SME Week Youth Essay Competition

Kristina Dimova

Kristina Dimova, a 22 year-old from Bulgaria, was proclaimed a winner of this year’s SME Week Youth Essay Competition during the European Commission’s SME Assembly.   Kristina was asked to answer the question: “What do SMEs need to become sustainable and resilient in the context of COVID-19 and other global challenges? Think about the competences and…

EU to “Stand United” Against Manipulation of Migrants by Belarus.

Belarus border

The situation at the Belarus border and the gas crisis are very much on the EU agenda. German MEP Reinhard Bütikofer, AFET coordinator for the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, has commented on the crisis. “The European leaders at their summit are challenged to deal with two blackmailing efforts against the EU which they must…

Festival brings together over 100 artists from Europe and Asia

ASEM Cultural Festival White Building

Over 100 artists from more than 20 European and Asian countries will present cultural events in Brussels, Phnom Penh and online until 26 November to mark the ASEM Cultural Festival, which celebrates the cultural diversity and artistic exchange between Asia and Europe.  Over 30 events will showcase the rich cultural diversity and brilliant creative collaborations…

Sudanese General in power to be hit with US sanctions?

General Fattah Al Burhan of Sudan

The United States had been speeding up the long and complicated process of rolling back sanctions on Sudan – including its label as a U.S.-designated state sponsor of terrorism – after Bashir was ousted in 2019. However, the seizure of power by the chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has changed everything. His…

Arianespace Vega launch successfully orbits three CERES satellites

VEGA LAUNCHER FOR CERES SATELLITE ORBIT

Arianespace successfully carried out its 20th Vega launch (VV20), its 12th launch of the year and the third with the Vega light launcher. It was also the 300th launch by Arianespace from the Guiana Space Centre. The mission orbited three CERES satellites, developed for the French armed forces with French defense procurement agency DGA as…

Good Planets Are Hard to Find

Professor Bogataj speaking to the SME Assembly

Speaking at the European Commission’s SME Assembly 2021 during the Schumpeter ‘Innovation in Enterprise’ Lecture, joint Nobel Prize laureate Professor Lučka Kajfež Bogataj of the University of Ljubljana said that the world needs “enlightened policies and governance, and an engaged citizenry if we are to achieve long-term sustainability.” “We can no longer postpone tackling difficult issues, and we…

European Year Dedicated to Rail

European Year of Rail

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) held an event promoting the European year dedicated to rail and explaining its potential to become a fully sustainable and competitive transport option, thereby helping to achieve the Green Deal targets. Rail can make a huge contribution to sustainable and smart mobility but a lot still needs to be…

SMEs are “vital” to the good of communities in Europe.

SMEunited

Speaking on Tuesday at the SME Assembly being held in Slovenia, Véronique Willems, Secretary-General of SMEunited and Christel Delberghe, Director-General of EuroCommerce underlined the role of SMEs as the backbone of vibrant town centres and rural communities, made a joint call for action to address the challenges facing small businesses and the communities they serve:…

Independent radio station Klubrádió sues Hungarian state at ECHR

Klubradi

Klubrádió, one of Hungary’s few remaining independent radio stations, says that it has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg after being forced off the airwaves in Hungary. Klubrádió is arguing that the Hungarian state violated the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to information….