Home › magazine › business reports
ISS results show growth in profit
13th of May 2011
Global building services provider ISS achieved almost six per cent organic growth and a rise in profits of seven per cent during the first quarter of this year - according to its results which have just been announced.
Revenue from continuing business grew by 10 per cent in the period January 1 to March 31 this year, while total revenue increased
Cautious optimism
16th of March 2011
It has been a difficult couple of years for the eurozone, due to the economic crisis. ECJ correspondent Hartley Milner looks ahead to what 2011 may hold for the eurozone – seeking opinion from business leaders inside and outside the cleaning sector.
Surveys show business confidence in Europe is at its highest in three years, with
EU countries unite on patent
16th of March 2011The European Parliament is expected to give its first green light to a 23-country enhanced cooperation for the European patent, confirming a fast-track approach chosen by the European Commission despite a number of unresolved controversial issues.
So far the proposal for a EU-wide system has been blocked in the EU Council of Ministers because votes
EU ministers reject maternity leave plan
16th of March 2011EU ministers have overwhelmingly rejected a move by Euro MPs to extend maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay in the 27 nations. The social affairs ministers voiced concern about the cost of the 20-week minimum the European Parliament voted for in October.
Minimum maternity leave in the EU is currently 14 weeks - the European Commission has
Public procurement reform
16th of March 2011The European Commission is to overhaul the rules governing public procurement in order to improve SMEs' access to national tenders, reduce red tape and boost cross-border activity.
SMEs currently have access to around one-third of all public contracts but this share is still much lower than their economic and social importance.
Promoting
Must be multilingual?
16th of March 2011Multilingualism is crucial for SMEs to be able to thrive in Europe - according to participants in a debate hosted by the European Commission and organised by a French language association.
The EU institutions' translation and interpreting services account for 1.1 billion euros or one per cent of the EU budget per year, the equivalent of 2.50 euros
RSS