EU News

European Union Business News from EUbusiness.com

EU legislators strike provisional deal on European climate law — 26 April 2021, 23:51 CET

EU co-legislators set a target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 Wednesday, laying down a framework for EU climate-related legislation for the next 30 years.

European rail companies fined EUR 48m for customer allocation cartel — 21 April 2021, 00:13 CET

The European Commission fined Austrian, Belgian and German railway companies a total of EUR 48 million Tuesday for breaching EU antitrust rules by taking part in a customer allocation cartel.

Road death rate in Europe falls to all-time low — 21 April 2021, 00:11 CET

An estimated 18,800 people were killed in a road crash last year, an unprecedented annual fall of 17% on 2019, preliminary figures from the EU Commission on road fatalities for 2020 showed Tuesday.

EU extends customs, VAT waiver for imports of medical protective equipment — 21 April 2021, 00:19 CET

The Commission extended Monday the temporary waiver of customs duties and Value Added Tax on imports from non-EU countries of medical protective equipment used in the fight against COVID-19.

Brussels adopts greener state aid guidelines for EU regions — 19 April 2021, 23:37 CET

The Commission revised its regional state aid guidelines Monday, setting out the rules under which EU states can grant aid to companies to support economic development in disadvantaged regions.

EU concludes partnership talks with Africa-Caribbean-Pacific countries — 19 April 2021, 23:38 CET

Talks on a Post-Cotonou Agreement between the EU and Africa-Caribbean-Pacific states formally concluded Friday, setting the political and economic cooperation framework for the next twenty years.

EU prepares to raise EUR 800 bn to finance recovery — 19 April 2021, 23:38 CET

The EU Commission took steps Wednesday to ensure that borrowing under its 'NextGenerationEU' funding for post-Covid recovery is financed on the most advantageous terms for EU states.

Brussels looks to exempt vital EU services from VAT — 17 April 2021, 00:00 CET

The European Commission proposed Monday to exempt from VAT goods and services made available by the Commission, EU bodies and agencies to Member States and citizens during times of crisis.

EU funds urgent research into combatting Covid variants — 12 April 2021, 21:54 CET

The EU Commission announced Wednesday it is mobilising EUR 123 million from its new EU research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, for urgent research into coronavirus variants.

EU takes Poland to court over independence of judiciary — 12 April 2021, 21:54 CET

The EU Commission referred Poland to the European Court of Justice Wednesday over a law which it says undermines the independence of Polish judges and is incompatible with the primacy of EU law.

EU disburses EUR13 bn to help preserve jobs — 08 April 2021, 00:03 CET

The EU Commission disbursed some EUR 13 billion to six EU Member States Tuesday, under the EU's SURE programme to help countries with sudden increases in public expenditure to preserve jobs.

Brussels presents plan to boost organic farming — 30 March 2021, 23:53 CET

A new plan to boost the production and consumption of organic products, presented Thursday by the EU Commission, aims to reach 25 per cent of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.

Lift-off for EU's EUR 28 bn Erasmus educational programme — 31 March 2021, 18:25 CET

The EU Commission adopted Thursday the first work programme of its Erasmus+ education programme, to fund learning mobility and cross-border cooperation projects for 10 million Europeans of all ages.

EU looks to tighten vaccine export controls — 25 March 2021, 20:52 CET

The European Commission introduced new, tougher criteria of 'reciprocity and proportionality' Wednesday under its transparency and authorisation mechanism for COVID-19 vaccine exports.

EU sanctions target human rights violations in China, Russia, Myanmar — 25 March 2021, 18:20 CET

EU foreign ministers imposed sanctions Monday on individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in China and Russia, as well as officials responsible for the military coup in Myanmar.

EUR 10bn science programme invests in breakthrough innovation — 24 March 2021, 18:40 CET

The European Innovation Council (EIC) launched on Thursday with a budget of over EUR 10 billion (at current prices) for 2021-2027 and a remit to develop and expand breakthrough innovations.

Brussels sets out plan for EU coronavirus passport — 22 March 2021, 22:07 CET

The European Commission put forward a plan for a coronavirus passport Wednesday, a 'digital green certificate' to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EU launches legal action against UK over Brexit protocol — 17 March 2021, 20:33 CET

The EU Commission sent the UK a letter of formal notice Monday for breaching provisions of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the good faith obligation under the Withdrawal Agreement.

First phase of new EU import control system in operation — 15 March 2021, 23:35 CET

A new import control system, reinforcing the EU Customs Union's 'first line of defence' against security and safety threats posed by illicit traffic in goods across the EU's external borders, came into force Monday.

Future EU chemicals strategy outlined — 17 March 2021, 20:33 CET

The EU Council set out its long-term aims for EU chemicals policy Monday, for a toxic-free environment with better protection of human health and the environment, and a more competitive chemicals industry.

Brussels sets out priorities for EU's EUR 95.5 bn research programme — 16 March 2021, 16:21 CET

The EU Commission adopted Monday the first strategic plan for the next four years of the EU's new research and innovation programme Horizon Europe, worth some EUR 95.5 billion at current prices.

Brussels mulls tighter controls on crypto-assets, e-money — 11 March 2021, 23:20 CET

The EU Commission launched a consultation Thursday on revision of its directive to improve cooperation between national tax authoritiesy in emerging areas such as crypto-assets and e-money.

Brussels extends export controls for COVID-19 vaccines — 11 March 2021, 23:09 CET

As Europe continues to suffer delays in some deliveries of vaccines, the EU Commission extended Thursday its 'transparency and authorisation' mechanism for COVID-19 vaccine exports to end June.

Euro-Parliament declares EU an 'LGBTIQ Freedom Zone' — 11 March 2021, 22:00 CET

Responding to increased discrimination and attacks on the LGBTIQ community and backsliding on gay and lesbian rights in Poland and Hungary, MEPs on Thursday declared the EU an 'LGBTIQ Freedom Zone'.

New EU rules on sustainable finance disclosure come into effect — 10 March 2021, 21:06 CET

New rules on sustainable finance disclosure, aimed at strengthening and improving how sustainability related information is disclosed in the financial sector, came into force in the EU on Wednesday.