Tag: globalisation

"Europe must develop into a global player" by adopting a worldview with a "strategic orientation as well as a dash of political shrewdness," writes Wolfgang Gerhardt, chairman of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit (FNSF), in the spring 2009 edition of Europe's World.

The European Commission yesterday (15 December) granted €35.16 million from the EU's Globalisation Fund (EGF) to support laid-off Italian textile workers, the largest sum granted by the fund since its creation in early 2007.

The European Union is "uniquely placed to make the most of globalisation," says Commission President José Manuel Barroso, despite concerns raised by his colleague Employment and Social Commissioner Vladimir Spidla relating to the "far-reaching and often brutal consequences of globalisation", which include "the outsourcing of jobs and the closure of factories".

80% of the world's population still believe democracy to be the best option, but concede that it is far from perfect, according to the first chapter of a new book by the research agency TNS entitled 'Public opinion polling in a globalised world'.

The Commission has made its first payments from Europe's Globalisation Adjustment Fund, aimed at helping countries cope with job losses caused by intensified competition from low-cost countries, it announced on 13 December. 

Climate change could bring globalisation to an end by 2040, according to a new report from leading national security experts – with nations turning inwards to save resources as new climate-related conflicts arise.

The Commission's Director-General for Trade David O'Sullivan tells EurActiv he remains optimistic that global trade negotiations can still be succesfully concluded, even if it does mean the EU will have to offer more concessions on agricultural tariffs, and reminds the bloc's 27 members just how much free trade and globalisation has benefited them.

France's former finance minister, the Socialist Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has been chosen as the new head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). His promise to reform the institution, which is facing a crisis of legitimacy, was welcomed with caution.

EU leaders urged Beijing to help reduce Europe’s “huge” trade deficit with China by committing to further market opening and high environmental and social standards.

With the onward march of globalisation, companies are often faced with a bewildering range of standards to which their products must conform. A preferable option is adherence to a consistent set of standards, even if they are the most exacting. Trade associations increasingly seek to follow this trend by becoming relevant actors in global-policy definition.

A fund to support workers laid off because their companies have been affected by globalisation will become available from 1 January 2007, following a European Parliament vote.

Globalisation is not a fatality for France, said French Presidential-hopeful Nicolas Sarkozy, but he attacked Brussels for not doing enough to protect jobs in Europe.

EU and Asian leaders at the Asia-Europe Meeting are expected to call for the resumption of global trade talks in the WTO, but the real focus looks to be on pushing for bilateral trade deals. 

Europe’s top 100 companies have "europeanised" over the last eight years, which makes continued talk of 'national champions' irrelevant, argues the Breugel think tank. 

The Commission has presented details of its new Globalisation Adjustment Fund. The fund will provide support for workers that have been laid off because their companies were affected by globalisation. Economic experts question the logic and size of the new fund.

The EU’s real dilemma is the crisis of legitimacy of the political class at national level, says the newly elected president of the European Movement International in an interview with EurActiv.

Energy security and the lack of a European common energy policy were the main concerns raised at a debate about Royal Dutch Shell's Global Scenarios to 2025. Energy has moved high up the EU's external relations agenda according to Commissioner Piebalgs.

The informal Hampton Court summit indicates tough challenges ahead on the EU budget for Tony Blair 

In this year's edition of the employers' federation conference, participants will discuss how European businesses and citizens can be mobilised to embrace the opportunities offered by a global market place.

In a pamphlet on the future of Europe in a global marketplace, the UK Finance Minister Gordon Brown has called for far-reaching reforms in most economic policy areas. But critics say the UK is not leading by example.

With its annual employment outlook, the OECD continued calls to action for its 30 member states to reform their labour markets and boost innovation to withstand competition from emerging economies.

Vandana Shiva, Director of Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, Dehra Dun, India, has shared her views with EurActiv on the EU's emerging proposal to introduce a new principle, that of 'collective preferences', in international trade policy.

From 10 to 12 December, students from all over the world will gather in the European Parliament to discuss the issue of globalisation and what should be the European responsibilities in the world.

The latest Eurobarometer poll found that a majority of EU citizens have a positive attitude towards globalisation, but call for increased regulation.