A working group commissioned by French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde has delivered a report calling for better regulation of the carbon market in light of recent scandals. EurActiv France reports.

EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, who is seeking to create a genuine single market for electricity, wants Switzerland to join as he sees the country as a possible hub. EurActiv France and EurActiv Germany contributed to this report.

The Czech labour market was hit hard by the economic crisis and the new government will need to implement key reforms if the country is to achieve its employment target under the 'Europe 2020' strategy. EurActiv.cz reports from Prague.

As the European Union slowly begins to emerge from the economic crisis, member-state governments now face the tough task of reviving their job markets and getting people back into work in the coming years, against a backdrop of an EU employment target of 75% for the year 2020. EurActiv's media network reports.

Despite the economic crisis, the German labour market is in good health and has become more flexible thanks to government reforms. But two real challenges in the coming years will be the ageing population and unemployment among immigrants. EurActiv Germany reports.

The Bulgarian government is aiming slightly higher than the EU's employment target set out in the 'Europe 2020' strategy, despite the country's high jobless rate and considerable pessimism among its citizens. Dnevnik, EurActiv's partner in Bulgaria, reports.

With Turkey as a member, the European Union would become "the most important peace project in world history," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan claimed during an official visit to France yesterday (7 April). EurActiv France and EurActiv Turkey report.

With new EU rules requiring national postal operators to give up lucrative lingering monopolies by 2011, France is looking for new funding mechanisms to ensure that even citizens in its remotest areas continue to receive an affordable, six-days-a-week service, EurActiv.fr reports.

September will be a hot month in Brussels for the financial services sector, as the EU prepares to nominate its new internal market commissioner and examine new proposed rules on hedge funds amid rivalries between the UK, France and Germany over financial regulation. EurActiv's network in France and Germany contributed to this report.

The European Commission has welcomed a draft plan by Paris to reform the French electricity market, signalling its readiness to abandon ongoing antitrust investigations if the reforms are fully implemented. EurActiv France reports.