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The Conference Board announced that both the leading index and coincident index for Spain increased by 0.3 percent in August.

On 17 October, MEPs and Health First Europe hosted an event in the European Parliament which highlighted the need for immediate and decisive EU action to help reduce the 50,000 fatalities caused by healthcare - associated infections (HCAIs) in Europe each year.

The European Commission’s Fiscal Compliance expert group (“FISCO”) has issued a report setting out solutions to fiscal compliance barriers related to clearing and settlement of cross-border securities transactions, also known as 'post-trading'. The proposed solutions are expected to lead to improved, simplified and modernised procedures adapted to the way EU financial markets operate today.

The annual growth rate of the outstanding amount of debt securities issued by euro area residents was 9.1% in August 2007, compared with 9.0% in July. For the outstanding amount of quoted shares issued by euro area residents, the annual growth rate was 1.4% in August 2007, compared with 1.5% in July.

The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index rose by 0.3% in August 2007 compared with July 2007. The index fell by 2.6% in July. EU27 new orders increased by 1.0% in August 2007, after a decrease of 3.5% in July. Excluding ships, railway and aerospace equipment4 industrial new orders gained 0.3% in the euro area and 0.9% in the EU27 in August 2007.

The European Commission has announced that it will seek a mandate from European Member States to negotiate a new Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) with major trading partners, including the US, Japan and Korea. Such an agreement would strengthen efforts to protect European intellectual property around the world, a key part of the EU's Global Europe trade strategy. ACTA’s goal is to provide a high-level international framework that strengthens the global enforcement of intellectual property rights and helps in the fight to protect consumers from the health and safety risks associated with many counterfeit products.

Diesel and heating oil at a much cheaper price than the fuel we buy at gas stations or for our heating tank - this wish will soon become a reality: thanks to a technological innovation made in Germany that makes it possible to turn oil and plastic waste product, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, into mineral fuels. Not only would this solve part of the energy problem, it would also address a disposal problem at the same time.

A new Financial Times/Harris Poll examines public opinion in the five largest European countries, Britain, France, Italy, Spain and Germany, on issues related to the so-called “reform treaty” that would re-shape the institutions of the European Union. The treaty, if adopted, would change voting procedures, expand the role of both the European Parliament and national legislatures, and include a charter of fundamental rights. EU leaders, meeting in Lisbon on October 18, endorsed the proposed new treaty.

In 2006, the government deficit of both the euro area (EA13) and the EU27 fell compared to 2005, while the government debt increased in absolute terms. In the euro area the government deficit decreased from 2.5% of GDP in 2005 to 1.5% in 2006, and in the EU27 it fell from 2.4% to 1.6%. In the euro area the government debt to GDP ratio fell from 70.3% at the end of 2005 to 68.6% at the end of 2006, and in the EU27 from 62.7% to 61.4%.

The first bank run in the UK for 140 years may result in a review of the UK's tripartite regulatory structure, Fitch Ratings, the international rating agency, says in a special report. The Northern Rock case is the first big test of the UK's tripartite regulatory framework, and one immediate outcome has been a swift revision of the retail deposit insurance arrangements. The UK banking system's strengths include a high-quality accounting and disclosure regime, good insolvency arrangements, efficient payment and settlement systems and flexible labour laws. Fitch assigns the highest Banking System Indicator score of 'A' to the UK banking system.