Op-ed by Tim Bennett for Emerging Europe

2016 is a very critical year for TTIP, and a conclusion of negotiations couldn’t come soon enough for small and medium size companies (SMEs). Nearly 95,000 out of the 28 million US SMEs export to the EU, while about 150,000 of the 20 million SMEs in the EU export to the US Most SMEs do not have the human, financial, or time resources that larger companies have to develop export markets when faced with tariffs, complex customs procedures, duplicative and expensive regulatory approval requirements. These barriers are cost prohibitive for too many SMEs.

Mexico’s energy reform was back in the headlines when President Enrique Peña Nieto’s announced that gas imports will be liberalized starting in April this year. Since the reform was enacted in 2013, Mexico’s energy sector has had to confront the economy progressively moving to reduce its oil dependence, sharp declines in oil prices and 2016 starting off with major budget cuts in the state-run Pemex.

by José Manuel González-Páramo, BBVA Executive Director

Over the past few months there have been many very different statements published about the TTIP, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership between the U.S. and Europe. To what extent are they based on myths or facts? BBVA Executive Director José Manuel González-Páramo explains in an  op-ed published in Spanish ElDiario.es

Global trade is not at its best amid moderate economic growth and uncertainty in emerging economies – the drivers behind trade momentum prior to the 2007-2009 crisis. There has been a slowdown in the international exchange of goods and services since the middle of the last decade, making it seem like there are other factors behind recent years' cyclical weakness. There could be technological reasons, since falling transportation costs from “containerization” have slowed, or from China reorienting its economy toward domestic demand and services instead of acting as the world’s assembler.

BBVA today launches the 8th edition of its BBVA Open Talent competition, which aims to find the brightest and best entrepreneurs who are changing financial services through digital innovation. In the last five years, over 3,250 companies have entered, with winners raising over €116 million in investments. Early entrants will be considered for participation at Wired Money 2016 which BBVA is sponsoring for the second year in a row.

The latest batch of measures comes almost exactly one year later the ECB announced the purchase of EZ government bonds (March 9th, 2015). According to BBVA Research, with last Thursday’s announcements, the ECB stressed that there is ample room for further measures, dismissing the view that everything is done in terms of easing policy.

During his address in Bilbao, during the conference organized by Elkargi SGR, BBVA Executive Director remarked that “the Spanish economy is managing to keep high growth rates despite global and local uncertainties.”  He defended the need for greater EU-wide integration and the implementation of free trade agreements - such as the TTIP which the US and EU are currently negotiating – as levers for economic stability and growth inside and outside Spain.

If you are passionate, eager to start a new adventure and have innovative ideas capable of driving social change, these simple tips will help making your project a complete success.

The Brexit (the term coined to refer to an eventual departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union) was the main topic discussed during the last European Council, which took place during February 18th and 19th. After two days of negotiations, an agreement was concluded that, in general terms, meets the UK’s demands.