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European Union Business News from EUbusiness.com

Top Stories from the European Council - 15-20 April 2024 — 18 April 2024, 23:59 CET

European Council conclusions, 17 and 18 April 2024 - European Council conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East and Türkiye, 17 April 2024 - EU support to Somalia: Council approves further support under the European Peace Facility to the Somali National Army and to the military component of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia - Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union one year into the conflict - EU-Central America: Council greenlights association agreement - Recovery fund: Council approves conclusions on the mid-term evaluation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Euro 7: Council adopts new rules on emission limits for cars, vans and trucks - The Gambia: visa fees down to normal level - Council adopts €1 billion macro-financial assistance to Egypt - Tourist bus drivers: Council adopts new law to improve their working conditions

This Week's Top Stories from the European Parliament - 26 February-1 March 2024 — 29 February 2024, 23:29 CET

MEPs: EU must actively support Russia's democratic opposition - MEPs back plans for an EU-wide digital wallet - Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia - Parliament backs deeper political and economic ties with Chile - Parliament adopts plan to protect the EU energy market from manipulation - New rules for a responsible and transparent short-term rental sector - Nature restoration: taking better care of habitats in the EU - Foreign policy, security and defence: the EU should focus on strategic alliances - Parliament calls for action against the erosion of EU values in member states - European Parliament signs agreements with the Committee of Regions and the European Investment Bank - MEPs back updates to EU rules on driving licences to improve road - MEPs improve EU protection for quality agricultural products - Yulia Navalnaya: "If you want to defeat Putin, fight his criminal gang" - Waste shipments: MEPs adopt tougher EU rules - Parliament approves key budgetary support for Ukraine and the EU - Environmental crimes: MEPs adopt extended list of offences and sanctions

Top Stories from the European Council - 4-8 March 2024 — 07 March 2024, 23:25 CET

Criminal investigations: Council and EP reach agreement on transfer of proceedings law that will help fight cross-border crime more effectively - Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans: Council agrees its negotiating mandate - Single sky reform: Council and Parliament strike a deal to improve efficiency of air space management in the EU - Cyber solidarity package: Council and Parliament strike deals to strengthen cyber security capacities in the EU - Plant health law: Council and Parliament strike deal to simplify and strengthen current rules - Council and Parliament strike a deal to ban products made with forced labour - Packaging: Council and Parliament strike a deal to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU - EU-Angola: Council gives final greenlight to the EU's first sustainable investment facilitation agreement - Security of gas supply: member states agree on recommendation to continue voluntary demand reduction measures - Interoperable Europe act: Council adopts new law for more efficient digital public services across the EU

This Week's Top Stories from the European Parliament - 18-22 March 2024 — 22 March 2024, 01:11 CET

Metsola at the European Council: This election will be the test of our systems - Olaf Scholz: "We need a geopolitical, larger, reformed EU" - Food waste reduction: what EU actions are there? - Deal to extend trade support for Ukraine with safeguards for EU farmers - EU pharmaceutical policy: MEPs support comprehensive reform - National winners of the 2024 European Charlemagne Youth Prize - First green light to new bill on firms' impact on human rights and environment - Platform Work: first green light to new EU rules on employment status - Foreign Affairs Committee and EU ministers debate enlargement - EU Health Data Space to support patients and research - Human rights breaches in Afghanistan and Venezuela - Court of Auditors: European Parliament endorses new Italian member - Deal on making firearms import and export more transparent to fight trafficking - MEPs agree to extend trade support for Moldova, continue work on Ukraine - Euro 7: Parliament adopts measures to reduce road transport emissions - Media Freedom Act: a new bill to protect EU journalists and press freedom

Top Stories from the European Council - 18-22 March 2024 — 22 March 2024, 00:58 CET

9th Association Council meeting between the EU and Ukraine - Tripartite Social Summit, 20 March - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - Ukraine: Council and Parliament reach a deal to renew EU's autonomous trade measures - Hong Kong: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the adoption of new national security legislation - Anti-SLAPP: Final green light for EU law protecting journalists and human rights defenders - Reform of the Statute of the Court of Justice adopted - Green diplomacy: Council conclusions reaffirm the EU's commitment to work closely with partners to accelerate a global just and inclusive green transition - Ukraine Assistance Fund: Council allocates €5 billion under the European Peace Facility to support Ukraine militarily - Wholesale energy markets: Council adopts law to protect against market manipulation - Tourism: Council gives its final approval to the regulation for short-term rentals - Strategic autonomy: Council gives its final approval on the critical raw materials act

The Week's Top Stories from the European Commission - 15-20 April 2024 — 19 April 2024, 00:17 CET

Commission allocates additional €10 million to support researchers from Ukraine under Horizon Europe - New EU funding for innovative ideas to reduce long-term unemployment and help people find jobs - Commission proposes to open negotiations to facilitate youth mobility between the EU and the UK - Commission mobilises research and innovation funding for the green and digital transitions - Commission offers 35,500 DiscoverEU free travel passes to young people - Commission publishes Schengen report setting new priorities for the year ahead - EU requests consultations under Trade and Cooperation Agreement over UK's permanent closure of the sandeel fishery - EU announces €3.5 billion worth of commitments to protect the ocean and promote sustainability at Our Ocean Conference in Greece - Commission welcomes European Citizens' Panel recommendations on energy efficiency - Commission endorses Ukraine Plan, paving the way for regular payments under the Ukraine Facility

The Week's Top Stories from the European Commission - 11-15 March 2024 — 14 March 2024, 23:56 CET

Commission opens formal proceedings against AliExpress under the Digital Services Act - Agricultural SMEs to get €50 million to support decarbonisation as Lithuanian fintech HeavyFinance teams up with EIF and InvestEU - Commission welcomes the political agreement on new and stronger rules for the import, export and transit of firearms - Keeping consumers safe: Cosmetics top the list of products notified in Safety Gate in 2023 - Commission decides to refer CYPRUS to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to take the necessary steps to protect and manage its Natura 2000 sites - March infringements package: key decisions - Commission decides to refer GREECE to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to finalise the revision of its water plans - EU provides an initial humanitarian aid of €70 million for Africa's Great Lakes region - Provisional agreement on better cross-border enforcement of road safety traffic rules

The Week's Top Stories from the European Commission - 18-22 March 2024 — 22 March 2024, 01:05 CET

European Council - EU and Norway sign strategic partnership on sustainable land-based raw materials and battery value chains - Digital Finance Platform's phase 2 launch: the Data Hub - 23 cities awarded with the EU Mission Label for their efforts towards climate-neutrality - 'Energy and Climate Governance in Ukraine - Towards Green Rebuilding' - New survey shows Pact for Skills helped train 3.5 million workers - World Water Day

The Week's Top Stories from the European Commission - 26 February-1 March 2024 — 29 February 2024, 23:22 CET

EUR 3 million from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 835 dismissed steel workers in Germany - Commission proposes amendment to EU budget 2024 in record time to continue delivering on EU priorities - EUR 1.9 million from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 390 dismissed workers in Denmark - EU and World Bank create new facility to strengthen capacity of civil protection in Europe - Poland's efforts to restore rule of law pave the way for accessing up to EUR 137 billion in EU funds - Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of Denmark´s second payment request for EUR 422 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of Croatia's fourth payment request for EUR 162.5 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Poland's efforts to restore rule of law pave the way for accessing up to EUR 137 billion in EU funds - Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of Denmark´s second payment request for EUR 422 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of Croatia's fourth payment request for EUR 162.5 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - G7 Health Ministerial committed to the successful conclusion of the ongoing negotiations of pandemic rules - Commission welcomes provisional agreement modernising ship inspections and oversight - Commission recommends that Member States continue saving gas to secure supplies and stabilise markets

The Week's Top Stories from the European Commission - 4-8 March 2024 — 07 March 2024, 23:31 CET

European Commission launches new migration partnership with Mauritania - Statement by Commission and the High Representative on International Women's Day - Designated gatekeepers must now comply with all obligations under the Digital Markets Act - European Commission invites farmers to participate in online survey on simplification - Tinder commits to provide consumers with clear information about personalised prices - EU makes major step forward in the delivery of 2024 humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza - Commission welcomes political agreement on Cyber Solidarity Act - Commission approves €3 billion Romanian State aid scheme to support onshore wind and solar photovoltaic installations to foster the transition to a net-zero economy - Commission welcomes political agreement on Plant Health Law - Germany-based Sunfire gets €100 million in EIB support for green hydrogen - European Defence Industrial Strategy and the European Defence Industry Programme

Capacity mechanisms show 'significant shortcomings' in efforts to secure energy supplies — 13 April 2016, 23:31 CET

Capacity mechanisms have a role in increasing security of electricity supply but many EU Member States must be more thorough assessing need and design to ensure they are targeted and cost-effective.

MEPs back restrictions on glyphosate herbicide — 14 April 2016, 17:30 CET

Members of the European Parliament called Wednesday for a ban on all uses of glyphosate-based herbicides in private and public green areas, including spraying in and around public parks, playgrounds and gardens.

Eurozone industrial production down 0.8 pct — 14 April 2016, 23:07 CET

In February 2016 compared with January 2016, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.8% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the EU's statistical office.

Visa reciprocity with US, Canada & Brunei: EU mulls next move — 14 April 2016, 22:31 CET

With the U.S., Canada and Brunei continuing to apply visa requirements for citizens of some EU Member States, the European Commission has assessed the legal, political and economic consequences of a possible temporary suspension of the visa waiver with these countries.

EU proposes tax transparency for multinationals — 13 April 2016, 18:21 CET

Multi-national companies operating in Europe will be required to publish country-by-country information on the tax they pay, according to new proposals announced by the European Commission on Tuesday.

Euro area house prices grew 2. 9 pct in Q4 2015 — 12 April 2016, 13:32 CET

House prices rose 2.9 per cent in the euro area and 3.8 per cent in the EU in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, according to the EU's statistical office Eurostat.

Public confidence in judicial independence found wanting in several EU Member States — 13 April 2016, 00:22 CET

The independence of the judicial systems of EU Member States came under scrutiny on Monday with the EU's 2016 Justice Scoreboard showing persistently low levels of public trust in some countries.

EU set to strengthen data protection rules — 12 April 2016, 00:57 CET

The EU is set to give the final nod to a legislative package on reform of its data protection rules, following first reading adoption by the Council.

EU boosts aid to Ethiopia after worst ever El Nino — 08 April 2016, 23:01 CET

The European Commission has announced aid for Ethiopia worth some EUR 122.5 million, amidst a worsening humanitarian situation caused by one of the most severe extreme El Nino weather phenomenon on record.

Commission unveils upgrade for EU VAT system — 12 April 2016, 00:58 CET

Europe's VAT rules are to be made simpler, more fraud-proof and business-friendly as a result of European Commission plans to reboot the current EU VAT system.

EU initials partnership agreement with Malaysia — 07 April 2016, 18:45 CET

The chief negotiators of the European Union and Malaysia have initialled text of an EU-Malaysia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia in Putrajaya. The initialling marks the successful closure of negotiations that started in October 2010.

EU aid for children's education in conflict zones — 06 April 2016, 12:49 CET

The European Commission announced on Tuesday a EUR 52 million humanitarian aid package aimed at educational projects for children caught up in conflict zones and other emergencies in 2016.

Horizon 2020: first impressions — 25 November 2014, 15:35 CET

Horizon 2020, the EU’s biggest ever research and innovation programme, kicked off at the beginning of 2014. Worth EUR 80 billion and running over seven years, Horizon 2020 promised a simple structure that reduced red tape and time so participants could focus on what is really important. Has this been the experience of participants so far?

Top inventors honoured at European Inventor Award 2014 — 26 June 2014, 13:14 CET

Inventors from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, UK, Japan and the US scooped top honours at the European Inventor Award 2014 in Berlin last week.

An environmental standards information portal for Europe — 05 June 2014, 21:52 CET

In Europe, we have a vast wealth of research results that support standards in relation to environmental aspects such as air, water, soil and waste. SIPE ('An environmental Standards Information Portal for Europe'), an EU-funded project, brings all these results together and combines them with information on standards and policies in a single dedicated web-based portal.