In 2022, the EU witnessed a significant increase in the import of rare earth elements (REE+). A total of 18 thousand tonnes were imported, a 9% increase from 2021, and 7 thousand tonnes exported, a decrease of 8% compared with the previous year. The value of imports surged to €146 million, marking a 37% rise compared with 2021, while exports […]
Read MoreEurostat: Business start-ups in the European Union increased in 2021
In 2021, the rate of enterprise births in the EU was 10.7% while the preliminary rate of enterprise deaths stood at 8.5%. In most EU countries more companies were created than dissolved. The exceptions to this were Estonia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Poland, Denmark and Germany where the number of enterprises dissolved surpassed the number of companies created. This information comes […]
Read MoreParliament backs plans for better access to, and use of, data
The “Data Act”, already agreed between MEPs and member states, aims to stimulate innovation by eliminating barriers to data access. The new legislation establishes rules on the sharing of data generated through the use of connected products or related services (e.g. the Internet of Things, industrial machinery) and allows users to access the data they […]
Read MoreCommission sends requests for information to TikTok and YouTube under the Digital Services Act
Yesterday, the European Commission has formally sent TikTok and YouTube requests for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission is requesting the companies to provide more information on the measures they have taken to comply with their obligations related to protection of minors under the DSA, including the obligations related to risk assessments […]
Read MoreEurostat: Plastic bag use continues to fall in the European Union
In 2021, each person living in the EU consumed on average 77 lightweight plastic carrier bags (LPCBs), which is 11 bags less per person, compared with 2020. Overall, 34.2 billion (bn) lightweight plastic carrier bags were consumed in the EU in 2021 (-4.8 bn bags compared with 2020). This information comes from data on lightweight plastic carrier bags published by Eurostat […]
Read MoreCan ageing be slowed down? CORDIS answers
A novel approach to studying fibroblasts – cells that are important for the formation of connective tissues – could be a route to new therapies for atherosclerosis and other diseases of the vascular system. With age, arteries lose their elasticity. This increases the risk of high blood pressure and atherosclerosis which can lead to heart […]
Read MoreThe EU wants to reinforce its role as a benchmark in the space industry
The Spanish presidency of the Council aims to make further progress in achieving a European policy in the field of space and to specify and strengthen the role of the European Union as a benchmark in the space industry. During this presidency, Council Conclusions are sought to be adopted on space traffic management (STM), a […]
Read MoreWill AI robots take middle-class jobs?
According to political theorist Tom Parr, only some will find themselves out of a job thanks to AI – but many more of us will have to accommodate its new role in our own work. Our newsfeeds are filled with talk about the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in software such as ChatGPT and […]
Read MoreEU regions where more women are employed in the high-tech industry
High-technology sectors are considered key drivers of economic growth and productivity and often provide well-paid employment opportunities. In 2022, there were 9.8 million people employed in high-technology sectors across the EU, corresponding to 4.9% of the EU’s total employment. The gender representation in this sector sees men accounting for just over two-thirds (67.2%) of the total. […]
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