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In the EU27, 94% of enterprises had access to the internet in January 2007, compared with 92% in 2006, and 77% had a broadband connection, compared with 73% in 2006.

In October 2007 the majority of euro area average MFI interest rates on new deposits were higher than in the previous month, while no overall pattern was observed for average MFI interest rates on new loans.

Fitch Ratings has revised the Outlook on the Republic of Lithuania's Long-term foreign currency and local currency Issuer Default ratings (IDRs) to Negative from Stable. At the same time, the agency has affirmed Lithuania's Long-term foreign currency IDR at 'A', Long-term local currency IDR at 'A+', Short-term foreign currency IDR at 'F1' and Country Ceiling at 'AA'.

UEAPME, the European craft and SME employers' organisation, warmly welcomed the political agreement on the so-called "VAT package" reached by the ECOFIN Council in Brussels. UEAPME was pleased by the Council's support to the creation of a "one-stop-shop" scheme to simplify registration and declaration of VAT by businesses in their home country, which will also apply to activities carried out in other Member States. This will dramatically diminish bureaucracy, according to UEAPME, which was equally satisfied with the Council's choice to move taxation for VAT on services to the place where the customer is situated from the place where the supplier is located as is currently the case.

Between 2000 and 2006, EU27 exports of goods to Africa rose from 66 billion euro to 92 bn, while imports increased from 85 bn to 126 bn. The EU27 deficit in trade with Africa rose from 19 bn in 2000 to 35 bn in 2006, corresponding to 18% of the total EU27 external trade deficit. Africa accounted for around 9% of the EU27's total external trade in goods in 2006.

Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF) Europe launched its guide to the AMS Directive at a members’ workshop with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Ofcom. The ‘Practical Guide’ aims to help the many mobile entertainment companies affected by the Directive understand both its impact and the potential opportunities it will create across the single market.

In October 2007, compared to September 2007, the volume of retail trade fell by 0.7% in the euro area (EA13) and by 0.4% in the EU27. In September retail trade increased by 0.2% and 0.3% respectively. In October 2007, compared with October 2006, the retail sales index gained 0.2% in the euro area and 1.9% in the EU27.

The working conditions of both women and men throughout the European Union are analysed in detail in a new Eurofound report Gender and working conditions in the European Union. The report explores gender in the context of occupational segregation, working conditions, working time and subjective well-being. It includes an analysis of job satisfaction, work-life balance and health outcomes and looks at possible policy orientations.

Fitch Ratings has said in a new report that it anticipates the consumer environment in western Europe to soften in 2008 as a result of higher interest rates, slower economic growth and weaker housing markets in some countries.

The fact that the new EU-Africa Strategy is built on trade agreements which are opposed by civil society in both continents as well as by many African governments, is evidence that the new strategy is not taking into account the African experience, nor is based on mutual accountability.