EU Intelligence » The ESBA Bulletin » 2002
ESBA WEEKLY of Monday 2nd December - VOL 4 - N° 33
Quote of the Week:
Even a clock that does not work is right twice a day - Proverb (Polish)
Headlines of this WEEK:
- EU/Convention: launch of "Social Europe" group on 6 December
- EU/Entrepreneurship: 25% decline in global entrepreneurial activity
- Entrepreneurship Conference in Louvain La Neuve (19-20/11/02)
- EU/enterprise: Council debated last week the use of quantitative targets in enterprise policy
EU/Convention: launch of "Social Europe" group on 6 December
Following the request expressed by several organisations at the last plenary, the President has decided to create a working group to look at "Social Europe". It will be chaired by Giorgios Katiforis (MEP, PSE) and is expected to issue a report at the end of January. It will consider the EU's values and social objectives, the relationship between the EU and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the EU's competencies in that field and the role of the social partners in the Treaty.
More Info: http://european-convention.eu.int/
EU/Entrepreneurship: 25 % decline in global entrepreneurial activity
On the 13th November the London Business School, which was founded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, published"2002 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor". This study highlights that entrepreneurship has declined by 25% in several of the EU countries. Although this fall in entrepreneurial activity partly reflects the general economic down turnh, some of the other results are not encouraging for the EU. The findings underline the biggest declines for France (-57 %), Germany (-35 %), Italy (- 42 %) and the UK (-31 %). Moreover, policies to reinvigorate entrepreneurship, mostly implemented in EU countries (such as the EU's Lisbon Strategy), have modest results. Not least, the number of European individuals involved in entrepreneurial activity is relatively low in Europe compared to countries such as the Australia, Canada, the US or developing Asian countries.
For more info:
http://www.emkf.org/pdf/GEM2002.pdf
ESBA ALREADY ISSUED SEVERAL POSITION PAPERS WARNING THAT THE LISBON STRATEGY FOR BOOSTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS NOT IMPLEMENTED ACROSS EUROPE.
Entrepreneurship Conference in Louvain La Neuve (19-20/11/02)
The old Wallonian city Louvain la Neuve hosted on November 19/20 a conference between politicians, businessmen and entrepreneurs on entrepreneurship and its role in reviving modern economies. In a survey conducted by GEM, Belgium was ranked 36thout of the 37 participating countries comes. Wallonia outscored its traditionally richer neighbour Flandres. The discussion focused on methods to foster entrepreneurship to help individuals identify and seize opportunities and to improve self-confidence. It wasstressed that the biggest problems facing Belgian entrepreneurs and their European counterparts are: taxes and regulation.
More info:
http://www.4x4entreprendre.org
EU/enterprise: Council debated last week the use of quantitative targets in enterprise policy
As expected, the results of the Council debate last week on the use of quantitative target weredisappointing. Whereas the Lisbon Process to boost entrepreneurship is dramatically lagging behind, the EU Member States failed, once more, to agree on the compulsory use of quantitative targets by member states authorities.
ESBA WILL CONTINUE TO DIALOGUE WITH AUTHORITIES INVOLVED IN ENTERPRISE POLICY IN EUROPE. OUR AIM IS TO HELP THEM DELIVERING WHAT WAS PROMISED BY THE LISBON COUNCIL TWO YEAR AGO.
IN BRIEF
On 21-22 November, the Danish Presidency of the EU organised a major event on Corporate Social Responsibility. The participants discussed whether there was a need for regulatory measures and what the role of government should be. The Council is expected to adopt its Resolution on CSR during its 2-3 December session. The EU Multistakeholder Forum will begin its roundtable discussions in the first quarter of 2003
Page last updated: 02/07/2003 11:10:55 PM