Menu

The Monster Employment Index Europe held steady in December, remaining at a level of 155, as sharply increased online recruitment activity in the UK and Sweden offset a significant decline in Germany. Meanwhile, the Netherlands saw a three point increase and France saw a one point dip.

In order to finance and stimulate innovation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the European Commission has proposed measures to boost cross-border investments of venture capital funds. Up to now venture capital funds, which are vitally important for the financing of growing innovative small companies, face too many problems to overcome different national regulations for cross-border fundraising and investment. For this reason they often don't reach the necessary critical mass. Therefore the European Commission advocates a broad partnership with and between Member States to work towards mutual recognition of the current national frameworks for venture capital funds.

In December, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) continued to weaken in both the EU and the euro area. It declined by 0.4 of a point in the EU and by 0.1 of a point in the euro area, to 107.1 and 104.7 respectively. However, despite the decline observed in the second half of 2007, the indicator remains well above its long-term average in both areas.

The euro area (EA13) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.2% in November 2007, unchanged compared with October. It was 7.9% in November 2006. The EU27 unemployment rate was 6.9% in November 2007, the same as in October. It was 7.7% in November 2006.

In November 2007 compared with October 2007, the industrial producer price index rose by 0.8% in the euro area (EA13) and by 1.1% in the EU27. In October prices increased by 0.7% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27.

The European Commission is proposing to unlock market potential for innovative goods and services by lifting obstacles hindering innovation in a first batch of six important markets: eHealth, protective textiles, sustainable construction, recycling, bio-based products and renewable energies. These markets with high economic and societal value represent an annual turnover of more than € 120 billion and 1.9 million jobs in the EU. With this initiative they may increase to over € 300 billion and over 3 million jobs in the EU in 2020.

The European Commission has decided to give a new boost to Europe's online content sector. EU citizens should be able to enjoy easier and faster access to a rich variety of music, TV programmes, films or games via the Internet, mobile phones or other devices.

On 1 January 2008 the euro was successfully introduced in Cyprus and Malta. Six years after the introduction of the euro banknotes and coins in the 12 “first-wave” countries and one year after the adoption of the euro by Slovenia, this is the third successful euro cash changeover.

UK online retailers had a very, very merry Christmas Day. According to data from the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), 4.4 million people purchased goods online on Christmas Day 2007.

This European market report covers recent developments in the region’s rapidly evolving mobile data sector. During 2007 most European mobile operators deployed or expanded EDGE and HSDPA networks in a bid to encourage consumer use of mobile broadband services and increase data ARPU. The number of content providers and the range of services on offer has expanded, making consumer involvement in mobile data a more likely proposition during the next few years.