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Very small companies could be exempted from having to draw up annual accounts, after MEPs approved changes to EU accounting rules in Strasbourg on Wednesday. It would be up to each Member State to grant such exemptions, depending on the impact the directive would have in that country. Companies would in any case still have to keep records of their business transactions and financial situation.

The European Commission welcomes the adoption at the United Nations in Geneva of the first international regulation on safety of both fully electric and hybrid cars. This landmark decision will facilitate the early introduction of safe and clean electric cars onto our roads. The technical regulation adopted at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) ensures that cars with a high voltage electric power train, such as hybrid and fully electric vehicles, are as safe as conventional cars. Hybrid and electric cars are increasingly available on the market and are very promising in terms of making road transport clean and energy-efficient.

EU Employment and Social Affairs Ministers agreed on a new facility to provide loans to people who have lost their jobs and want to start or further develop their own small business. The European Microfinance Facility will have a starting budget of €100 million which could leverage more than €500 million in cooperation with international financial institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group. The initiative is part of the EU's response to the crisis and is especially targeted at people who cannot normally obtain credit because of the economic crisis and the current lack of credit supply.

How much higher is the life expectancy for women than for men, and what is it expected to be in 2030? Is the unemployment rate for women higher than for men? And what about the employment rate? What are the differences between women and men in their use of the internet - sending e-mails, reading on-line newspapers, doing internet banking or checking work opportunities?

Six out of ten employees (63%) are covered by a recognised institution of employee representation, according to Eurofound's Second European Company Survey of 27,000 public and private companies across Europe. The survey paints a positive picture of robust practices of workplace social dialogue, but also point to limitations and to important differences across Europe.

In January 2010 the average MFI interest rates on new deposits and loans showed mixed developments. Almost all the average MFI interest rates on outstanding amounts of deposits and loans further decreased.

Without enough money, the EU 2020 strategy risks turning into "another vague scoreboard for the Member States", the EP Budgets Committee warned on Thursday when adopting its priorities for the 2011 budget. According to the committee, next year's budget should focus on youth, research and recovery from the economic crisis.

GDP increased by 0.1% in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27 during the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with the previous quarter, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the third quarter of 2009, growth rates were +0.4% in the euro area and +0.3% in the EU27.

The European Commission selected 43 major energy projects, which will significantly contribute to the economic recovery in the EU, while increasing our security of energy supply by creating cross-border infrastructure. With this decision, the Commission grants € 2.3 billion to 31 gas and 12 electricity projects. This is the second financial decision under the Economic Recovery Package which amounts to almost 4 billion Euros. It is the largest amount the EU has ever spent on energy infrastructure.

In January 2010, compared with December 2009, the volume of retail trade decreased by 0.3% in both the euro area (EA16) and the EU27. In December 2009 retail trade rose by 0.5% and 0.2% respectively.