Knowing in order to choose

Eurostat regular data release provides a unique snapshot of the social and cultural profile of Community Europe. Equally important are the surveys proposed by the different EU agencies, each one with its own field of action. Agencies perform activity in different fields and they bear highly-significant denominations like the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Agency for the Environment (EEA), the European Agency for Medicines (EMEA) along with: The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), the Authority for Food Safety (EFSA), the EU Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Monitoring Agency for Drugs and Addictions (EMCDDA). [Previous fact-sheets in SIR Europe nn.9-11-13-15-17/2009]Drugs continue to spread. Data regarding drug consumption is Europe deserves special attention. According to estimates, in EU-27 70 million people make regular use of cannabis, cocaine (12 million), ecstasy (9.5 million) and amphetamines (11 million). At least half a million citizens aged 16-65 undergo ‘official’ drug-replacement therapies. Over 7 thousand die for overdose each year. The EU, in conjunction with national governments, decided to counter this phenomenon by means of a formal “Integrated Strategy on Drugs” aimed at “reducing drug offer and demand”. The Action Plan developed by the Commission focuses on five “crucial priorities”. These are: reducing drug demand, raising public-awareness; triggering public prevention; improving international cooperation; promoting the understanding of the drug-phenomenon.Micro and small enterprises. Another snapshot of Europe can be taken from a different angle considering data on enterprise output in Member States. In the era of globalization and multinationals, Eurostat made known that “almost all enterprises active in Europe” are “micro, small or medium enterprises”. The former, including up to 9 employees, represent 92% of the overall number of enterprises (the survey was conducted on all enterprises except for those in the agricultural, public and financial sectors) occupying 38 million people, representing 30% of EU labour force and generating 1,100 billion euro of added value, 21% of the total amount. Micro enterprises characterize the production system of Greece, Italy, Portugal and Cyprus. They are less widespread in Germany, Denmark and Romania. However the contribution to employment and wealth of micro, small (from 10 to 49 dependent workers) and medium enterprises (up to 249 workers) “is inferior to their presence on the territory”. Indeed, large enterprises – 40 thousand in the EU, 0.2% of all enterprises – “account for 33% of employment and 42% of the total added value”. These are extremely significant findings. Given the current economic recession, that led governments to plan bailouts for enterprises, accurate data on the industrial and tertiary sectors is crucial in the allocation of funding and for initiatives aimed at investment in technology, research or vocational training. Europe and the web. 60% of European homes have Internet access connections, while 48% of users have broadband connection. These figures convey further important information on the EU. Data refers to the first trimester of 2008, while in the same period in 2007 figures were respectively 54 and 42%. On the whole, in EU27 computer and web access are on the increase, notwithstanding remarkable difference at national level. In some nations, home Internet connections account for over 75% of the total amount: notably The Netherlands (with the highest percentage, 86%), Sweden, Denmark, Luxembourg and Germany. Lower levels are found in Bulgaria (25%), Romania (30%) and Greece (31%). Broadband connection follows the same trend of Internet diffusion. The Eurostat survey focuses on the reasons for home Internet connection. “About a third of interviewees use the Internet for travel and tourism”, states the report. “Another third of the same sample declared they use the Internet for online banking services”. Similar figures represent those who logged on in order to contact public bodies or for health-related information. (6 – continua)