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The European Commission has launched today the Europe 2020 Strategy which looks to bring the Member States out of the financial crisis and to prepare EU economy for the next decade.

EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers have today adopted a Directive to prevent injuries and infections to healthcare workers from sharp objects such as needles – one of the most serious health and safety threats in European workplaces and estimated to cause 1 million injuries each year.

The EU and Vietnam have agreed to launch bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations following a meeting between EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi.

From the beginning of March, in order to comply with European competition rules, users of Windows PCs who have Internet Explorer as default web browser are being provided with a browser Choice Screen.

Are you thinking about setting up your own business or are you already a successful entrepreneur? The “Erasmus for Young Enterpreneurs” exchange scheme offers an excellent opportunity for new entrepreneurs to acquire relevant skills for managing a small or medium sized enterprise (SME).

The Commission has adopted a report on sustainability requirements for the use of solid biomass and biogas in electricity, heating and cooling. The report makes recommendations on sustainability crieteria for use by Member States opting to introduce a scheme at national level on biomass sustainability.

From 1st March 2010, European mobile phone operators are obliged under EU roaming rules to offer their customers a cut-off limit facility to protect them from 'bill shocks' for surfing the Internet with their mobile phones and laptops while travelling in other EU countries.

New rules affecting companies employing temporary agency workers will be the subject of a FREE workshop held next month.

European Community legislation requires the UK to collect information on intra-EU trade in goods for statistical purposes and sets minimum requirements for the quantity of trade covered.

A €20,000 prize pot is on offer for short film makers as part of the European Commission’s annual SME week.

Are you producing or importing chemicals? If so you have until the 30 November 2010 for registering: •most hazardous substances (e.g. CMR) above 1 tonne a year; •substances deemed very toxic to the aquatic environment above 100 tonnes per year; •All substances manufactured or imported which exceed 1000 tonnes a year.

The Technology Strategy Board will invest a further £6m in regenerative medicine research and development (R&D). British companies are invited to bid for funding from 8 March 2010 and can apply through two new competitions.

Lord Mandelson has recently visited Germany in order to find out how the UK could learn from the success of the country’s strong innovation network.

The EU-Japan Centre is currently inviting applications for 5 day World Class Manufacturing (WCM) training missions in Japan taking place in June and October this year.

The European Commission has officially announced the winner of the EU organic logo competition.

A published report recommends setting up a dedicated EU body to oversee implementation and enforcement of European waste law.

The new European telecoms regulator BEREC has been established following the adoption by the Council and Parliament of the new EU Telecoms rules in December 2009.

As of today, all EU Member States will step up their border controls on a number of pre-listed products - ranging from peanuts to fruit and vegetables- originating from outside the EU in an effort to limit possible harm to human and animal health.

If you run a small business in Yorkshire and Humber with less than 250 employees then you are eligible for a £50 discount on an Insured Advice policy.

More than 180 small and medium-sized British companies are to share nearly £6.5 million investment from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board in order to stimulate innovation in a wide range of technology areas.

A £50 million fund is helping small businesses in Yorkshire to combat the recession.

Are you passionate about film making? And have you ever thought about being your own boss? If the answer is yes to both these questions then you should submit a short film for the 2010 European Entrepreneurship video award .

Members of five advisory groups are urging the EU to "radically improve" long-term planning as part of a major rethink of the way it organises research and innovation.

The so-called “VAT Package” (EU VAT Directive) enters into force from 1 January 2010 across the EU and includes rules to avoid double taxation. In preparation for the entry into force of these new rules, the Commission has adopted a proposal on implementing measures to prevent different interpretations.

According to the European Commission there has been good progress in the implementation of the Small Business Act (SBA) in 2009.