Latest News

A delegation of Danish companies involved in the offshore wind industry will visit Yorkshire early next month (September 1st – 3rd) as part of a drive to make the region a multi billion pound player in offshore wind and energy generation.

The European Commission has amended an EU Regulation to add a number of dangerous chemicals to a list that are banned or heavily restricted.

Member States are to put in place by May 2011 the EU rules on mediation in cross-border legal disputes. The EU Mediation Directive seeks to establish legal guarantees to mediation and ensure a high quality process by applying codes of conduct or mediator training.

A team from Sheffield Hallam University working on data search technology that has the power to change the World Wide Web has secured €370,000 funding from the European Commission with help from Enterprise Europe Yorkshire.

Self-employed workers and their partners will enjoy better social protection – including the right to maternity leave for the first time – under new legislation endorsed by EU governments.

The European Commission has adopted a Regulation which is expected to improve the performance of air navigation services and reduce the cost of flights in Europe.

A package of up to €6.4 billion funding is available to researchers and innovators to bid for across a wide range of scientific disciplines, public policy areas and commercial sectors.

The Commission has adopted a proposal to postpone the deadline for the submission of VAT refund requests relating to 2009.

The European Commission is proposing to simplify EU law on agricultural and forestry vehicles, removing 50 Directives and the related national implementing legislation in each EU country to replace them with just 5 Regulations.

Multinational companies wanting to transfer their skilled workers from a firm outside the EU to branches or subsidiaries based in EU Member States may find it easier in future, if a proposal from the European Commission is adopted.

The European Commission has proposed new legislation, designed to set up a common entry and residence procedure for seasonal workers from outside the EU and to define these workers’ rights.

European business leaders have unveiled a voluntary environmental code of conduct for the retail sector.

From 1 July 2010 consumers no longer need to worry about accidentally running up huge bills when they connect to the internet using mobile networks via a phone or computer when abroad in the EU.

A new standard is currently being developed to ensure that all types of electric vehicles and their batteries are charged both safely and easily in all EU Member States. The mandate for the development of the relevant standard will see plugs and connectors use the same standard all across Europe, providing a true European solution independently of brands or countries.

A proposal has been put forward on translation arrangements for a future EU Patent, the final element needed for a single European Patent to become a reality.

The European Commission has taken steps to try to reduce costs and make the implementation of the EU regulations on chemicals less difficult for small & medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Four out of five European managers are concerned about work-related stress, but less than a third of companies have set procedures to deal with it, according to a survey carried out by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA).

New rules have been adopted governing agreements between vehicle manufacturers and their authorised dealers, repairers and spare part distributors which should open up competition in this sector.

45% of Europeans would like to be their own boss if they could, but only an average of 10% is actually self-employed today, according to a survey carried out by the European Commission and published during European SME Week at the beginning of June.

The latest version of the Yorkshire & Humber Offshore Wind Catalogue is now available to download.

The revised Energy Labelling Directive has been formally adopted by the European Parliament. The energy labelling rules contained within the Directive could soon apply to a new range of products such as commercial refrigerators, vending machines and display cabinets.

The Commission has published a handbook of best practice to help truck park operators develop their sites in line with the required security standards. It is also for transport operators, drivers, shippers and national authorities interested in developing truck parks.

The Council has adopted a directive aimed at achieving the safest possible working environment for healthcare workers through prevention of injury from sharps objects.

Entrepreneurs have the chance to win prizes totalling a million euros in this year’s European Satellite Navigation Competition. ESA will award a special prize of €10 000 for the best idea and support the business start up at one of its four incubation centres.

The European Commission has published a report encouraging the uptake of green vehicles to help fight climate change, reduce oil dependency and boost industrial fabric.