EU News

European Union Business News from EUbusiness.com

Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy high on the EU's agenda — 30 April 2010, 21:50 CET

European Fisheries ministers and stakeholders alike will be discussing the future shape of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy at two major events in Spain over the next days.

New social security regulations enter into force in the EU — 30 April 2010, 21:51 CET

On 1 May 2010, new regulations on social security coordination in the European Union enter into force. The aim is to make life easier for Europeans on the move.

EU updates aviation security rules — 29 April 2010, 23:56 CET

New measures to streamline and simplify the EU framework for aviation security, first put in place in 2002 after the September 11 attacks, came into force today.

Late business payments: MEPs want deadlines — 29 April 2010, 23:59 CET

MEPs believe that deadlines for paying bills in the business world should be laid down by law for both the private and public sectors. Yesterday Euro-MPs approved amendments to a planned EU directive designed to tackle the problem of late payments.

Progress on services directive too slow, say Euro-MPs — 28 April 2010, 23:34 CET

The hotly contested services directive was due to be implemented in national law by 28 December 2009. This Tuesday, four months after the deadline, MEPs and members of national parliaments held a meeting in Brussels to discuss whether the EU Member States have done their duty in this regard.

MEPs want rules on working hours to apply to self-employed drivers — 28 April 2010, 23:29 CET

Members of the European Parliament have voted against a Commission proposal that self-employed drivers be exempted from the 2002 Working Time Directive on the road transport industry.

Euro-MPs vote to curb energy consumption — 28 April 2010, 23:28 CET

MEPs approved today EU energy efficiency legislation for buildings and the new layout of the EU energy efficiency label.

EU authorises compensation to electricity producers in Hungary — 27 April 2010, 22:22 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under EU State aid rules, an aid scheme to compensate electricity producers for costs incurred after liberalisation of the market in Hungary.

EU opens consultation on double taxation — 29 April 2010, 17:19 CET

The European Commission launched today an online public consultation to ask individuals, companies and tax advisers for information on double taxation problems that they have encountered when operating across borders within the EU.

EU okay for State Street's Intesa Sanpaolo acquisition — 29 April 2010, 23:50 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of two subsidiaries of the Italian Intesa Sanpaolo banking group by an US-based corporation.

EU moots centre to combat cybercrime in Europe — 26 April 2010, 23:01 CET

The EU on Monday set out plans for a centre to combat cybercrime in Europe. Ministers meeting in Luxembourg proposed the new centre as part of a longer term strategy to cope more effectively with the crimes committed by means of electronic networks.

ECB to demand loan-level information on asset bonds — 24 April 2010, 00:24 CET

The European Central Bank is to begin work on the establishment of loan-by-loan information requirements for asset-backed securities (ABSs) in the Eurosystem collateral framework.

MEPs want say on EU employment guidelines — 24 April 2010, 00:28 CET

The European Parliament is calling on the European Council to postpone adopting the EU 2020 economic competitiveness strategy until the autumn, to give MEPs time to properly analyse the proposals.

Cheaper drugs incentive schemes ruled legal by European court — 24 April 2010, 00:30 CET

The European Court of Justice has ruled that public authorities may offer financial incentives to induce doctors to prescribe cheaper medicinal products.

Illegal cigarette factory in Lithuania raided — 22 April 2010, 23:37 CET

An illegal cigarette factory in Vilnius, capable of producing at least 1000 cigarettes a minute, has been raided and closed down in an operation mounted by Lithuanian Customs supported by OLAF.

EU Court outlines limitations of pay increment — 22 April 2010, 22:42 CET

A Member State may make claims for payment of special length-of-service increments, denied to migrant workers on the basis of the application of a domestic law incompatible with Community law, the ECJ has ruled.

EU responds to Internet consumers' fears over traffic monitoring — 22 April 2010, 23:35 CET

The negotiation parties of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) today published the documents of the 8th round of negotiations held in Wellington on 12-16 April.

Commission authorises Bulgaria to grant limited aid to farmers — 22 April 2010, 01:22 CET

The European Commission authorised a Bulgarian scheme with a budget of BGN 20 million (approximately € 10,26 million) which aims at supporting agricultural holdings.

Commission authorises Austrian scheme for farmers aid — 22 April 2010, 01:22 CET

The European Commission authorised an Austrian scheme with a budget of approximately €1.2 million which aims at supporting farmers in Austria who encounter difficulties as a result of the current economic crisis.

Commission acts to bolster citizens' protection and security — 22 April 2010, 17:11 CET

The European Commission today presented concrete actions – with set timetables – to boost citizens' ability to work, travel and study outside their home countries, thereby enhancing citizens' security.

Commission revises EU competition rules — 20 April 2010, 22:50 CET

The European Commission has adopted a new Regulation that 'block exempts' distribution and supply agreements at different levels of the production and distribution chain.

EU Court outlines practice for reimbursement in long distance contracts — 22 April 2010, 22:43 CET

When a consumer withdraws from a long distance contract within seven working days, the entirety of the sum, including delivery fee, must be repaid to the consumer, the European Court of Justice has ruled.

Customs security procedures in a few clicks: new European portal — 19 April 2010, 23:57 CET

The European Commission has launched the first phase of a new web portal to help businesses to understand and follow the customs procedures for importing goods into and exporting goods from the EU.

EU greenlights Polish CO2 emissions allocation plan — 19 April 2010, 23:58 CET

The European Commission has no objections to Poland's new national allocation plan for distributing CO2 emission allowances for the 2008-2012 trading period of the EU Emissions Trading System.

First European research strategy on neurodegenerative diseases gets underway — 18 April 2010, 14:43 CET

Some of the world's top neurodegenerative disease experts gathered in Stockholm, Sweden on 15 April to start working on a pan-European research agenda that will guide the work of the new Joint Programme on Neurodegenerative Diseases (JPND). The JPND is the first Joint Programming initiative to get underway, and its launch marks a step change in the way research is funded and coordinated in Europe.