Nick Prag

Single market gaps exposed by geo-blocking plan — 26 May 2016, 23:28 CET

Geo-blocking, refusing to sell to people living in other EU countries, is to be outlawed under plans to boost e-commerce in Europe. But what this proposal does is to expose the many remaining gaps in the Single Market.

MEPs defend EU industry against China's unfair trade practices — 12 May 2016, 22:25 CET

It was perhaps not too surprising that the European Parliament in plenary this week voted against granting Market Economy Status to China.

Greenpeace leaks increase pressure for TTIP transparency — 05 May 2016, 16:58 CET

The EU is under increasing pressure to be more open about what is being negotiated under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), following leaks by Greenpeace of classified documents from the TTIP trade talks.

Turning the Paris agreement on climate change into action — 21 April 2016, 19:36 CET

Following the signing of the Paris agreement on climate change in New York Friday, the hard work begins to ratify and implement it in the EU's 28 Member States.

Trade secrets directive: protecting companies from theft - and whistleblowers? — 14 April 2016, 18:31 CET

The new 'trade secrets' directive, passed by the European Parliament on Thursday, ensures protection for the work of journalists and whistle-blowers, says rapporteur Constance le Grip MEP. Not all are convinced.

Tax grilling for multinationals — 17 March 2016, 22:34 CET

The issue of tax avoidance and tax havens has caused much public concern for a while now, but actually dealing with it is taking some time. There was some drama this week, however, when representatives of the big bad multinationals finally appeared before the special European Parliament committee on tax rulings.

EU renews commitment to gender equality — 10 March 2016, 17:40 CET

International Women's Day on 8 March was an opportunity for the EU to assess progress on gender equality in Europe. Bringing out a report on gender equality, the Commission renewed a commitment to integrating equality for women and men into every EU policy across the board.

Mandatory lobby register on the cards — 03 March 2016, 22:06 CET

About time, some would say, as the European Commission this week launched a public consultation on making the EU lobby transparency regime mandatory.

Time to speed up EU's Net power — 25 February 2016, 22:39 CET

How digital are we? The European Commission brought out its Digital Economy and Society Index for 2016 (DESI) this week with a favourable report of progress since last year, but warning that a slowdown in the pace of progress threatened Europe's standing at the top table of the most digitalised countries in the world.

TiSA to open up new markets for EU services — 04 February 2016, 22:25 CET

Compared to other trade deals, the talks on a Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) have had a pretty smooth ride. TiSA came to the fore this week when Euro-MPs in plenary set out their guidelines for the deal to the Commission, which is negotiating on the EU's behalf.

Erasmus+ gains good grades, one year on — 28 January 2016, 16:56 CET

Three reviews of the EU's education funding out this week provided a positive evaluation of the first year of the Erasmus+ programme for education, training, youth and sport between 2014-2020.

2015 employment review exposes wide disparities in jobs situation in the Member States — 21 January 2016, 22:49 CET

Interesting facts emerge from what is generally a positive outlook on jobs in the EU's 2015 review of employment and social developments.

Towards a Circular Economy — 03 December 2015, 22:01 CET

While the world's leaders and environmental experts in Paris grapple with trying to agree a global deal on climate change, the European Commission this week set out new proposals for a 'circular economy' which have the potential to fundamentally change the way we live and do business.

Paris attacks: Europe's new reality — 19 November 2015, 18:30 CET

The attacks in Paris were an attack on our freedoms, an attack against our European values and our way of life, an attack against all of us, said president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz this week. "In our grief, we Europeans stand side to side with the French people."

EU offers investment court for TTIP — 12 November 2015, 22:46 CET

One issue in particular has been a thorn in the side of the ongoing talks between the EU and US over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) - the subject of investment protection and resolution of investment disputes.

Connecting Europe aims for better use of public money — 05 November 2015, 22:58 CET

The second year of the Juncker Commission continued this week with the investment theme, with the launch of a second call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). This will provide more than EUR 7.6 bn for key transport projects, with EUR 6.5 bn earmarked for countries with Cohesion Fund eligibility.

No time for 'business as usual' as Commission presents its second work programme — 29 October 2015, 18:36 CET

This is no time for business as usual, said the Commission's First Vice-President Frans Timmermans as he presented the second work programme of the Juncker Commission to Euro-MPs this week.

Europe's farmers look for help — 22 October 2015, 22:09 CET

There was no great outpouring of support for European farmers last month, when around 5,000 of them spent a day in Brussels protesting about falling dairy and meat prices.

New, safe 'Safe Harbour' agreement needed urgently — 15 October 2015, 16:57 CET

MEPs from the Civil Liberties Committee have called on the European Commission to come up with safe alternatives to the EU-US Safe Harbour agreement, in the wake of the European Court of Justice ruling that the arrangement - used by companies like Facebook to send citizens' personal data to the US - was invalid.

Update for Payment Services Directive opens way for safer and more innovative European payments — 08 October 2015, 17:06 CET

The final hurdle to an upgraded EU payment services law was cleared on Thursday, when MEPs voted in the revised Directive on Payment Services (PSD2). This aims to make payment transactions safer and terminate card surcharges.

EU looks to reduce VAT burden for online trade — 01 October 2015, 16:54 CET

A new system for VAT for digital products - the EU's response to distortions of the market and loss of revenue through the online economy - has attracted much criticism about the extra burdens it imposes on small businesses.

VW scandal exposes need for reform — 24 September 2015, 22:33 CET

The European Commission this week urged Member States to look into whether vehicles comply with European pollution rules, following the shock revelations that Volkswagen cheated in emission tests on its diesel cars in America.

Focus on the long-term unemployed — 17 September 2015, 21:25 CET

With more than 12 million people in Europe unable to find a job for more than a year, the Commission this week put forward a Recommendation for Member States to help the long-term unemployed back to work.

State of the Union 2015 — 10 September 2015, 22:51 CET

Wednesday was the day for Europe's version of the US State of the Union address, with Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, delivering his annual speech to the European Parliament.

EU starts work on plans for an Energy Union — 21 August 2015, 15:53 CET

Apart from the Ukraine crisis, on which EU leaders met at their summit this Thursday, it was the EU Energy Union which took centre stage this last week.