Problem solving fun guide ;)

Merry Christmas and a happy new year full of solutions!!!

Join the STARTUP manifesto movement

Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes has created The Startup Europe Leaders Club — an independent group of founders in the field of tech entrepreneurship who provide guidance on strengthening the business environment for web entrepreneurs in Europe.

Drawn from the combined experience of dozens of Europeans who were lucky enough to imagine, build and grow successful businesses — businesses that created thousands of jobs — they have distilled 22 actions which, taken together, can give European businesses the best chance of future success.

The members of the Leaders Club, an independent group of founders in the field of tech entrepreneurship, have launched the Startup Manifesto campaign for entrepreneurial excellence (pdf). You can sign the Manifesto.

Social media used by 30% of enterprises in the EU28

Recent Eurostat report, the statistical office of the European Union, that form part of the results of a survey conducted at the beginning of 2013 on ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) show that in Europe:

• 28% of enterprises in the EU28 used social networks (e.g. Facebook) in 2013, 

• 11% multi-media content sharing websites (e.g. YouTube), 

• 10% blogs or micro blogs (e.g. Twitter) 

• and 6% wiki-based knowledge-sharing tools. 

Romania scores badly on multiple categories:

• The proportion of enterprises with a website differed among Member States, with the largest shares recorded in Finland (94% of enterprises with at least 10 persons employed), Denmark (92%), Sweden (89%), and the smallest in Romania (42%), Bulgaria (47%) etc.

• Largest shares of enterprises using blogs in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Among the different types of social media, the highest shares of enterprises using social networks were registered in Malta (52%), Ireland (46%), the Netherlands (45%) and the lowest in Latvia (13%), the Czech Republic (15%),  Romania (7%) etc.

This means there is a huge growth potential!

Let' start using our phone during take-off and landing !!!

The new European safety guidance establishes that passengers may use PEDs switched on in Flight Mode during all phases of the flight, unless flight crew or cabin crew instructs them otherwise.

Portable Electronic Devices (PED) include digital cameras, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc.

Before this change, the safety guidance stated that passengers could use their PEDs in Flight Mode (non-transmitting) in-flight, but not during taxiing, takeoff and landing.

The EU's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has given the airlines updated guidance on how to expand the use of PED’s safely in all phases of flight. The process to implement this will vary among airlines. They will need to adapt their operating procedures, but many will be expected to do so in coming weeks.

It’s not yet allowed to send emails or texts but EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas has asked EASA to accelerate a safety review of the use of transmitting devices on board, with updated guidance to be published in 2014.

Any airline may opt for a more restrictive policy on the use of PEDs. Any restrictions on the use of PEDs by passengers that may apply are at the discretion of the airline.

Industria duduie!!! or how Romania records 2nd highest industry growth in the EU ???

Romania has experienced the second biggest industrial production growth in the EU in September.

A recent Eurostat release showed, across Europe, industrial production was down by 0.5 percent in September compared with August.

Looking at annual comparisons – September 2013 against September 2012 – Romania again recorded the second biggest increase with a 8.9 percent rise, again behind Ireland which saw a 11.7 percent increase.

Romania, always surprising!!!

EC fines banks with € 1.71 billion for illegal activities

The European Commission has fined 8 international financial institutions a total of € 1 712 468 000 for participating in illegal cartels in markets for financial derivatives covering the European Economic Area (EEA). Four of these institutions participated in a cartel relating to interest rate derivatives denominated in the euro currency: Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, RBS.

The EIRD cartel operated between September 2005 and May 2008. The settling parties are Barclays, Deutsche Bank, RBS and Société Générale. The cartel aimed at distorting the normal course of pricing components for these derivatives. Traders of different banks discussed their bank's submissions for the calculation of the EURIBOR as well as their trading and pricing strategies.

Interest rate derivatives (e.g. forward rate agreements, swaps, futures, options) are financial products that are used by banks or companies for managing the risk of interest rate fluctuations. These products are traded worldwide and play a key role in the global economy.

Joaquín Almunia, Commission Vice-President in charge of competition policy, said: “What is shocking about the LIBOR and EURIBOR scandals is not only the manipulation of benchmarks, which is being tackled by financial regulators worldwide, but also the collusion between banks who are supposed to be competing with each other. Today's decision sends a clear message that the Commission is determined to fight and sanction these cartels in the financial sector.”

Check the RAPID release for more details.