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After having more than doubled in value between 2000 and 2008, EU27 trade in goods with India fell in 2009. EU27 exports decreased from 31.6 billion euro in 2008 to 27.6 bn in 2009 and imports from 29.5 bn to 25.3 bn. The EU27 surplus in trade with India increased from 0.8 bn in 2000 to 2.3 bn in 2009.

The new EU member states and Croatia are facing a challenge many Western countries have been facing for years – aging populations leading to increased demand for long-term care services. It’s made doubly challenging because on the one hand, there are fewer potential caregivers to care for more dependent people; and on the other hand, a decreasing working age population has to finance higher public expenditures on long-term care. Universal long-term care and better coordination are critical for these countries.

According to a recent study by DealWatch, Renewable Energy Production M&A has been on a fast growth path in Emerging Europe: in the first three quarters of 2010, the number of M&A transactions in the sector in CEE and SEE was approximately 4 times as much as in the whole year of 2007, representing an average annual growth rate of 60%. In the same period, the total value of deals grew to EUR 363 million from EUR 67 million. The very high value in 2008 was the result of a few large deals, like the wind farm project acquisitions by Iberdrola and CEZ in Romania and the privatisation of several hydroelectric and geothermal power plants in Turkey.

Over the last decade, the inactivity rate for women aged between 15 and 64 years in the EU27 has fallen steadily, from 39.9% in 2000 to 35.7% in 2009, meaning that 5.0 million more women have entered the labour market. In contrast, the inactivity rate for men aged 15 to 64 has decreased only slightly, from 22.8% in 2000 to 22.2% in 2009.

After eight years of growth, EU27 trade in goods with Russia fell in 2009, with EU27 exports dropping by 38% and imports by 35%, compared with 2008. The EU27 trade deficit with Russia increased significantly from 41 billion euro in 2000 to 73 bn in 2008, then fell to 50 bn in 2009.

In October 2010, compared with September 2010, the volume of retail trade increased by 0.5% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.4% in the EU27. In September retail trade fell by 0.1% in both zones.

In October 2010 the majority of the average MFI interest rates on new deposits remained unchanged or increased. The average MFI interest rates on new loans showed mixed developments. Most of the average MFI interest rates on outstanding amounts of deposits remained unchanged, whereas average MFI interest rates on outstanding amounts of loans showed mixed developments.

In October 2010 compared with September 2010, the industrial producer price index rose by 0.4% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.5% in the EU27. In September 2010, prices increased by 0.3% in both zones.

GDP increased by 0.4% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.5% in the EU27 during the third quarter of 2010, compared with the previous quarter, according to first estimates released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the second quarter of 2010, growth rates were +1.0% in both zones.

More than half (57 percent) of European insurers expect the total cost of Solvency II compliance to be higher than they initially estimated, according to results of a survey released by Accenture. Nearly one-third (29 percent) of the insurers surveyed said they expect to spend more than €25 million to comply with the directive, including 7 percent that anticipate spending more than €100 million. In a similar 2007 survey, only 4 percent of insurers said they expected to spend more than €26 million and none said they expected to spend more than €100 million.