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Eurozone growth accelerates
29th of June 2011The economy of the 17 countries in the eurozone grew by 0.8 per cent in the first three months of 2011, up from 0.3 per cent in the previous quarter. Germany was largely responsible for the figure - which was better than expected - reporting growth of 1.5 per cent.
Debt-laden Greece surprisingly showed growth of 0.8 per cent, while France grew by
New Dutch labour law
29th of June 2011From July 1 it will be a condition for companies bidding for Dutch state tenders over 286,000 euros that at least five per cent of their staff are registered disabled or employed directly from the unemployment register.
This policy will be elaborated further during the next two years and eventually enshrined in legislation.
Redrawing the rules on European tax
19th of May 2011Business leaders in Europe are being urged to have their say in a consultation that could lead to the most radical shake-up of the VAT system in more than 40 years. The European Commission wants a “simpler, more robust and efficient” structure that will reduce the impact of the economic crisis on national budgets and help drive the
Eurozone recovery gains ground
19th of May 2011The European Commission has raised its eurozone growth forecast and announced that the economic recovery is gaining ground. But it was also quick to warn of higher inflation as a result of surging oil prices.
EU economic and monetary affairs commissioner Olli Rehn said he expected gross domestic product in the 17-countries eurozone to increase by
EU court rejects patent plan cornerstone
19th of May 2011The European Court of Justice has decided the proposed establishment of an EU patent tribunal is incompatible with EU rules, meaning this cornerstone of long-standing plans to create a unified European patent will have to be reviewed.
Moves to develop a single patent system for the EU began in 2003, but progress has been hampered by linguistic,
Equal opportunities study
18th of May 2011A recent international study done by an international consultancy calls into question many of the assumptions made about gender differences in job satisfaction and career development.
There was little statistical difference in the Accenture research between women (47 per cent) and men (44 per cent) when it came to dissatisfaction with current pay







