The European Commission has published interpretative guidelines on a fair placement of minor contracts by the public sector. The new guidelines, on which an interpretative notice is available, contain proposals on how public authorities should proceed in accordance with the EU single market principles of transparency and anti-discrimination. Examples for illustration are given as well. The new guidelines also apply to certain services which are not completely covered by already existing EU directives on public procurement. more…

There is big outrage by companies on the introduction of broadcasting fees for company computers linked to the Internet from January 1st 2007. Many companies are threatened by multiple charges. Small entities or one-man companies will in future have to pay triple fees: as private person, for the company car and for the computer in their offices. In total this will amount to 474.96 Euro each year. Even worse: more…

At the end of June the lower house of German parliament passed a general equal-treatment-law (AGG) about which we already reported. By introducing this law Germany meets its obligations of casting four EU anti-discrimination directives into national law. This led to a big quarrel on the scope of the new law the provisions of which even exceeded the requirements imposed by the EU and which in its current form is mostly rejected by the CDU/CSU political party and employers´ associations. Which parts of everyday life are affected by the new legislation is described in a press statement by the German Ministry of Justice providing detailed explanations which are worth reading.

Only one third of company founders are driven by entrepreneurial objectives. This is the finding of the DIHK-report on company founders 2006 entitled “Company foundation in times of Hartz IV”, by which the Association of German Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) this year again present their assessment of the situation in business founding in the sectors of industry, trade and services. This time the survey is based on more than 380.000 contacts by IHK business starter consultants with founders to be. more…

Confidence among small and medium-sized entities (SMEs) has not been as good in six years. This is one finding of the traditional economic report by the Association of German Chambers of Commerce (DIHK) for which in early summer this year about 20.000 associated companies were questioned. more…

As was established by the Federal Statistical Office the German consumer price index for July 2006 – according to data available from six federal states – will be up by 1.9 percent as compared to July 2005 (in June 2006 + 2.0 percent). With regard to June 2006 this represents an increase by 0.4 percent. The relatively high June index is mainly attributed to seasonal price increases for package holiday trips and holiday flats. more…

The Munich based ifo Institute for economic research reports that the industrial business climate index for Germany has fallen by 1.2 points in July currently standing at 105.6 points which means that it remains at a high level. Thus, those companies questioned are not as satisfied any more with their business situations as in the previous month. They see their prospects for the coming six months less optimistic than in June which means that the expectations component of the index fell by 1.6 points to 102.6 points. However, according to the Institute, these figures do not represent a major economic turnaround so that the economy continues its upward trend. more…

German family-owned businesses will have to face serious changes given that only one out of three companies will stay within the family once the current owner generation has retired. Such is the finding of the “Family-owned business survey for Germany 2006″ presented on Tuesday in Frankfurt by the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) accountancy and consulting company. The study describes a series of problems which have to be overcome by family-owned companies. In particular unsolved family disagreements on company strategy, management partnership and appropriation of earnings are issues threatening the process of company succession. more…

On the 1st of January 2007 there will be the launch of the 7th EU research programme (FRP) which is endowed with 50 billion Euros. Whoever wishes to lay the foundations of their research, may inform themselves about the opportunities offered by the FRP on the 14th of September in Neuss. more…

The final sprint in the competition for the “Social Entrepreneur 2006” award has begun: applicants can still register until August 15th.  The winner will be invited to the World Economic Forum 2007 in Davos. Up to now more than 100 companies have already been honoured and supported worldwide by the prize awarding foundation. more…