EUROPE: Your Europe: Business

http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/business/index.html

Aside from information about starting or closing a business in Europe, this website is a resource on topics like taxation, human resources, intellectual property, trade regulations, funding opportunities, and public procurement; country-specific information on these topics is also available. In addition, there is a directory of organizations and businesses, arranged either by topic or country. This is a multi-lingual site covering the following European countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

Category: Research: Organizations

FDI agencies

Europe

Spain

Agencia de Innovacion y Desarrollo de Andalucia IDEA - Andalucia , Spain , Europe

Valencian Community Investments S.A. - Valencia , Spain , Europe

Ukraine

Anika Ltd.- Invest in Ukraine - Ukraine , Europe

Germany

Berlin Partner - Berlin , Germany , Europe

Invest in Bavaria - Bavaria , Germany , Europe

Invest in Germany - Germany , Europe

UK

East Midlands Development Agency - East Midlands , United Kingdom , Europe

International Business Wales, Welsh Assembly Government - Wales , United Kingdom , Europe

Locate Dundee - Dundee , Scotland , United Kingdom

Scottish Development International - Scotland , United Kingdom , Europe

South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) - South East , United Kingdom , Europe

Belgium

Federal Public Service Economy - Belgium , Europe

Flanders Investment & Trade - Flanders , Belgium , Europe

Wallonia Export and Investment Agency - Wallonia , Belgium , Europe

Slovenia

JAPTI - Public Agency of Republic of Slovenia for Entrepreneurship and Foreign Investment - Slovenia , Europe

Netherlands

Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency - Netherlands , Europe

Province of Utrecht - Foreign Investment Office - Utrecht , Netherlands , Europe

West Holland Foreign Investment Agency - West Holland , Netherlands , Europe

Italy

PromoBologna - Bologna , Emilia Romagna , Italy

Sviluppo Lazio - Lazio , Italy , Europe

Founding Treaties of the EU

Treaty of Paris (1951) :

to secure peace and recovery for European countries after II World War. Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy,Luxembourg and the Netherlands (6 member States)

European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up under a shared authority – the “High Authority”.

Idea was took up by Robert Schuman (May 1950), originally conceived by Jean Monet.

Treaty of Rome (1957)

European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) were set up.

Customs duties completely removed (July 1, 1968). Common policies (trade and agriculture) set up (1960s).

Single European Act (1986)

Institutionalized the basis for political cooperation.

Treaty of Masstricht (1992):

“European Union” was born: community institutions strengthened and given broader responsibilities.

Enshrined the “principle of subsidiarity” (essential to the way the EU works).

Added areas of intergovernmental cooperation to the Community System (three pillars).

Monetary Union (1999).

European citizenship.

Common Policies (including Common Foreign and Security Policy –CFSP)

Treaty of Amsterdam (1997)

Simplified the co-decision procedure.

Enhanced the communitarian competencies (employment, customs, health, transparency and data protection).

Treaty of Nice (2003):

Integrated the 10 new Member States.

Set up new decision making policies (maximum number of Commissaries, new voting power within the Council, adoption of the Fundamental Rights Charter).

Constitutional Treaty (2004):

Pending its ratification due to the referendum rejection in France and the Netherlands.

Main EU’s Decision-Making Institutions

European Council:

Representing Member States.

Led under the leadership of a rotating Presidency (6 month-period undertaken by each Member State).

Co-decision power with the Parliament on the legislative process.

European Parliament:

Directly and democratically elected by citizens.

European Commission:

EU’s executive body.

Court of Justice:

Interprets treaties and looks for legality within the EU.

Court of Auditors:

Revenues and expenses auditor.

EU’s Member States and Enlargement

1951: Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (6 member States)

1973: Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom (9 member States)

1981: Greece (10 member States)

1986: Spain and Portugal (12 member States)

1995: Austria, Finland and Sweden (15 member States)

2004: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia (former Soviet block countries), Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (Baltic states that had once been part of the Soviet Union), Slovenia (one of the republics of the former Yugoslavia), and Cyprus and Malta (Mediterranean countries) (25 member States)

2007: Bulgaria and Romania (former Soviet block countries) (27 member States)

Business from Latin America & Caribbean to Europe

The LAC–European Union: Strategic Partnership

Rio de Janeiro Summit in 1999:

Decision to launch the strategic relationship. Based on a deep cultural heritage that unites both regions Goal: improve welfare levels in both regions, under the principle of sustainable development, and taking into account global opportunities. Heads of State and Government identify priorities for bi-regional action, in several areas: economic, political, cultural, educational, scientific, technological, social

Madrid Summit 2002

“Compromiso de Madrid” was a political declaration signed at the Summit- to look for areas of cooperation between regions. Decision to achieve global agreements with those LAC sub-regions that would integrate and were interested in signing agreements with EU

Guadalajara Summit 2004

The themes: Multilateralism and Social Cohesion. Commitment to work towards a strong multilateral system having the UN as the centre. Deep and strong dialog on the topic of poverty, inequality and exclusion, with decisive commitments to take bi-regional action. Commitment to work towards the possibility of starting trade negotiations with sub-regions, in order to complete an integral agreement

Vienna Summit 2006

Theme: “Strengthening the bi-regional Strategic Association”. Important statements and commitments in 12 topics: Democracy and Human Rights, Strengthening Multilateralism, Terrorism, Drugs and Organized Crime, Environment, Energy, Migration, Fight against Poverty, Exclusion, Inequality,

Association Agreements:

integration, trade, connectivity, Growth and Employment, Cooperation and International, Financing

for Development, Knowledge Sharing and capacity building: education, science and technology and culture.

Current status

LAC perspective:

Chile and Mexico have comprehensive Association Agreements with the EU.

Mercosur is negotiating an Association Agreement.

Central America and the Andean Community are starting negotiations on the free trade aspect of the agreement.

Privileged geopolitical location, large market, for goods and investment; young labor force.