surpassed by cancer and heart disease. Now scientists working on an EUfunded

        project have identified a protein, which they say will lead to new ways of understanding and treating these autoimmune diseases.

        The three-year EurAPS project is funded under the 'Life Sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health' thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). Bringing together 16 partners from across Europe, as well as Australia and Hong Kong, the project studied a rare genetic disorder of early childhood called Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I (APS-1). The findings are published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

        Further information
        2008-04-03 - Smoking genes? European scientists discover the first case of a genetic dependence to nicotine

        Scientists from an EU-supported consortium have discovered that a mutation in a human gene confers nicotine dependence. They have shown that a particular variant of a nicotine-receptor gene impacts smoking behaviour and hence confers a 30% increase in risk of lung cancer and a 20% increase in risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common and debilitating constriction of the arteries to the legs. Roughly half of the people of European descent carry at least one copy of this genetic variant, which does not influence smoking initiation, but makes it more difficult to quit. The results stem out from the European project GENADDICT (Genomics, mechanisms and treatment of addiction), which is supported by 8.1 million euros' worth of funding from the EU’s Sixth Framework Programme for research and by the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

        Further information
        2008-04-07 - New benefits of vegan diet revealed

        Sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis may benefit from a vegan diet, according to new research funded by the European Commission. A gluten-free vegan diet was found to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in people with the disease. The effect was observed in a group of rheumatoid arthritis patients that adhered to the diet for a year and exhibited a decrease in low density lipoprotein (LDL) and oxidized LDL levels, as well as raised atheroprotective natural antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PC).

        Further information
        2008-04-10 - School closure could slow down flu pandemic, study shows

        Closing schools in a flu pandemic could prevent one in seven cases of the disease and slow down the spread of the virus, according to new, EU-funded research. Maintaining stocks of flu vaccines and anti-viral drugs is extremely expensive, so policy makers are keen to find non-pharmaceutical methods for controlling the spread of a possible future flu pandemic. One of the most often-considered options is school closure. Such a measure would come with high social and economic costs, yet until now there has been little evidence on how effective it would be at preventing the spread of the disease.

        Further information
        2008-04-11 - New EU project to speed up diagnosis of coeliac disease

        Designing a new tool to aid in the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease is the aim of the EUfunded CD-MEDICS ('Coeliac disease management monitoring diagnosis using biosensors and integrated chip systems') project, which has just got underway. Coeliac disease is an auto-immune condition caused by intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. When people with the disease eat foods containing these products, the gluten damages the gut lining and so prevents food from being digested and absorbed normally.

        Further information
        2008-04-21 - Adult stem cells to the rescue

        EU-funded researchers have for the first time demonstrated the presence of neural stem cells in an adult human spinal cord. The finding, which is published in the Journal of Neuroscience Research, is expected to have implications for the way spinal injuries and degenerative motor neuron diseases are treated.

        Further information
        2008-04-23 - Scientists find new way to get immune cells into tumours

        A team of German and Australian scientists has identified a protein which plays a role in keeping tumourfighting immune cells out of cancerous tumours. The researchers hope that the protein could be used as a target for anti-cancer drugs, especially when used in combination with treatments designed to boost the body's immune response. The work, which is partly funded by the EU, is published online by the journal Nature.

        Further information
        2008-04-24 - Study reveals worrying state of European teens' health

        Over a fifth of European teenagers are overweight or obese, and few adolescents follow dietary advice on fruit and vegetable intake. These are just two of the findings of the EU-funded HELENA ('Healthy lifestyle in Europe by nutrition in adolescence') project.

        Further information
        2008-04-25 - Heart to heart: scientists create heart muscle cells from adult stem cells

        In a world first, Dutch scientists have successfully taken stem cells from adult human hearts and used them to create new heart muscle cells. These cultured heart muscle cells will enable scientists to study heart defects and test new medicines, and could one day be used to repair heart tissue which has been damaged during a heart attack. The work, which was funded in part by the EU, is published in the journal Stem Cell Research.

        Further information

      • Environment

        2008-04-08 - Tsunami fears for Mediterranean realistic

        The tsunami of 26 December 2004 shocked the world. It killed over 225,000 people in 11 countries and served as a wake up call on the destructive capabilities of nature. The event also shook Europeans, especially those living in coastal areas, leaving them to wonder whether such an event could happen at home. The answer came in a recent study analysing the plate tectonics of the Mediterranean seafloor: it suggested that Europe may be in store for a tsunami a lot sooner than previously thought.

        Further information
        2008-04-14 - Calls grow for EU to 'suspend' biofuels push

        The EU must suspend its target of raising the share of biofuels in transport to 10% until a more comprehensive scientific study on their environmental risks is carried out, the European Environment Agency has said. The warning came as the World Bank joined the chorus of criticism against increased biofuel production. In an opinion made public on 10 April, the Agency's Scientific Committee stressed that the EU's mandatory biofuel quota of 10% is an "overambitious […] experiment, whose unintended effects are difficult to predict and difficult to control".

        Further information
        2008-04-16 - EU project develops smart materials for noise reduction

        Reducing noise pollution was the goal of the recently-completed EU-funded InMar ('Intelligent Materials for Active Noise Reduction') project. It has successfully developed a series of smart materials and systems for use in automobiles and rail vehicles and infrastructures. The four-year InMar project brought together 41 partners from 13 countries and was coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability in Darmstadt. It received close to €15 million under the EU's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

        Further information
        2008-04-16 - Impact of climate change on marine algae

        With climate change looming large, countries around the world are mobilising their top scientists in an effort to measure its impact on the environment and society. One such scientist is the young Dr Björn Rost, who was recently awarded an Independent Researcher Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). His research will focus on the impact of climate change on micro algae in the oceans. Funded to the tune of €1.4 million by the ERC, the PhytoChange project will deal with the impact of climate change on marine phytoplankton - micro algae. The ocean's surface micro algae play an important part in the marine ecosystem as they provide the nutritional basis for marine life. There is much life on the ocean's surface; micro algae are able to utilise the sun's rays as their source of energy for growth and transform carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic compounds such as sugars.

        Further information
        2008-04-17 - Kids and water

        The project “Play with Water” is creating hands-on learning experiences for children of European schools, which includes of course the European scientists of the future. There is then no better topic than that of growing concern not only for Europe, but worldwide: the sustainable management of water.

        Further information
        2008-04-22 - In with recycled plastic bricks, out with cement

        Recycling has been around for ages, but it wasn't until the 1970s that drop-off recycling centres emerged, and the late 1980s that doorstep collection began. While the existing recycling process is crucial to dealing with the growing amount of waste we produce, researchers are looking for alternative solutions. A group from Spain, Latvia and Lithuania says it is now ready to launch a green solution for plastic waste management for the European market. Funded by the EUREKA programme, the SANDPLAST project has developed a technology for the production of concrete building materials using polymer waste and inert fillers.

        Further information

      • Agriculture

        2008-04-04 - Project tackles devastating stone-fruit disease

        Threats to the productivity and fruit quality of the Prunus species, which includes plum and peach trees, intensify when the Sharka disease rears its ugly head. Also known as the Plum pox virus (PPV), Sharka is a global problem for which no chemical or biological curative treatment exists. Now, a new €3 million EUfunded project 'Sharka Containment European' (SharCo) aims to tackle the disease head on.

        Further information

      • Transport

        2008-04-01 - Project develops car-safety technology

        Imagine driving down the motorway, when suddenly a car swerves dangerously out of its lane and heads straight in the direction of your car. Sensing an imminent collision, your car takes measures to protect you from a life-threatening crash. This technology is not science fiction, but will soon find its way to a car showroom near you. Over 40,000 people are killed every year on the roads in the EU, that amounts to a whole town being wiped out every year. And when it comes to injuries as a result of road accidents, the numbers reach a staggering 1.7 million a year. These numbers are unacceptable by any standard and the EU has committed itself to reducing them by half by 2010. For this reason, the EU is actively supporting measures aimed at reducing road accidents. Just one of these EU-sponsored projects promises to revolutionise the way we drive and how we think about safety. The Advanced Protection Systems (APROSYS) project is developing a car body that transforms an average car into an intelligent vehicle that can actively think and protect its occupants in the crucial moments just prior to or during a crash. The system will decide if there is a collision risk with another car 200 milliseconds before impact and can survey an area of 20-metre range around the car.

        Further information
        2008-04-10 - Solar Impulse aircraft demonstrates clean mobility

        A manned aeroplane capable of flying day and night on solar energy alone may sound like science fiction, but partners in the Solar Impulse project hope that it will soon become tomorrow's reality. The Swiss-led project was presented at a seminar 'Towards a more sustainable aviation' at the European Parliament on 9 April, where it received the official backing of the European Commission.

        Further information
        2008-04-21 - EU project shows car safety is not just about engineering

        Car safety is high on the EU agenda. Over the years, carmakers have been developing mainly engineering systems with an array of gadgets and features to make driving a safer and more enjoyable experience. Now, with € 2.6 million in EU funding, the DIPLECS project will bring together researchers from four Member States to develop a cognitive system that protects both drivers and pedestrians.

        Further information
        2008-04-21 - EU on the fast track to a greener, safer, smarter road transport system

        Today in Ljubljana, EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik opened the Transport Research Arena 2008 Conference and Expo, together with Radovan Žerjav, Slovenian Minister for Transport. This four-day flagship event brings together over 1000 CEOs and senior executives from EU road transport industries, national and EU administrations, infrastructures operators, public and private R&D organisations, as well as users’ associations. It showcases the latest policy developments and technology breakthroughs which contribute to make road transport greener, safer, smarter and more user-friendly, while strengthening EU industries’ leadership in that key economic sector.

        Further information

      • Nanosciences

        2008-04-18 - A new spark in nanotechnology

        An exciting new artificial material is creating big sparks as it embarks on a revolution in the development of materials for electronic applications. This new superlattice composed of transition metal oxides was created through the collaborative efforts of European researchers.

        Further information
        2008-04-23 - Europe ahead of US in funding nanotech risk research

        Europe invests nearly twice as much as the US in research addressing the potential risk of nanotechnologies, a report issued by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) indicates. While the US National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) allocated USD13 million (€8.1 million) to risk-related projects in the fiscal year 2006, Europe set aside USD24 million (€15 million) over the same time period.

        Further information

      • Space

        2008-04-08 - Commemorating 30 years of European human space flight

        Thirty years ago, a Czech citizen, Vladimir Remek, made history when he became the first man from a country other than the US or former Soviet Union to go into space. On 2 March 1978, he took off aboard the Soyuz 28 spacecraft for an eight-day mission to the Salyut 6 space station.

        Further information
        2008-04-09 - Galileo Masters competition enters new round

        With Galileo, the European satellite navigation system, receiving the green light, the race is on to develop a whole range of new navigation applications and services. This is where the recently launched 'Galileo Masters' European Satellite Navigation Competition (ESNC) comes in. The competition, now in its fifth year, is open to companies, entrepreneurs, research institutes, universities and individuals, and awards the best ideas for innovative satellite navigation applications. This year, prizes will include a Special Topics award for the most promising geostationary navigation application. The winners will be announced in October.

        Further information
        2008-04-15 - Wanted: highly-motivated applicants for human space flight

        The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that it is to recruit a new batch of astronauts to take part in future missions to the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon and beyond. This is the ESA's fourth astronaut selection process in 30 years, and comes 16 years after the previous recruitment drive, which provided the human resources for the Columbus laboratory project aboard the ISS. Now, new recruits are needed to take part in human spaceflight of the 21st century, which may include missions to the Moon and the further exploration of our solar system. Other world powers are already preparing for these missions. Possessing an operational astronaut corps is therefore an essential strategic asset if Europe is to take part in this endeavour, says the ESA.

        Further information
        2008-04-24 - Galileo clears final regulatory hurdle

        The European Parliament has approved a regulation laying down the procurement rules and security requirements for Galileo, the European satellite navigation system. The agreement is expected to allow the system to become fully operational by 2013.

        Further information

      • Energy

        2008-04-15 - Commissioner Piebalgs underlines the role of nuclear energy in the transition towards a low carbon economy

        Towards a low carbon economy. Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs reiterated today the importance of nuclear energy for the reduction of CO2 emissions in a speech at a European Nuclear Assembly conference in Brussels. The conference was dedicated to the development of Europe's low carbon economy and organised by Foratom.

        Further information
        2008-04-16 - Europe launches first procurement for ITER

        Fusion for Energy (F4E), the agency responsible for Europe's contribution to the international experimental thermonuclear reactor (ITER), is expected to unlock new business opportunities for industry with the launch of its first ever procurement. Established in April 2007, the Barcelona-based F4E is working with industry and research organisations around Europe to provide the components needed to build the experimental fusion reactor. The aim of the agency's first procurement is to supply the chromium-plated copper strands for ITER's super conducting magnets, which will hold the plasma in position within the reactor.

        Further information
        2008-04-25 - Commission launches consultation to prepare an EU Offshore Wind Energy Action Plan

        The European Commission is inviting investors, project developers, wind turbine manufacturers, energy companies, government services, environmental NGOs and all other interested stakeholders, including the general public, to help identify the key barriers for the further development of offshore wind energy in Europe and what might be done to overcome them.

        Further information

    • Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development 2007- 2013 (FP7)

      • News

        2008-04-04 - “People” call published: Initial Training Networks

        The European Commission has published a call for proposals under the 'People' section of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The call relates to the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITNs), which are intended to improve the career perspectives of early-stage researchers in both the public and private sectors, thereby making research careers more attractive to young people. This will be achieved through a trans-national networking mechanism, aimed at structuring the existing high-quality initial research training capacity throughout Member States and Associated countries in both the public and private sectors. It will be implemented by supporting competitively selected networks of organisations from different countries engaged in research training. The networks will be built on a joint research training programme, responding to identified training needs in defined scientific or technological areas, with appropriate references to interdisciplinary and newly emerging supra-disciplinary fields. The action is primarily for researchers from Member States and Associated countries, but is also open to researchers from third countries.

        Remarks: The deadline for submitting proposal documents is 2 September 2008.

        Need support to seize these opportunities? See our specific services (European Public Affairs, Technological and Economic Intelligence, European helpdesk, legal and financial assistance, assistance for EU project drafting and/or management, training, etc.) provided by our Experts with hands on experience from European Commission, industry and academic sector: More information on projects

        Further information
        Become an expert evaluator for FP7

        The website to register as an expert for research activities is available on CORDIS. The call for experts is open both for individuals and for organisations.

        Further information

  • Innovation policy

    2008-04-01 - Interview: EU firms 'too shy' about basic research

    Dialogue between big companies and research organisations should be improved in order to boost the EU's innovation potential, argues Michel Cosnard from the French national institute for research in computer science (INRIA) in an interview with EurActiv.

    Further information

  • Education policy

    2008-04-07 - Potocnik calls for process to modernise universities to begin

    In order to move towards a knowledge-based society, European universities must embark on a process of modernisation, says European Science Commissioner Janez Potocnik. Speaking to participants at a colloquium of the French Conference of University Presidents (CPU) in Brussels on 4 April, the Commissioner welcomed recent changes to French law giving greater autonomy to universities.

    Further information

    2008-04-10 - Commission launches initiative to facilitate mobility in vocational education and training

    The European Commission has presented plans for a Europe-wide credit system in vocational education and training. This system, called ECVET, would make it easier for citizens to get formal recognition of Interface Europe – www.interfaceurope.eu 17 knowledge, skills and competences they have gained in another country. Member States are encouraged to sign up to this voluntary scheme that does not seek to replace national systems but to facilitate the transfer between them.

    Further information

    2008-04-23 - The European Qualifications Framework: a new tool to translate qualifications

    The European Commission welcomes the formal adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) on 23 April 2008. The way is clear now for Member States to adopt this voluntary scheme that will promote lifelong learning and mobility by making it easier to understand and compare individuals' qualifications around Europe.

    Further information

  • Regional policy

    2008-04-07 - Cohesion policy after 2013: Commissioner Hübner underlines need for investment in future at high-level debate in Maribor, Slovenia

    Danuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, today addresses a major conference in Maribor, Slovenia on the future shape of Cohesion Policy after 2013. The event, organised by the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union, offers an opportunity to discuss the policy's scope and impact, and paves the way for the forthcoming discussion on the EU budget. The Commissioner will present initial results of its analysis of contributions to the public consultations on the future of Cohesion Policy.

    Further information

    2008-04-24 - OPEN DAYS 2008: 'Regions and cities in a challenging world'

    'Regions and cities in a challenging world' is the theme of OPEN DAYS 2008, announced today by Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, and Luc Van den Brande, President of the EU Committee of the Regions. The sixth edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities, OPEN DAYS, will be held in Brussels from 6 to 9 October. This year, 217 regions and cities from 32 countries have signed up as partners, and participants are expected from many other countries. There will be 120 events in Brussels and around 250 local events all over Europe during OPEN DAYS, which has become the most important annual gathering of EU and regional policy-makers, experts and representatives of banking, business and civil society groups.

    Further information

  • Information society

    2008-04-03 - Speeding up wireless networks

    With the internet here to stay, Europe is striving to stay at the cutting edge of internet solutions technology and is fostering take-up in all areas of life, from government to business. As its application increases, so too have the numbers of people connecting to the internet. However access to internet connections that provide reliable and fast bandwidth remains a major issue for many users. Now research underway in Europe promises to improve our internet experience by quadrupling the rate of data transfer over wireless networks.

    Further information

    2008-04-25 - Survey takes pulse of e-Health in Europe and prescribes wider ICT use among doctors

    The European Commission today published a pan-European survey on electronic services in healthcare (eHealth) that shows 87% of European doctors (General Practitioners) use a computer, 48% with a broadband connection. European doctors increasingly store and send patients' data such as lab reports electronically. In using such eHealth applications, doctors and medical services have already improved healthcare in Europe through, for example, more efficient administration and shorter waiting times for patients. The report also highlights where doctors could make better use of ICT to offer services such as telemonitoring, electronic prescriptions and cross border medical services.

    Further information

  • Enterprises

    2008-04-08 - Micro enterprises accounted for 30% of those employed in the non-financial business economy

    In 2005, there were almost 20 million enterprises active within the non-financial business economy (NFBE) in the EU27. Nearly all of these enterprises (99.8%) were either micro, small or medium-sized enterprises, with up to 249 persons employed. This share varied only marginally between Member States. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises' relative importance in terms of contribution to jobs and wealth was lower than their share in the total number of enterprises, since they accounted for 67% of total employment and 58% of value added in the non-financial business economy in the EU27 in 2005.

    Further information

    2008-04-17 - 'Small Business Act' to boost job creation

    EU ministers have called on the Commission to produce a strong "Small Business Act" that will help SMEs grow, amid fears that jobs in big industry could be lost due to competition with low-cost countries.

    Further information
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  Other EU Policies and funding programmes supporting the Lisbon Strategy

  • Security

    2008-04-09 - EU Governments Ask EDA for Armaments Strategy, Agree Steps for More Defence Collaboration

    EU governments today asked the European Defence Agency to produce an Armaments Strategy to help meet future military needs, ensure interoperability and standardization, and share the ever-increasing costs of developing and procuring high-technology defence equipment. A two-day meeting of the EDA Steering Board also agreed a number of specific measures to intensify defence collaboration, including work on key technologies and industrial capabilities to be retained or developed in Europe, rules to help greater sharing of testing facilities, actions to encourage more cross-border bids for defence equipment contracts, and further investments in the Agency’s work on Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs).

    Further information

  • External relations – Enlargement

    2008-04-08 - Investment summit aims to boost regional integration and EU investment in Southern Mediterranean

    Leaders from the signatories of the Agadir Agreement (Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan) are today meeting senior EU policy-makers and business representatives for talks designed to sharply increase EU investment in the Southern Mediterranean. The forum focuses on improving legal frameworks for investment, encouraging joint partnerships between EU and Southern Mediterranean businesses and boosting EU investment in the region, which is among the lowest for any such region globally. The Forum was opened by EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

    Further information

    2008-04-09 - EU and India to deepen biotech research ties

    The EU and India are set to deepen their biotechnology research ties, particularly in the fields of food and health. A delegation from the EU recently visited India to discuss cooperation over issues such as the links between health and nutrition and how these can be exploited to help prevent chronic diseases.

    Further information
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  Research, Innovation, Training and Competitiveness related EU events

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