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- Focus on Poland
B2B Integration Challenges Facing the Automotive Supplier Community
by Mark Morley
In 2007, Poland was the second largest producer of cars in Eastern Europe, manufacturing nearly 700,000 vehicles.
- The State of the Central and Eastern European Automotive Market
by Mark Morley
In recent years the automotive industry has been going through a significant globalisation process with once relatively short supply chains being stretched to every corner of the globe.
- Focus on Poland
- Resources
- Strategy & Execution
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by Clive Longbottom, a Quocirca Insights Report
- Introduction
- Europe & EU
- The Opportunities
- Issues
- How to plan for Pan-European B2B trading
- Outsourcing
- Conclusions and Recommendations
Solving Electronic Mandate Headaches
by Malcolm Wheatley
- Global Business
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by Mark Morley
Trade Within Europe has Grown Rapidly, Thanks to the Single Market. But Where is it Heading?
John Lamb weighs the prospects.
The Single European Payments Area and Cross Border Trade
by Steve Keifer
- Innovation
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by Malcolm Wheatley
Fiscal Dematerialisation–Riddled with Regulations, But Enormous Rewards
by Denise Oakley
Ten Forces Transforming Corporate Banking Connectivity
A GXS Market Perspective
Resources
What is the EU?
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Europe. It was established by the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Community. With almost 500 million citizens, the EU combined generates an estimated 30% share of the world's nominal gross domestic product (US$16.8 trillion in 2007).
The EU has developed a single market through a standardised system of laws which apply in all member states, guaranteeing the freedom of movement of people, goods, services and capital. It maintains a common trade policy, agricultural and fisheries policies, and a regional development policy. Fifteen member states have adopted a common currency, the euro. It has developed a role in foreign policy, representing its members in the World Trade Organisation, at G8 summits and at the United Nations. Twenty-one EU countries are members of NATO. It has developed a role in justice and home affairs, including the abolition of passport control between many member states under the Schengen Agreement.
The EU operates through a hybrid system of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism. In certain areas it depends upon agreement between the member states. However, it also has supranational bodies, able to make decisions without the agreement of members. Important institutions and bodies of the EU include the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank. EU citizens elect the Parliament every five years.
The EU traces its origins to the European Coal and Steel Community formed among six countries in 1951 and the Treaty of Rome in 1957. Since then the EU has grown in size through the accession of new member states and has increased its powers by the addition of new policy areas to its remit.
Wikipedia contributors, "European Union," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=European_Union&oldid=227590036 (accessed July 24, 2008).
Executive Dialogue Blogs
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Sourcing from China
Volumes of cross-border trade between exporters in China and importers in the US and Europe have been growing consistently over the past 20 years. But a series of potential supply chain disruptions are forcing procurement organizations to rethink their sourcing strategies. Should you diversify your supplier base to other low cost geographies? Read more on the challenges faced exporting goods from China in 2008.
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The International Food Supply Chain
For decades the food supply chain has been growing increasingly global with seafood, poultry, beef, fruits and vegetable products being sourced from countries around the world. But a new market dynamic may soon lead to a complete reversal in supply chain trends. Read about the eight factors driving consumers desire to buy local food products and what the implications for the grocery supply chain are.
