EU News

European Union Business News from EUbusiness.com

MEPs agree reform of EU emissions trading system — 06 February 2018, 23:17 CET

Members of the European Parliament approved Tuesday a law to strengthen EU curbs on CO2 emissions from industry, with a view to delivering on pledges made under the Paris climate accord.

MEPs vote to end barriers to cross-border shopping — 06 February 2018, 21:04 CET

The European Parliament ratified an agreement Tuesday to make it easier for consumers to buy from a website based in another EU country, without the obstacle of unjustified geo-blocking practices.

EU enlargement door opens for Western Balkans — 06 February 2018, 18:14 CET

The EU Commission set out a new strategy for the Western Balkans Tuesday, spelling out priorities and areas for closer cooperation, and areas for reform with a view to 'a credible enlargement perspective'.

Dual quality food testing procedure ready in April — 06 February 2018, 18:16 CET

The common testing methodology for dual quality of food, developed by the EU's Joint-Research Centre, is to be ready in April, European Commissioner Vera Jourova announced on Friday.

EU Court upholds air freight forwarding cartel fines — 02 February 2018, 00:41 CET

The European Court of Justice upheld Thursday fines imposed by the Commission on a number of companies for their participation in cartels in the international air freight forwarding services sector.

EU credibility on tax avoidance undermined: MEPs — 01 February 2018, 19:29 CET

Leading MEPs hit out at EU finance ministers Thursday for removing eight countries from the EU's blacklist of tax havens, saying it will hamper the fight against tax evasion and avoidance.

EU moves to upgrade Europe's drinking water — 06 February 2018, 18:16 CET

The EU Commission proposed Thursday a revision of the EU Drinking Water Directive, in an effort to improve the quality and people's access to drinking water, as well as reduce consumer use of plastic.

Commission boost for European blockchain effort — 05 February 2018, 22:58 CET

The Commission gave its backing Thursday to efforts to develop blockchain technology, with the launch of an EU Blockchain Observatory for a technology seen as an economy 'gamechanger'.

Funding deal secures future for EU Youth Orchestra — 01 February 2018, 15:18 CET

EU ambassadors endorsed Wednesday a provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament on 25 January on future financing of the European Union Youth Orchestra.

EU states endorse deal on energy efficient buildings — 31 January 2018, 22:59 CET

EU states confirmed Wednesday a political agreement on the revised directive on the energy performance of buildings, to improve energy efficiency in buildings and encourage building renovation.

EU plans first 'Counterfeit and Piracy' watch list — 31 January 2018, 19:33 CET

As part of EU plans for an intellectual property enforcement system, the European Commission launched Wednesday a public consultation to establish a first worldwide 'Counterfeit and Piracy' watch list.

Brussels looks to boost health technology cooperation — 31 January 2018, 23:00 CET

A proposal to boost cooperation amongst EU Member States for assessing health technology will boost innovation and improve the competitiveness of Europe's medical industry, says the Commission.

EU Farm Council ends minimum intervention price for skimmed milk powder — 29 January 2018, 23:52 CET

EU agriculture ministers intervened to stabilise dairy markets Monday with an amendment to the so-called Fixing regulation for public intervention to halt the automatic buying-in of skimmed milk powder.

EU27 agree negotiating stance on Brexit transition — 29 January 2018, 23:07 CET

EU27 ministers adopted a new set of Brexit negotiating directives Monday, detailing their position on a transition period after Brexit, and allowing the EU Commission to start talks with the UK on the issue.

France-Spain energy link receives EUR 578m EU funding — 29 January 2018, 23:11 CET

EUR 578 m of EU money is to be channelled into a major electricity interconnection project between Spain and France, as part of the EU's Connecting Europe Facility infrastructure investment instrument.

MEPs urge fight against spread of fake honey — 24 January 2018, 23:16 CET

The EU must step up support for beekeepers, ban harmful pesticides, invest more in developing safe bee drugs and clamp down on imports of fake honey, MEPs on the EU Parliament's agriculture said Tuesday.

Qualcomm hit with EUR 997 m EU fine for Apple deals — 25 January 2018, 23:00 CET

Brussels fined Qualcomm EUR 997m Wednesday for abusing its market dominance in LTE baseband chipsets, paying billions of US dollars to a key customer, Apple, so that it would not buy from rivals.

EU states must be ready for new data protection rules, says Brussels — 25 January 2018, 23:01 CET

With new EU data protection rules set to come into force on 25 May, the European Commission has published guidance to help Member States prepare for the changes and provide support to businesses.

Roche and Novartis lose Avastin case at EU Court — 23 January 2018, 23:13 CET

An agreement between pharma giants Roche and Novartis to reduce use of Avastin in ophthalmology and increase use of Lucentis could constitute restriction of competition, the EU Court ruled Tuesday.

EU removes 8 countries from tax haven blacklist — 24 January 2018, 17:54 CET

The European Union removed eight jurisdictions from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes Tuesday, following commitments made at a high political level to remedy EU concerns.

EU committed to Jerusalem as shared capital — 23 January 2018, 18:34 CET

European foreign ministers reiterated Monday their 'united and clear messages' on the importance of preserving a two-state solution for and the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states.

Social media record on removing hate speech improves — 23 January 2018, 13:28 CET

IT companies removed around 70% of illegal hate speech notified to them, according to an evaluation of the EU Code of Conduct on countering illegal online hate speech carried out by NGOs and public bodies.

Brussels proposes more flexibility over VAT rates — 23 January 2018, 13:28 CET

The European Commission proposed Thursday new rules which would give EU Member States more flexibility to set Value Added Tax (VAT) rates and to create a better tax environment to help SMEs flourish.

New initiative seeks to boost Europe's digital skills — 18 January 2018, 00:14 CET

The EU Commission adopted Wednesday new initiatives to improve key and digital competences of European citizens and to promote common values and pupils' awareness of the functioning of the EU.

MEPs demand controls on cyber-surveillance tools — 17 January 2018, 23:47 CET

EU export controls should be extended to cyber-surveillance tools to avoid human rights violations, MEPs said in a vote Wednesday, setting the Parliament's position for negotiations with EU ministers.