BIBM Newsletter April 2012

• On 23 April 2012, Eurostat the Statistical Office of the European Union published figures of the government deficit. In 2011, the government deficit decreased in absolute terms compared with 2010 both in the EU and euro area, while the government debt increased in both zones. Government deficits in percentage of GDP were recorded in Ireland (-13.1%) while the lowest deficits were recorded in Finland (-0.5%).

      European Commission – Press Release

• The European Commission conducted a Labour Force Survey and published the results on 19 April 2012. Accordance with the survey, 20% of part time workers wished to work more hours, therefore they can be considered as underemployed. Greece, Latvia, Spain and Cyprus are the countries where the most people would like to work more hours, while the smallest proportion was found in the Netherlands and Belgium (both 3%).

      European Commission- Press Release

• Eurostat published the annual inflation figures. The figures show that Euro area annual inflation rate was 2.7% in March 2012 and the EU annual inflation was 2.9%, both unchanged compared with February 2012. The monthly inflation rate was 1.3%.

      European Commission – Press Release

• According to the figures released by Eurostat on 12 April 2012, the industrial production grew by 0.5% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.2% in the EU27 in February 2012, compared with January 2012. The annual industrial production decreased by 1.8% in both the euro area and the EU27.

      European Commission – Press Release

• On 4 April 2012, Eurostat released figures of the Retail Trade Index. In February 2012 compared with January 2012, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.1% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.4% in the EU27. In an annual comparison, the retail sales index fell by 2.1% in the euro area and by 1.1% in the EU27.

      European Commission – Press Release

• On 3 April 2012, Eurostat presented the figures of Industrial Producer prices. The figures show a rose by 0.6% in the euro area (EA17) and by 0.8% in the EU27 in February 2012. Compared with January 2012, the highest increases in the total index were recorded in Denmark (+3.6%), while the biggest decrease was recorded in Cyprus (-0.3%).

      European Commission – Press Release

• Eurostat released the figures for the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, which was 10.8% in February 2012 in the euro area (10.7% in January 2012). The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.2% in February 2012, compared with 10.1% in January 2012. The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.2%), while the highest in Spain (23.6%).

      European Commission – Press Release

• On 23 April 2012, the European Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) published a global outlook report that looks into the efforts made worldwide to promote Sustainable Consumption and Production. The report aims at identifying and sharing effective policies. It includes 56 case studies of successful initiatives.

      European Commission – Press Releases

      Report

• On 20 April 2012, in the context of the modernisation of the European Public procurement Directives, adopted in December 2011, the Commission has proposed to make e-procurement a standard method of procurement in the EU by mid-2016. It claims, that the use of e-procurement can generate generatesignificant savings for European taxpayers. A Commission set a series of measures to support the ambitious transition.

      European Commission – Press Release

• An informal meeting of Energy Ministers took place on 19 April 2012, where they decided to abandon binding energy targets, opposed to the proposition of the European Parliament. The Commission’s analysis says that at this stage, the EU and its member states will probably not be able to reach the energy efficiency target set in the energy-climate change package.

      Council of the European Union

• On 2 April 2012, the European Commission decided to scrutinise Member States’ tax provisions in order to ensure that they do not discriminate against cross-border workers. Event though, workers mobility was identified as one of the key potential for increasing growth, tax barriers remain the main obstacles for workers wished to work in another Member State.

      European Commission – Press Release

MAY

4 May 2012

BIBM Communication Commission

Bonn, Germany

9 May 2012

CEPMC Ad-hoc group “Guidance to CPR”

Brussels, Belgium

12-15 May 2012

IPHA Congress

Split, Croatia

24 May 2012

BIBM General Assembly

Brussels, Belgium

31 May 2012

ECP Board and General Assembly

Brussels, Belgium

JUNE

5 June 2012

CEPMC CPR working group

Brussels, Belgium

6 June 2012

CEPMC Sustainability working group

Brussels, Belgium

13-14 June 2012

NEPSI Employers and Council meetings

Brussels, Belgium

19 June 2012

BIBM Environmental Commission

Brussels, Belgium

25 June 2012

Conference on CPR (European Commission)

Brussels, Belgium

28 June 2012

European Construction Forum (ECF) meeting

Brussels, Belgium

JULY

3 July 2012

BIBM Technical Commission

Brussels, Belgium