EU News

European Union Business News from EUbusiness.com

China warns EU to drop telecom probe, solar panel tax — 16 May 2013, 11:16 CET

China on Thursday warned the European Union against escalating bilateral trade disputes, urging Brussels to drop plans to probe Chinese telecom products and impose hefty taxes on its solar panels.

Romania names new anti-corruption prosecutor — 16 May 2013, 00:26 CET

Romania, whose justice system is closely monitored by the European Union, Wednesday announced the appointment of a new anti-corruption prosecutor after months of controversy over the key post.

UK's Cameron dealt bloody nose in EU vote — 16 May 2013, 12:28 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron suffered a fresh blow to his authority on Wednesday when around a third of his own party's lawmakers voted against his policy on offering a referendum on Britain's European Union membership.

IMF releases first bailout funds for Cyprus — 15 May 2013, 22:21 CET

The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday approved a 1.0 billion euro bailout loan for Cyprus and released the first $110.7 million to the Cypriot government.

Arab tycoons unveil EUR 100 m film partnership — 15 May 2013, 22:24 CET

Egyptian telecoms tycoon Naguib Sawiris and French-Tunisian financier Tarak Ben Ammar unveiled a 100-million euro ($129-million) partnership to produce and distribute films and television programmes in the Arab world and internationally.

Mali donor conference raises EUR 3.25 bn — 15 May 2013, 22:25 CET

International donors pledged a much more than expected 3.2 billion euros in aid Wednesday to help Mali avoid the mistakes which allowed Islamist rebels to seize vast swathes of the troubled country.

Argentina challenges EU over biofuels: WTO — 15 May 2013, 22:33 CET

Argentina has launched a new challenge to the European Union over the bloc's rules on the import of biofuels, the World Trade Organization said on Wednesday.

Eurozone doldrums take toll in Central Europe — 15 May 2013, 17:31 CET

A stubborn eurozone recession is taking its toll on emerging economies on the bloc's eastern frontier that rely heavily on trade with their richer western partners.

Croatia arrests 25 suspected human traffickers — 15 May 2013, 15:58 CET

Croatia has arrested 25 people suspected of being part of human trafficking networks smuggling mostly Kosovo and Turkish nationals to the European Union, police said on Wednesday.

EU warns China of telecoms probe — 15 May 2013, 16:02 CET

The EU has alerted China to its decision to launch an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe involving the mobile telecommunications networks sector, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht announced on Wednesday.

Eurozone trapped in austerity-led recession — 15 May 2013, 18:53 CET

The dogged recession across the eurozone has snared key economy France, with the latest EU figures released Wednesday showing a full year-and-a-half of contraction as tens of millions languish in unemployment.

EU ministers reach deal on fisheries reform — 15 May 2013, 15:59 CET

EU ministers agreed early on Wednesday a reform of the EU's fishing quota system that must now be approved by the European Parliament, where Euro-MPs are set on curbing overfishing.

Mali aid meet opens with pledge to avoid past mistakes — 15 May 2013, 13:35 CET

International donors pledged Wednesday to help all sides in Mali avoid the mistakes of the past which led to crisis and war as they put together an aid package worth two billion euros.

EU keeps tax-hunt momentum, even as resistance firms — 14 May 2013, 20:17 CET

European governments have firmed up plans to share bank records across borders for tax collection in a purge on money-laundering and offshore havens -- but failed to prise open key savers' data in Austria and Luxembourg.

EU urges Greece to respect refugees' right to asylum — 14 May 2013, 20:21 CET

The European Union on Tuesday called on Greece to review its asylum policies, especially for Syrians fleeing "atrocities" in their country.

Switzerland ready for talks with EU on savings tax — 14 May 2013, 20:18 CET

Switzerland said Tuesday that it was ready to boost cooperation with the European Union in the latter's battle with international tax evasion, provided Brussels made a formal request for talks.

Serbia, Kosovo to meet next week on Brussels accord — 14 May 2013, 20:13 CET

The prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo will meet in Brussels on May 21 for follow-up talks on an EU-brokered deal aimed at normalising their ties, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's office said Tuesday.

EU raids oil majors in probe over possible price fixing — 15 May 2013, 16:00 CET

The European Commission has carried out surprise inspections at several major oil companies over possible price fixing in breach of EU anti-trust rules..

EU toils on preferential status for big depositors in bail-ins — 14 May 2013, 19:03 CET

European finance ministers struggled Tuesday to agree ground rules on how to treat big depositors in future Cyprus-style bank 'bail-ins' when lenders go to the wall.

British PM's party unveils EU referendum question — 14 May 2013, 21:18 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron tried to quell a rebellious mood in his Conservative party on Monday by publishing a draft bill revealing the wording of a referendum on Britain's EU membership.

EU agrees extra 2013 budget, with caveats — 15 May 2013, 11:12 CET

EU finance ministers agreed Tuesday to add 7.3 billion euros to the bloc's 2013 budget, a hotly contested move which was crucially tied to a wider accord on its 2014-20 spending plans.

Germany cancels 'Euro Hawk' drone programme — 14 May 2013, 18:56 CET

Germany has cancelled a planned 'Euro Hawk' drone programme fearing European authorities will not certify them, a defence ministry source said Tuesday after reported European safety concerns.

Mali president will do utmost to ensure polls on July 28 — 14 May 2013, 18:55 CET

Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore said Tuesday he will do his utmost to ensure that national elections, a key goal of the troubled country's backers, take place as planned on July 28.

Failure of EU fisheries talks would be 'disaster': Ireland — 14 May 2013, 17:00 CET

It will be a "disaster" if difficult talks on reform of the EU's under-pressure fishing regime fail to deliver an agreement, Ireland warned Tuesday, calling on all sides to compromise.

Small euro coins may be dropped — 14 May 2013, 17:00 CET

Small change in the euro, one and two-cent coins, expensive to make and a nuisance for many, may have no future, the European Commission said Tuesday.