Podcasts about european commission ec

The latest episode of the DDW Highlights podcast is now available to listen to below. DDW's Megan Thomas narrates five key stories of the week to keep DDW subscribers up-to-date on the latest industry updates. Our news highlights this time focus on two major regulatory agencies, in a week that saw the European Commission (EC) launch a new fund designed to tempt US researchers to EU countries, and the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) roll out extensive new AI systems. You can listen below, or find The Drug Discovery World Podcast on Spotify, Google Play and Apple Podcasts. 

US equity markets advanced on Friday (16 May) to cap a strong week and despite news Moody Ratings had downgraded the US's highest investment grade position - Dow rose +332-points or +0.78% to 42,654.74, moving into positive territory for 2025. UnitedHealth Group Inc rebounded +6.40%, clawing back some of the heavy losses posted in the prior session amid reports that the insurer's Medicare Advantage business was the subject of a criminal probe. News of the investigation came on the heels of the insurance giant withdrawing its full-year guidance and announcing the departure of its CEO. Nvidia Corp added +0.42% ahead of CEO Jensen Huang taking the stage on Sunday (18 May) at Computex, an annual technology trade show, with this year's theme - “AI Next” - focused squarely on the emerging technology that has lately powered growth in the company's business. Microsoft Corp after offering a series of new concessions to the European Commission (EC) in a bid to settle a long-running antitrust investigation into the bundling of its Teams communications app with Office 365. Its proposal reportedly included unbundling Teams from its Office and Microsoft 365 software suites, offering those products at a lower price without Teams, and enhancing interoperability for rival services.

Ireland continues to participate in the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, a European campaign to raise awareness of the critical role plant health plays in protecting food, biodiversity, and the environment. Now in its third year, the #PlantHealth4Life campaign returns with renewed focus on citizen empowerment, encouraging people across Europe including gardeners, travellers, and families - to become active plant health ambassadors. Led by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission (EC), the 2025 campaign is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine in Ireland, and will empower citizens to become plant health ambassadors, spotlighting how everyday actions can have powerful impacts on biodiversity, agriculture, and the environment. Plant Health, Biodiversity, and Economy in the EU Speaking on the campaign, garden designer and UN FAO Goodwill Ambassador for Ireland, Diarmuid Gavin, said: "Along with being places of beauty, our gardens are frontline defences in the fight for biodiversity and climate resilience. Every seed we sow responsibly and every pest we spot early is a step toward protecting Ireland's natural environment. This campaign reminds us that plant health begins at home, and we all have a role to play." Ms Louise Byrne, Chief Plant Health Officer for Ireland, added: "Protecting plant health is something every person in Ireland can contribute to. People should travel wisely and avoid bringing plants and seeds home from abroad. Practice responsible sourcing of plants with plant passports from reputable operators. Monitor plants in your garden and in the wider environment for pests and diseases and if you've concerns email PlantAndPests@agriculture.gov.ie. Empower the next generation by teaching children about the importance of plant health." Emphasising practical action and community involvement, the campaign encourages informed citizens not only to reflect but also to share their knowledge and inspire others to join in the collective effort to safeguard our ecosystems and economies. The campaign urges travellers not to bring back any plants, flowers, seeds, fruits, or vegetables from outside the EU, as these items may harbour plant pests or diseases detrimental to native flora. Additionally, consumers are advised to buy plants and seeds online only if accompanied by a valid phytosanitary or plant health certificate. Embracing good plant hygiene practices and promptly addressing signs of plant pests or diseases in home gardens and communal outdoor spaces will also prevent their spread to neighbouring plants and natural habitats. Sylvain Giraud, Head of Plant Health Unit in the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) said: "When citizens understand the vital role of plant health in their lives - from the food on their tables to the air they breathe - they become powerful agents of change. The #PlantHealth4Life campaign is a reminder that each of us can make a meaningful difference by staying informed and making thoughtful choices that help protect what sustains us all." Giuseppe Stancanelli, Team Leader for Plant Health Risk Assessment at EFSA added: "A plant isn't just a plant - it can carry other living organisms too. In our interconnected world, plants move more than ever. That's why the EU relies on science-based risk assessment to understand and manage potential threats to plant health - helping to protect our environment, agriculture, and biodiversity. Through the #PlantHealth4Life campaign, we're raising awareness across Europe." The 2025 #PlantHealth4Life campaign is running across 26 EU Member States, five EU pre-accession countries, and Switzerland. Visit www.efsa.europa.eu/en/plh4l and discover how to safeguard plant health. About the campaign #PlantHealth4Life is a multi-year and multinational campaign developed at the request of the European Commission and based on an in-depth analysis of citizen perceptions and behaviour with respect to plant h...

Biography of George Kremlis : George Kremlis is the Chairman of the Greek Initiative at UN level on protecting cultural and natural heritage from climate change impacts. He is a member of the Board of the European Public Law Organisation and the Director of its climate and circular economy Institute. He is as well the Ambassador of the EPLO to Bulgaria. He was until recently a member of the environmental and social advisory council of the EBRD and is also currently the Chair of the Bureau of the Espoo Convention, Chair of the MOPs in 2019,  elected Chair for the MOPs in December 2020 and re-elected Chair for the period 2021-2023 and the period up to 2027. He is the Chairman of the AmCham circular economy committee. George Kremlis is Honorary Director of the European Commission (EC) and has acted in this capacity as Active Senior responsible for circular economy in the islands. He was until recently special Advisor to the Greek Prime Minister on energy, climate, environment and circular economy issues. He is doctor honoris causa of the Varna Free University.

Ireland has joined a European-wide effort to underscore the importance of plant health. The #PlantHealth4Life campaign is led by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Commission (EC), and is active in 22 European member states. PlantHealth4Life, European Initiative Speaking about the campaign, Senator Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity with special responsibility for Horticulture at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said: "We are proud to stand alongside our European partners to raise awareness of the profound interdependence between plant health and our collective well-being. This collaborative effort is a unique opportunity to engage citizens from all walks of life - be it the intrepid traveller, the conscientious gardener, or the vigilant parent - in safeguarding plant health." Ms Louise Byrne, Chief Plant Health Officer for Ireland, added that the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine conducts comprehensive inspections on imports of regulated plants and plant products. Importantly however, a critical element is educating the public across all spectrums, from commercial importers to amateur gardeners on the need for heightened awareness of the issues at stake and to not attempt to import unchecked plants and plant products that pose a risk to Ireland. The campaign urges travellers not to bring back any plants, flowers, seeds, fruits, or vegetables from outside the EU, as these items may harbour plant pests or diseases detrimental to native flora. Additionally, consumers are advised to buy plants and seeds online only if accompanied by a valid phytosanitary or plant health certificate. Embracing good plant hygiene practices and promptly addressing signs of plant pests or diseases in home gardens and communal outdoor spaces will also prevent their spread to neighbouring plants and natural habitats. Speaking on Ireland's involvement in the campaign, leading Irish garden designer Diarmuid Gavin, who was appointed as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' Goodwill Ambassador for Ireland in May 2022, said: "Safeguarding Irish plant health is paramount. As gardeners, we hold the power to effect change - by allowing our gardens to flourish naturally, propagating your own plants from seeds, sourcing plants responsibly, and vigilantly monitoring for abnormalities, we can collectively protect our botanical heritage." Tobin Robinson, Head of EFSA's PLANTS Unit added: "Plant health impacts not only the environment, the economy, and the European food chain but also our present and our future - by keeping plants healthy, we are protecting life. It is therefore a source of pride to see how Europeans are engaged in the topic, as demonstrated by the unprecedented participation of Member States in the #PlantHealth4Life campaign." Claire Bury, Deputy Director-General for Food Sustainability of DG SANTE stated: "Informed European citizens armed with accurate information on plant health can help protect and preserve our biodiversity. Plant health is a priority for the European Commission within the One Health approach. By informing people about the importance of not importing pests into the European Union and empowering them with the knowledge to take appropriate actions, we can make a difference." Visit the #PlantHealth4Life campaign at www.efsa.europa.eu/en/plh4l and discover how to safeguard plant health. About the campaign #PlantHealth4Life is a multi-year and multinational campaign developed at the request of the EC and based on an in-depth analysis of perceptions and behaviour on plant health across the EU. This year, the campaign involves 21 Member States and a candidate country, doubling the reach from the previous year: Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Montenegro. About EFSA The European Foo...

BIO: Tony Fish is a neuro-minority and a leading expert on decision-making, governance, and entrepreneurship in uncertain environments. His 30-year sense-making and foresight track record means he has been ahead on several technical revolutions.STORY: In this episode, Tony talks about his newest book, Decision Making in Uncertain Times. How can we become more aware of the consequences of our actions tomorrow?LEARNING: Ask better questions. “It's only through conversations with people like you, Andrew, that I can refine my questions. I love all the people you put on the show because they helped me articulate better what I think I'm optimizing for.”Tony Fish Guest profileTony Fish is a neuro-minority and a leading expert on decision-making, governance, and entrepreneurship in uncertain environments. His 30-year sense-making and foresight track record means he has been ahead on several technical revolutions. His enthusiasm and drive are contagious & inspiring, especially for wicked problems. He has written and published six books, remains a visiting Fellow at Henley Business School for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Entrepreneurs-in-residence (EIR) at Bradford School of Management, teaches at London Business School and the London School of Economics in AI and Ethics, and is a European Commission (EC) expert for Big Data.Tony was a guest on Ep261: CEOs Can Defraud a Business in Very Hard to Detect Ways. In this episode, Tony talks about his newest book, Decision Making in Uncertain Times - How can we become more aware of the consequences of our actions on tomorrow?The unsaid questionsTony struggled with how to ask better questions. He says there are two forms of questions. There are questions that we all ask, such as how are you performing? What are you doing? How are you feeling?Then there's a pile of what Tony termed the unsaid questions. He says that we don't ask these questions because, politically, we can't ask them. We emotionally feel we're not able to, especially if we don't know the person well enough or when somebody tells us not to ask that type of question. The trouble with a board is that if members don't ask the unsaid, they won't be able to discharge their fiduciary duties. Therefore, we need better frameworks to find questions we didn't know we needed to ask.So, how do we ask those questions? Tony has a whole book on how he does it. When the book gets shared, other people will read it, and they'll come up with better questions than he has.Principle versus riskAccording to Tony, when a board starts, it has all these principles outlined and tries to uphold them. But you realize later on as a board that you can't manage principles. What you can manage is risk frameworks. But you can't manage risk rating frameworks without rules. So, you create rules that allow you to manage risk. After creating the rules, you become managed against the free-risk framework you believe in because it aligns with your principles.However, over time, the rules stop working, and those rules have to have another rule because there's an exception to a rule. Tony says that when a new rule is created, or a new procedure or methodology comes along, a board should go back and question if that rule is aligned with its purpose, not whether it is helping the board manage the risk framework...

The European Green Deal is a package of policy initiatives introduced by the European Commission (EC) in December 2019 with objectives to achieve “no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, economic growth decoupled from resource use, and no person and no place left behind.” Many companies are already focused on one aspect of the Green Deal — the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). But the CSRD is far from the only EU regulation needing immediate attention. This audio companion details several other pressing and broadly applicable EU regulations that would also be newly applicable — or possibly already applicable — for both EU and non-EU companies. In this episode, podcast host Heather Horn brings you an audio version of our publication covering the EU regulations beyond CSRD. In this podcast, we cover: 1:00 - Overview of the EU regulatory landscape 7:01 – EU Taxonomy30:54 – Sustainable finance disclosure regulation38:17 – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism44:06 – Foreign Subsidies Regulation49:13 – Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive54:16 – Final thoughts Looking for more information on the CSRD and other EU reporting requirements? Check out our publications  European Union regulations beyond CSRD, Worldwide impact of CSRD - are you ready?, and  Take the next step - decide how to report under CSRD  for further details. Additionally, follow this podcast on your favorite podcast app for future episodes in this CSRD spotlight miniseries, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get all of our thought leadership. Heather Horn is PwC's National Office thought leader, responsible for developing our communications strategy and conveying firm positions on accounting and financial reporting matters. She is the engaging host of PwC's accounting and reporting weekly podcast and quarterly webcast series. With over 30 years of experience, Heather's accounting and auditing expertise includes financial instruments and rate-regulated accounting. Transcripts available upon request for individuals who may need a disability-related accommodation. Please send requests to us_podcast@pwc.com.

Advancing social justice is an idea that's getting new attention these days. One of the main areas where the need for social justice is growing as something people want is the world of work. Achieving that will be a tall order, given that more and more people are looking for jobs and more and more jobs looking for people to fill them. In this challenging environment, what role can research and dialogue play? This podcast asks two top experts, Sangheon Lee, Director of the ILO's Employment Policy, Job Creation & Livelihoods Department, and Mikel Landabaso, Director, Fair & Sustainable Economy of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC).

Tonight's Guest WeatherBrain is an internationally-renown Atmospheric Scientist with a PhD in Atmospheric and Climate Sciences from Sorbonne Universités – Paris, France, which ranks 35 globally and 1st in France. After her PhD, Dr. Francis worked for more than 10 years in Academia and Scientific Research at different prestigious institutions in Europe including the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) and the European Commission (EC).  She is presently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences and the Head of the Engeos Lab at Khalifa University in the UAE.  Dr. Diana Francis, welcome to WeatherBrains!

The first action plan on geographical balance was signed by the Director General of the European Commission (EC) for Human Resources and Security, Gertrud Ingestad, together with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Andrej Stančík. Slovakia, along with 14 other EU Member States, is considered geographically under-represented. On the occasion of the World Water Day, the Slovak State Nature Conservancy launched two floating bird islands on the surface of the Sĺňava reservoir near Piešt'any. The unique project will replace the original nesting sites of endangered bird species.

The first action plan on geographical balance was signed by the Director General of the European Commission (EC) for Human Resources and Security, Gertrud Ingestad, together with the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, Andrej Stančík. Slovakia, along with 14 other EU Member States, is considered geographically under-represented. On the occasion of the World Water Day, the Slovak State Nature Conservancy launched two floating bird islands on the surface of the Sĺňava reservoir near Piešt'any. The unique project will replace the original nesting sites of endangered bird species.

After several years of negotiation following the invalidation of the Privacy Shield by the European Court of Justice (CJEU), on October 7, the president signed an Executive Order, and the attorney general issued regulations, implementing the agreement between the U.S. and the EU announced earlier this year to replace the Privacy Shield framework. The European Commission (EC) has issued a statement that these actions will “address the concerns raised by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Schrems II decision.” The EC is expected to make this framework the basis of an adequacy finding that the U.S. provides privacy protections that are essentially equivalent to European law.

Record-high natural gas prices are climbing higher, sending inflation soaring across the region. According to the European Commission (EC), fixing prices could be an answer. Despite a year full of big electric vehicle (EV) announcements, Canada has fallen further behind its global peers in the race to electrify the roadways. Canada is the worst-performing G7 nation for reducing corporate sector carbon emissions, per a new study from CDP and Oliver Wyman. The Peak Daily is produced by 306 Media Productions. Hosted by Brett Chang and Jay Rosenthal.

In 2021, the European Commission (EC) announced the “Path to the Digital Decade,” a vision for Europe's digital transformation by 2030, which is divided into four areas—skills, infrastructures, government, and business—with key metrics to challenge and monitor progress. Amazon Web Services (AWS) shares the EC's vision for Europe's digital transformation, and we commissioned Public First to undertake the “Unlocking Europe's Digital Potential” study to understand how we can work together to help Europe unlock its digital ambitions. According to Public First's report, the Digital Decade could unlock over 2.8 trillion euros in gross value added (GVA), the measure of the value of goods and services produced in the region's economy, which is equivalent to nearly 21% of the European Union's (EU) current economy. Digital transformation for EU growth The study highlights that 55% of the estimated GVA gain depends on cloud computing. Cloud computing refers to the on-demand delivery of information technology (IT) resources on the internet. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining data centres and servers, organizations can access computing power, storage, databases, and other services on the cloud on an as-needed basis. With cloud computing, AWS manages and maintains the technology infrastructure, achieving the highest levels of security, privacy, and resilience for businesses. The potential 2.8 trillion euros in GVA comprises 1.3 trillion euros the EU is already on course to achieve plus a further 1.5 trillion euros if digital progress is accelerated. If progress isn't accelerated, the EU will achieve only 45% of the potential GVA of the Digital Decade. At the current rate of progress, achieving the EU's full digital target will take until 2040, an extra 10 years. Unlocking this value requires private and public sectors to join forces to accelerate the uptake and adoption of digital skills and technologies, such as cloud technologies. AWS, with its cloud expertise and action to help 29 million people globally grow their technical skills with free cloud computing skills training by 2025, supports the EU's ambitions. The EU is making good progress towards some of its Digital Decade targets. For example, it's on track to meet its aim of doubling the number of “unicorns,” privately held startups valued at over $1 billion, by 2030. The EU is also making progress towards digitizing 100% of core public services and is likely to meet its gigabit for everyone and 5G everywhere target for internet connectivity. These successes must be replicated across all of the EU's Digital Decade targets. Accelerating progress requires a collective focus across public and private sectors on digital adoption, skills development, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and digital government. Accelerating digital transformation In 2021, the EU had over 200 unicorns, double the level in 2017, and the number is on track to double again by 2030. However, many European companies have not yet adopted existing technologies, including the cloud. Digitizing the overall economy would boost growth by 20%, which is 8.5 times the value of growing the EU's tech sector. The report also estimates the following: Few European companies have adopted foundational technologies such as the cloud (26%), artificial intelligence (AI) (25%), and big data (14%). By using services based on the cloud, e.g., customer relationship management (CRM), companies can boost business productivity by 10–25%. If EU businesses accelerate their adoption of cloud, AI, and big data by 10%, they would add 370 billion euros in GVA to the EU economy, an amount larger than the EU's financial services industry. Many businesses surveyed were unaware of the benefits of digital technology. Governments can play a crucial role, particularly for small businesses, in providing training and support to address this. Closing the skills gap While a majority of Europeans possess basic digital skills, significant differenc...

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Defense Studies Peter Garretson interviews Jean-Jacques Tortora, Director of the European Space Policy Institute in Vienna. They talk about European space policy, the organization and roles of the European Space Agency (ESA), European Commission (EC), NATO, and member states. They discuss changes in how Europe is thinking about the security dimension of space. They also cover European perspectives on natural and man-made threats (Near Earth Objects, Solar Flares, Debris, Congested Traffic, ASATs), and a vision for global governance in space. They discuss the Russian ASAT test, change in NATO posture, French Defense Space Strategy, China & Russia's International Lunar Research Station, the Artemis program, Artemis Accords, a vision for space commerce, and opportunities for U.S.-European space cooperation. Jean-Jacques: https://www.iafastro.org/biographie/jean-jacques-tortora.html https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-jacques-tortora-3b32645a/ ESA: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_facts#:~:text=Us%20%2F%20Corporate%20news-,The%20European%20Space%20Agency%20(ESA)%20is%20Europe's%20gateway%20to%20space,organisation%20with%2022%20Member%20States. EU Space Policy Web Page: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/eu-space-programme/ European Space Strategy: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/ESA_and_the_European_Union_adopt_a_common_strategy_for_space https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/eu-space-strategy-2021 https://espi.or.at/publications/espi-public-reports/send/2-public-espi-reports/549-european-space-strategy-in-a-global-context-executive-summary NATO: Space as an Operational Domain https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_175419.htm NATO's Overarching Space Policy :"Such attacks could lead to the invocation of Article 5. A decision as to when such attacks would lead to the invocation of Article 5 would be taken by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis"https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_190862.htm French Defense Space Strategy: https://www.defense.gouv.fr/english/layout/set/print/content/download/574375/9839912/version/5/file/Space+Defence+Strategy+2019_France.pdf UK Proposal: https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/C.1/75/L.45/Rev.1 https://www.orfonline.org/research/assessing-the-british-proposal-on-space-security/

On 25 November 2021, the European Commission (EC) published its communication on the Capital Markets Union (CMU) package. ICMA's Julia Rodkiewicz, Secretary, ICMA Regulatory Policy Committee, explains the progress made and voices key concerns.

If the European Commission (EC) had to be described in a single word, “technocracy" would come fittingly close. Commissioners and EU civil servants are selected on the basis of subject matter expertise to carry out the thanklessly tiresome tasks of patching together the bloc's budget, governing the single market and negotiating trade deals on behalf of the 27 member states. Culture wars, on the contrary, are too scrappy, too militant for the EU's executive arm to get embroiled in. Or are they? The notion that the Great Awokening unfolding across the West since the death of George Floyd on police custody in May last year may have spared the high echelons of the EU's bureaucracy was swiftly dispelled the week of November 28th with a scoop courtesy of Il Giornale. The Italian daily unveiled the Commission's so-called “Guidelines for Inclusive Communication”, an effort spearheaded by Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli and meant to be binding on all of the Commission's internal and external communications. The document sought to forbid from use such unwoke expressions as “merry Christmas”, “ladies and gentlemen”, “homosexual" or even “citizen”, deemed offensive to stateless refugees. This week, we explore whether and how wokeness has permeated the European Union with Rodrigo Ballester, a former career Eurocrat now directing the Center for European Studies at Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest, and bestselling French journalist Brice Couturier, who is fresh off publishing Ok Millenials! Puritanism, Victimization, Tdentitarianism, Censorship… A Baby Boomer's Survey of the Woke Generation's Founding Myths (2021). As always, rate and review Uncommon Decency on Apple Podcasts, and send us your comments or questions at @UnDecencyPod or undecencypod@gmail.com. Please consider supporting the show through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/undecencypod.

Doug McHoney (PwC's US International Tax Services (ITS) Leader) holds another post-vaccine session live at the Westminster Studios with Maarten Maaskant (PwC's Foreign Tax Desk Leader) to discuss the latest happenings in the European Union (EU) from a legislative, administrative, and judicial perspective. Doug and Maarten cover, among other topics: both the Amazon and Engie state aid decisions in the EU General Court and their future implications; public country-by-country reporting; the European Commission (EC) proposal for a new instrument to address potential distortive effects of foreign subsidies; and the EC communication on business taxation for the 21st century.

As a generation, the under-30s in Europe have been fed by the textbook a worldview that sees the European Union (EU) as the sole conduit for enlightened, pacified and efficient relations among the nations of the continent. “Ideals” or “values” is the preferred term for those at the helm of the institutions sprung from these beliefs and a worrying lot of the public they’ve conscripted into them. That may be a distinction in kind with the deathlier forms of zealotry that the EU has replaced, but not in the degree to which said ideology is embraced. One belief system or another will necessarily come to govern the way power is apportioned and decisions are made in such an unwieldy locus of power as Brussels, and the one dominant at present demands a growing degree of signle-mindedness from its adherents. A few months upon the arduous conclusion of Brexit from which lessons seem yet to be learnt, the supranationalists closed ranks around the European Commission (EC)’s evidently disastrous vaccine procurement strategy, typecasting any critique as contrary to enlightened technocracy. Drawing on the best of the Uncommonly Decent contrarian spirit, we host two noted critics of European supranationalism to take stock of the past year—Anna Wellisz of the Edmund Burke Foundation and John O’Sullivan of the Danube Institute. Enjoy! Rate and review Uncommon Decency on Apple Podcasts, and send us your comments or questions at @UnDecencyPod or uncommondecencypod@gmail.com.

IRJ Editor-in-Chief, Kevin Smith is joined by Carlo Borghini, Executive Director of Shift2Rail, to discuss the successor to the Shift2Rail European railway research program, Europe’s Rail. The European Commission (EC) confirmed a proposal to proceed with the program in February 2021. Borghini discusses what Europe’s Rail will look like and its potential impact on rail research, and the sector’s pursuit of the goals outlined in the EC’s Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy. (Introductory music: “Tired Traveler on the Way to Home” by Andrew Codeman – CC BY 3.0)

In this episode, NEX host Kingsley Martin and Tim Cummins discuss:The most important legal technology changes that will happen in the next decadeThe benefits of contract lifecycle management technology platform tools and how to make the most of data-driven contracting methodsHow the European Commission (EC) is thinking about new ways to measure EC economic activity as a contract ecosystem “Ten years from now, I think we will absolutely have seen a massive increase in the standardization of contract terms. We are moving toward a world of greater clarity, of intelligibility, and we start to understand the performance and outcome impacts of our terms and conditions.” -Tim Cummins About Guest Tim Cummins, President,  IACCMTim Cummins is President of the International Association for Contract & Commercial Management and leads the Association's extensive research programs and interactions with universities and business schools. Prior to IACCM, Tim's business career included executive roles at IBM including a period on the Chairman's staff, leading studies on the impacts of globalization and the re-engineering of IBM's global contracting processes. His earlier career involved the banking, automotive and aerospace industries, initially in Corporate Finance and later in commercial and business development. He led negotiations up to $1.5 billion in value and his work has taken him to over 40 countries. Tim's writing is extensively published and he has acted in an advisory capacity to government bodies in countries that include the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and Japan, as well as regular briefings to senior managers at many of the world's largest companies. About Host Kingsley Martin, Chief Contract Scientist, AkordaKingsley Martin is Chief Contract Scientist and Co-founder of Akorda.  In this role, he guides the development of Akorda’s AI software by creating data-driven methodologies that form the basis of contract science. Kingsley regularly consults with law firms, large corporations, and governments to optimize their contacting processing. Kingsley is also the founder of KMStandards and contractstandards.com. Kingsley served as CIO at AmLaw 100 firms and held strategic planning roles at Thomson Reuters. Kingsley holds law degrees from Oxford University and Harvard Law School. 

The European Commission (EC) has fined Nike for limiting the sale of licensed soccer merchandise across the European Economic Area (EEA). The commission required Nike to pay a fine of over €12 million for violating Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The article forbids companies from entering into deals that limit or control the manufacture or sale of products in countries covered by the EEA. Nike's violations of the treaty are related to selling merchandise for distinguished soccer clubs like Manchester United and FC Barcelona. According to the EC's investigation, Nike prevented licensed distributors from selling items, such as mugs and bags, to other countries. The company's other violations include requiring sellers to refer customers from other countries directly to Nike and threatening distributors of contract termination if they sell the licensed items in other countries. Such actions deprived customers of a wider option of products to buy and made the items' prices higher. In deciding the disciplinary action for these violations, the commission used its 2006 guidelines on fines as its legal basis. The EC factored in the money made from Nike's unfair practices, the severity of the violations, and the fact that the practices went on for almost 13 years. However, the fine was reduced by 40% because Nike cooperated with the EC's investigation. The EC began investigating Nike's unfair business practices in June 2017 in hopes of discouraging businesses that restrict sales to other countries. In doing so, the EC ensures that consumers can get the products they want at affordable prices.

"Spotify has filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission (EC), the regulatory body responsible for keeping competition fair and nondiscriminatory. That’s how Daniel EK, billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Spotify, announcement his company’s action against Apple on March 14, 2019. So why is this happening and what's going on? SPONSOR: CuriosityStream - Stay curious Go to curiositystream.com/vector and enter the promo code ‘vector’ to start your membership completely free for the first 30 days. LINKS: Consumers and Innovators Win on a Level Playing Field — Spotify MORE: Gear: https://kit.com/reneritchie Podcast: http://applepodcasts.com/vector Twitter: https://twitter.com/reneritchie Instagram: https://instagram.com/reneritchie SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts Overcast Pocket Casts Castro RSS YouTube  

....The European Commission (EC) has forecast a 1.3 per cent growth for this year, followed by 1.6 per cent in 2020. The Spanish government will work to make things easier for British residents in Spain, even those without permanent residency status, in the event of a no-deal Brexit. SPAIN spends 23.7 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on its state school system, the 10th highest level in the world according to a new ranking. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s report showed Spain came ahead of Britain, the Netherlands, the US and New Zealand. NEW figures show Spain invested 0.25 per cent of GDP on public aid in 2017, making it the third lowest-spending country in the European Union. SPAIN has the highest proportion of people employed for six months or less compared with 18 European countries, according to the UN’s work agency which said such contracts harm workers. The tourism boom continues unabated in Spain. The month of January set a new historical record for both tourist arrivals and spending: nearly 4.2 million visitors came to Spain, a 2.2% rise from the same month last year, and they spent a total €4.7 billion, 3.6% more than in January 2018. A 17-year-old girl scout stabbed to death on Friday was killed in cold blood astwo men walked straight up to her and one of them knifed her in the back, police have revealed. Muslim children have been withdrawn from a school in protest against lessons about homosexuality and gender equality. ......... Ten sailors are facing serious disciplinary action after carrying out sickening sexacts in a country pub in full view of members of the public........... Radio 2 hasn't played a solo Jackson track since last Saturday, when they broadcasthis 1979 hit Rock With You.

....The European Commission (EC) has forecast a 1.3 per cent growth for this year, followed by 1.6 per cent in 2020. The Spanish government will work to make things easier for British residents in Spain, even those without permanent residency status, in the event of a no-deal Brexit. SPAIN spends 23.7 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on its state school system, the 10th highest level in the world according to a new ranking. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s report showed Spain came ahead of Britain, the Netherlands, the US and New Zealand. NEW figures show Spain invested 0.25 per cent of GDP on public aid in 2017, making it the third lowest-spending country in the European Union. SPAIN has the highest proportion of people employed for six months or less compared with 18 European countries, according to the UN’s work agency which said such contracts harm workers. The tourism boom continues unabated in Spain. The month of January set a new historical record for both tourist arrivals and spending: nearly 4.2 million visitors came to Spain, a 2.2% rise from the same month last year, and they spent a total €4.7 billion, 3.6% more than in January 2018. A 17-year-old girl scout stabbed to death on Friday was killed in cold blood astwo men walked straight up to her and one of them knifed her in the back, police have revealed. Muslim children have been withdrawn from a school in protest against lessons about homosexuality and gender equality. ......... Ten sailors are facing serious disciplinary action after carrying out sickening sexacts in a country pub in full view of members of the public........... Radio 2 hasn't played a solo Jackson track since last Saturday, when they broadcasthis 1979 hit Rock With You.

Kevin Körner, Senior Economist, discusses how the outcome of the EU elections and the composition of the new Parliament will significantly influence the nomination and election of the next President of the European Commission (EC). The election of the Commission President will be particularly challenging this year for three reasons.

Kevin Körner, Senior Economist, discusses how the outcome of the EU elections and the composition of the new Parliament will significantly influence the nomination and election of the next President of the European Commission (EC). The election of the Commission President will be particularly challenging this year for three reasons.

Kevin Körner, Senior Economist, discusses how the outcome of the EU elections and the composition of the new Parliament will significantly influence the nomination and election of the next President of the European Commission (EC). The election of the Commission President will be particularly challenging this year for three reasons.

Japanese pharma company Takeda's USD 62bn acquisition of London-listed Shire is expected to close soon. To gain approval from the European Commission (EC), Takeda has proposed to sell Shire's drug for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), to avoid an overlap between the two companies. Mintoi Chessa-Florea talks to Yining Su about the proposed divestiture package and its likelihood of finding a buyer.

In May of this year, The European Commission (EC) will issue an expansive set of privacy rules for U.S. companies operating overseas. These rules, otherwise called The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), will require companies across the world to amend their policies and practices to comply with its many regulations. In many ways, the GDPR […]

RED ALERT!! Not one, not two, but THREE major events have recently taken place over the world!! On the evening of Monday, December 19th, 2016, it was reported that a truck drove into the Breitscheidplatz Christmas market at the Memorial Church. According to several reports, 12 were killed and 48 were injured. Meanwhile, Federal Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière (CDU) has deemed this as an "attack" â?? when we know better! Then, on the exact same day, an alleged shooting occurred in Zurich, Switzerland â?? where a purported "gunman" was involved in a mosque shooting at the Zurich Islamic Center. Three were said to be injured, even though we know The TRUTH behind this one as well... And finally, on the exact same evening, Russia's ambassador to Turkey was "assassinated" at an Ankara art exhibit in Turkey. What they want us to believe is that a "lone gunman" just-so-happened to begin sporadically shooting and shouting â??donâ??t forget Aleppo, donâ??t forget Syria!â?? â?? when we know this has Propaganda written all over it. As a result of what the mainstream calls "provocative terrorist attacks," the European Commission (EC), along with the European Union (EU), have been busy pushing stricter gun control laws for all of Europe as a whole. In fact, the EC has already released a cryptic press release â?? calling for: 1. The ban of automatic firearms transformed into semi-automatic firearms 2. The inclusion of collectors and museums in the scope of the directive 3. The regulation of alarm and acoustic weapons 4. The regulation of Internet sales 5. The regulation of deactivated weapons 6. More exchange of information between Member States. But That's Not All! Because the Department of the State, along with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) BOTH have announced travel warnings and bulletins, each having to do with alleged "terrorism." The Europe Travel Alert, issued on November 21st, 2016, "alerts U.S. citizens to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season" â?? and expires on February 20th, 2017. Meanwhile, the DHS National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin, initially issued on November 15th, 2016, "warns of a credible terrorism threat against the United States" and even "warns of a credible, specific and impending terrorism threat against the United States" â?? and is to expire on May 15th, 2017. Why All Of These Threats And Warnings?!?! THE TRUTH REVEALED!!! SEE THE WARNING SIGNS AHEAD OF TIME! PLEASE SEEK YAHUAH AND HIS TRUE SON YAHUSHA â?? WHILE THEY CAN STILL BE FOUND!!!!!!! https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/Europe.html*** https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/ntas/alerts/16_1115_NTAS_bulletin.pdf*** http://www.morgenpost.de/bezirke/charlottenburg-wilmersdorf/article209035059/Wieder-zugaenglich-Polizei-gibt-Anschlagsort-frei.html***

We’re delighted that one of Europe’s top-ranked women joined us for this “inaugural” show: Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, also a vice president of the European Commission (EC). She agreed to speak to Teri Schultz, the host of this podcast, just a few hours after Donald Trump was confirmed as the next US president, … Continue reading EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on 2016 US Presidents and EU Challenges →

FAA grants an emergency COA, Reno is not just for manned aircraft anymore, Chinese inflatable UAVs, more UAS regulations, and more bad behavior with drones. News Drones Get Waiver to Search for Missing Texas Woman Christina Morris The FAA granted an Emergency COA to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of Gaithersburg, MD in order to utilize an Unmanned Aircraft System in the search for a woman missing in Texas. Under the Emergency COA, NIST was able to operate an unmanned aircraft through contractor Texas EquuSearch, a non-profit organization that assists with locating missing individuals. The FAA issues COAs “on an emergency basis when: 1) a situation exists in which there is distress or urgency and there is an extreme possibility of a loss of life; 2) the proponent has determined that manned flight operations cannot be conducted efficiently; and 3) the proposed UAS is operating under a current approved COA for a different purpose or location." Texas EquuSearch used the NIST's catapult-launched MLB Super Bat, but did not locate the woman. The search was subsequently suspended until more leads could be developed. Reno air races draw new kind of aircraft: drones This year's National Championship Air Races in Reno included the Small UAS Challenge, designed to test speed, agility, and strength. Contestants navigated an obstacle course, and participated in a time trial and a dead lift. A “Drone Zone” gave event attendees an opportunity to learn more about unmanned aerial vehicles and systems. Tianjin expo reveals Chinese UAV innovations, aspiration and Now that's an AIRplane! Homemade inflatable drone reaches speeds of 120mph The Chinese are actively seeking to develop their aviation industry, and that includes unmanned vehicles. At the Tianjin International UAV and Model Aircraft Technology Exhibition, a family of UAVs were shown that featured inflatable bodies. The  SF-1, SF-2 and SF-3 have wingspans of 2.5 m, 3 m and 4.3 m respectively, and a useful load of 25 kg. They can be inflated with either air, helium, or hydrogen. This development reminds David of the experimental Goodyear Inflatoplane, produced in the 1950's and ‘60's. Europe Outlines Action Plan For UAV Policymaking Matthew Baldwin, the director of aviation and international transport affairs with the European Commission (EC) had some comments from the UAS 2014 conference held in London: The task of creating a regulatory framework that promotes UAS but addresses safety and privacy concerns. The current European framework is fragmented, and that's a competitive disadvantage. Thresholds based on UAV weight are inconsistent, absurd, and arbitrary. Baldwin said, "We believe that EASA [the European Aviation Safety Agency] is best placed to develop rules, and we envisage an EC proposal early next year to cover safety, liability and insurance, security privacy and so on.” This Dunkable Drone Will Suck Up Whale Snot for Science Whales have blowhorns that are lined with mucus and researchers want to collect that mucus to determine the health of the whale. Obviously, whale mucus is not easy to collect. The Olin College of Engineering has tackled this problem by developing and testing a drone they call Snot Bot. They want the FAA to give them permission to use it on real whales. Pilot spots drone flying near Nashville airport runway On approach to Nashville International Airport, the pilot of an American Eagle flight spotted a hovering drone. ATC notified the police air unit and the FAA is investigating. Drones snooping into homes Residents in this town are complaining about drones snooping around. One woman says her son had friends over for a pool party, and suddenly a drone was hovering overhead.  Neighbors also report seeing a drone after dark with flashing red and green lights. Videos of the Week Keep an eye on battery life Max Trescott sends in this close call where the pilot saves his DJI Phantom bef...

Summary In this episode I Interview Richard Hill. Richard is the author of "We Europeans" (1992), "Euromanagers & Martians", "The Art of being Belgian", "Great Britain Little England" and a number of other books. Learn how Richard explains why (he thinks) the French are an "autistic" nation (don't worry, he nuances it to "self absorbed" later in an excellent story! And why the Belgians are an unassertive and pragmatic people who have a developed way to compromise. And finally why the European Commission (EC) is not paying as much attention to cultural difference as they should. Build Your Cultural Competence In the Culture Matters podcast we interview real people with real stories. Every other week there is a guest with broad international experience and lots of cultural insights. I interview real people with real stories. To subscribe directly using iTunes, Click here. Links You can reach Richard Hill in a couple of ways: Mobile phone: +32 470 305677 Landline: +32 2 343 77 26 Email: richard@minkehill.com Website: Books by Richard How To Get In Touch With Culture Matters I'd love for you to get in touch. There are a couple of ways you can do this: Via this website: Just use the “Ask Your Question” tab on the right of the screen and leave a voice mail Email me at chris.smit@culturematters.com Send me a Tweet: @chrissmit Finally Thank you so much for taking the time to read this far, maybe even listen to my Podcast. I hope you will be back for the next episode of the Culture Matters Podcast!

Just before the adoption of a regulation by European Commission (EC) on November 11 to approve the sale and use of steviol glycosides, Wild's senior vice president of business development, Fabiana Matucci, told BeverageDaily.com how she thought stevia approval would affect the rate of innovation within low-calorie beverages.

Just before the adoption of a regulation by European Commission (EC) on November 11 to approve the sale and use of steviol glycosides, Wild's senior vice president of business development, Fabiana Matucci, told BeverageDaily.com how she thought stevia approval would affect the rate of innovation within low-calorie beverages.