BluDanuBlog

President announces National Export Initiative

January 27th, 2010

In his State of the Union address to Congress today, President Obama set a national goal to “double our exports over the next five years, an increase that will support 2 million jobs in America” through a new National Export Initiative. Details are scarce so far, but the White House blog says “the NEI includes the creation of the President’s Export Promotion Cabinet and an enhancement of funding for key export promotion programs.” The focus on small business is encouraging, and we look forward to learning more about the substance of the initiative.

EU Commission proposes visa-free entry for Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia

July 10th, 2009

The EU Commission plans to remove visa requirements for citizens of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia pending approval by the EU Ministers of the Interior, says Die Presse. Travel restrictions within Europe, with the cost and time required for business travelers to secure multiple visas, have been a significant drag on these countries’ economies. Bosnia-Hercegovina and Albania have not yet met various security requirements for removal of visa restrictions, according to Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot.

More mixed messages from Czechs on Lisbon Treaty

May 7th, 2009

Hardly an hour after the Czech Senate’s approval of the Lisbon Treaty for reform of the European Union institutions Wednesday, President Václav Klaus declared the treaty “dead” and refused to sign it, according to newspaper Mladá fronta Dnes. A group of the treaty’s defeated Senate opponents intend to ask for a review by the Constitutional Court. Klaus has long been known as a fierce critic of the treaty.