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- "Private equity deals as a chance for business turnaround. Where and how did it work?" EMCC workshop report
This report presents the main issues discussed at the first workshop "Private equity deals as a chance for business turnaround. Where and how did it work?" organized by the European Monitoring Centre on Change(EMCC) in Dublin on May 14-15 2002. Invited were experts who have managed turnaround in businesses in different sectors throughout Europe and the United States.
- Biocides work area
The Biocides work area is part of the European Chemical Bureau. Its main objective is to provide scientific and technical guidance to concerned authorities for the implementation of the Biocides Directive (98/8/EC) and of the review programme. Household-, industrial- and institutional disinfectants and household insecticides fall - among many others - into the biocidal products category.
- Biomedical healthcare industry - visions of the future
This second article in the Sector Futures series on the biomedical healthcare sector focuses on the main factors shaping the present and future of the industry. It assesses the major trends and drivers, and evaluates different scenarios for the biomedical healthcare industry. The article also examines why the European biomedical healthcare industry is lagging behind the US, and is facing increasing competition from companies in developing markets.
- Biomedical healthcare industry - policy issues and major challenges
The third and final article in the series about biomedical healthcare discusses policies that could enhance the international competitiveness of the European biomedical healthcare industry. In particular, it looks at issues related to bioethics, globalisation, economic growth and employment as well as demographics and welfare.
- Biomedical healthcare industry - what future?
The biomedical healthcare sector comprises biotechnologies dedicated to the treatment of human beings. The first of three articles in the Sector Futures series on biomedical healthcare looks at key features of the sector, including the size and structure of its market, the nature of employment, the main trends and drivers shaping the present and future of the industry and the principal issues and uncertainties at stake in the industry.
- Business resilience - anticipation as the key to sustainable business success
In a seminar organised for members of its Company Network, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions explored two distinct but related aspects of resilience: ‘anticipatory resilience’ and ‘crisis management resilience’. The seminar ‘Business resilience - anticipation as the key to sustainable business success’ was held in the VNO Management Centre ‘De Baak’ in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, on 2-3 June 2004. Four companies from France, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, representing different sectors (packaging, transport, hotel, pharmaceutical), presented their observations and strategies to an audience of 35 participants coming from 11 EU Member States.
- Chemicals - visions of the future
This article builds on the discussion in the first article on the trends and drivers likely to shape the future of the sector and the challenges it faces in the era of globalisation. In particular, it looks at issues related to employment, innovation, EU regulation - notably the REACH proposal - and the factors influencing relocation of client industries away from the EU. The article also explores four alternative scenarios for the chemicals industry in the light of the main pressures on it, and concludes that the most optimistic one is unlikely to be realised.
- Chemicals portal
This portal by the Directorate General Enterprise serves as a hub for a wealth of chemicals-related information. Of particular note are the links relating to legislation, databases and the 'Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals’ (REACH) programme. Included is the text of the White Paper outlining the European Commission's proposal for regulating the chemical industry within the EU.
- Chemicals sector - challenges, policy issues and the future
The third and last article in this series reviews major policy issues and challenges facing the chemicals industry sector, by analysing their timely, geographical and structural impact on the industry, as well as the gender dimension. In particular, it looks at the REACH proposal, forces driving the decline of the European chemicals industry and aspects of the unfavourable political environment.
- Chemicals policy review portal
This portal is dedicated to the reform process of the existing regulatory system covering chemical substances and their use. It provides several documents, including the response of the European chemical industry to the EU White Paper ‘Strategy for a future chemicals policy’ and the EU Commission’s proposal for the ‘Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals Regulation’ (REACH), as well as the views of other stakeholders on these suggested policies.
- Competitiveness of the chemical industry sector in central and eastern European countries
This study reviews how the industry in the candidate countries, Bulgaria and Romania, will be able to cope with the competitive pressure of EU membership. The study encompasses a national review of the chemical industry in 10 central and eastern European countries. The national reviews provide a profile of the chemical industry, and data on privatisation and foreign direct investment in the respective countries.
- Corporate social responsibility in France, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom
These 12 case studies look at how European companies are developing models of best practice in the field of working and employment conditions and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The companies selected are from four countries - France, Germany, Hungary and the United Kingdom - and cover sectors as diverse as the automotive, chemical, financial services, post and telecommunications, petrochemical and steel sectors. Restructuring and subcontracting were two specific issues highlighted in all case studies.
- Corporate restructuring and research and development: A panel data analysis for the chemical industry
This study deals with the effect of restructuring on research and development investment in the chemical industry. It is based on data collected between 1987-1997 from 535 companies of Europe, Japan and North America. According to the results, restructuring is an important component in changes in research and development (R&D) spending in the chemical industry, although variations across the chemical industry’s segments exist.
- Corporate restructuring and R&D: A panel data analysis for the chemical industry
This study deals with the effect of restructuring on research and development (R&D) investment in the chemical industry. It is based on data collected between 1987-1997 from 535 companies of North America, Europe and Japan. The main finding is that restructuring is an important component of changes in R&D spending in the chemical industry, although variations across the chemical industry’s segments exist.
- CosmetLex: The rules governing cosmetic products in the European Union
This report, by the European Commission’s DG Enterprise and published in 1999, provides baseline information on the European cosmetics legislation (Council Directive 76/768/EEC and Commission Directive 95/17/EC) on the methods of analysis to test the composition of cosmetic products removed from the market and on the guidelines for testing of cosmetic ingredients.
- EMCC dossier on the European biomedical healthcare sector
Modern biotechnology is one of the key enabling technologies of the 21st century: it could potentially prevent, treat and cure a wide range of diseases. However, the development of biomedical products – especially drugs – is an expensive, long-term endeavour. Thus, the biomedical healthcare sector relies on a wide range of supporting sectors and interacts with public administrations in all phases of the development, manufacturing and selling of a product. In a European policy context, the biomedical sector offers the potential to create a knowledge base that could contribute to Europe’s competitiveness in the global market. This dossier aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the trends and forces shaping the sector, drawing primarily on recent original Eurofound research. It provides a sector mapping report, company and cluster studies, future scenarios and links to recommends sources of information.
- EMCC dossier on the biomedical healthcare sector – Additional sources of information
This document lists further sources of information on the commerce sector that may be of interest to the reader.
- European chemicals industry - what future?
The chemicals industry is one of the largest and internationally most successful European industries. The first of three articles in the Sector Futures series on this sector - excluding pharmaceuticals - delineates the chemicals industry sector, looking at its market size, structure and nature of employment. The chemicals sector is capital-intensive and has traditionally enjoyed a comparative advantage in mature industrialised countries. This advantage, however, is now being challenged by globalisation. This factor is explored here, along with other trends and drivers likely to shape the sector’s future.
- Industrial restructuring in the chemical industry
This report, prepared for the European Commission in 1998, provides a comprehensive analysis of industrial restructuring in the chemical industry. The report looks at developments in the industry’s eight main sub-sectors and provides case studies of several major companies, as well as comparisons between them. Drivers of change and likely trends are highlighted.
- Managing large-scale restructuring: Michelin Stoke-on-Trent
Tyre production is not an industry traditionally associated with the Stoke-on-Trent industrial area of the West Midlands in the United Kingdom. However, following the arrival of the French-based tyre manufacturer Michelin in the late 1920s, the company soon became one of the region's major employers. In the 1980s and late 1990s, Michelin recognised the need to restructure its Stoke manufacturing plant, aiming at reducing production costs and remaining competitive. However, in August 2000, the French mother company announced the closure of operations at Stoke, due to high overheads and deteriorating market conditions. This case study documents the restructuring process and its implementation, leading to the closure of the Michelin Stoke plant. It also looks at the social and economic measures taken by the company to manage the closure in a socially responsible way.
- Managing business internationalisation
In a seminar organised for members of its Company Network, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions explored business practices in the context of companies expanding their operations to new external markets in Europe and elsewhere. The seminar 'Managing business internationalisation’ was held in Brussels, Belgium on 12-13 March 2003. Four companies from Germany, Ireland, Spain and Sweden presented their approach and experience to an audience of 35 participants representing a wide range of stakeholder groups (employers, trade unionists, government representatives, change agents and academics) from 11 EU Member States and acceding countries.
- Private equity deals as a chance for business turnaround : Where and how did it work?
This report presents the main issues discussed at the first workshop 'Private equity deals as a chance for business turnaround - where and how did it work?' organised by the European Monitoring Centre on Change (EMCC) in Dublin on 14-15 May 2002. Among the invited participants were experts who have managed turnaround in businesses in different sectors throughout Europe and the United States.
- Private equity deals as a chance for business turnaround: Where and how did it work?
This report presents the main issues discussed at the first workshop, 'Private equity deals as a chance for business turnaround - where and how did it work?', organised by the European Monitoring Centre on Change (EMCC) in Dublin on 14-15 May 2002. The participants consisted of experts who have managed turnaround in businesses in different sectors throughout Europe and the United States.
- Restructuring for growth and job creation
In a seminar organised for members of its Company Network, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions explored company strategies for business growth and how these are related to job creation. The seminar ‘Restructuring for growth and job creation’ was held in Stockholm, Sweden on 11-12 June 2003. Four companies from France, Italy, Norway and Sweden, representing different sectors (pharmaceutical, construction, graphic arts, transport logistics), presented their approach and experience to an audience of 25 participants from eight different EU Member States.
- Restructuring of large companies in Slovakia
This study investigates how and why the majority of large Slovak companies successfully restructured without the help of foreign investors or a government restructuring programme, despite the fact that many of these companies were initially classified as 'non-viable loss makers'. The study is based on 21 case studies of large Slovak companies.
- The biomedical healthcare sector - what future?
Sector Futures provides specialised reports based on the monitoring of existing foresight studies, scenario work, innovation studies and reliable data sources. January 2006 features the complete Sector Futures article series on the biomedical healthcare sector. It sets out by defining the sector, outlining its market size, structure and employment figures, and looks at the trends and drivers shaping the sector. Subsequent articles assess the impact and review some scenario work relating to the sector’s future before concluding with an analysis of major policy issues and challenges facing the industry.
- The chemicals sector - what future?
Sector Futures provides specialised reports based on current foresight studies and reliable data sources. December 2005 features the second and third article in the series on the future of the chemicals sector, excluding pharmaceuticals. The articles explore the trends and drivers likely to shape the sector’s future as well as four alternative scenarios for the chemicals industry in the light of the main pressures on it. The series concludes with a review of the major policy issues and challenges facing the sector, by analysing their timely, geographical and structural impact on the industry, as well as the gender dimension.
- The impact of REACH on innovation in the chemical industry
This recent paper published in 2003 by the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies, analyses the effect of the European Union’s new REACH regulation for the chemical industry on its innovative capacity. The analysis is based on the review of existing regulations, literature and studies.
- White Paper on the strategy for a future chemicals policy
The document contains proposals for the development of a future EU chemicals policy, with the main focus on sustainable development. Key points addressed include: chemical properties, chemical control (REACH system), the role of the industry, and the classification and labelling of substances.
EMCC is a project of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions.
Page last updated: 12 October, 2010