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Business news and information from the European Union

Swiss-China trade deal a symbol amid spats with EU — 26 May 2013, 06:07 CET

Applauded by Switzerland's business sector, the country's free-trade deal with China is heavy with symbolism, coming as Beijing locks horns with the European Union in a raft of commercial disputes.

Turkey fears being left out in the cold by EU free trade deals — 26 May 2013, 06:07 CET

Frustrated with the slow progress of its bid to join the EU, the rash of free trade pacts Brussels is negotiating that leave Turkey out in the cold has Ankara threatening to tear up its customs union agreement.

France leads doubters on EU-US free trade deal — 26 May 2013, 06:02 CET

Britain is pushing for reaching a fast and ambitious free trade deal with the United States, but France has successfully marshalled European anxieties to try to limit the EU negotiating mandate for what would be the world's largest free trade deal.

Frankfurt weathers euro crisis better than rivals — 26 May 2013, 06:02 CET

With banking union brewing and London mulling an EU exit, is Frankfurt ready to take on the mantle as Europe's unchallenged financial capital?

Million doses of fake aspirin from China seized in France — 26 May 2013, 00:02 CET

French customs officers have seized 1.2 million doses of counterfeit aspirin from China, the biggest haul of fake medicines ever in France and the EU, the economy ministry announced Saturday.

Spain and France agree on fishing quota swap — 25 May 2013, 20:28 CET

Spain and France have reached an agreement on swapping fishing quotas which will allow for Spain to fish more hake and monkfish, authorities said Saturday.

Belgium to be rapped by EU over budget but not fined — 25 May 2013, 20:28 CET

The European Commission is set to rap Belgium this week for failing to do enough to trim its budget deficit but is unlikely to go as far as imposing a fine, according to a press report Saturday.

China premier criticises EU for telecom probe, solar panel tax — 25 May 2013, 20:27 CET

China's Premier Li Keqiang has slammed the European Union for plans to probe the country's telecom products and impose taxes on its solar panels, Chinese state media reported on Saturday.

Row on arming Syria rebels deeply divides EU — 25 May 2013, 10:50 CET

A fierce row over whether to arm Syrian rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces has left the European Union deeply divided days before the bloc needs to decide on renewing existing sanctions.

Van Rompuy seeks ways to fight youth unemployment — 24 May 2013, 23:38 CET

European Union president Herman Van Rompuy on Friday called on Europe's leaders for help in fighting youth unemployment, now at record levels across the bloc.

Weidmann says default should be option for eurozone countries — 24 May 2013, 14:51 CET

The head of the German central Bundesbank Jens Weidmann said on Friday that eurozone countries should be able to default, a possibility which the EU has gone to great lengths to avoid during the current crisis.

Eurozone sees bank union progress by June — 24 May 2013, 14:28 CET

Key obstacles to a banking union, seen as a keystone in locking down the debt crisis, should be resolved within the next few weeks, the official in charge of the day-to-day operation of the eurozone told AFP in an exclusive interview.

EU bans three pesticides harmful to bees — 24 May 2013, 13:04 CET

The European Commission said Friday that it will ban for two years beginning in December pesticides blamed for killing the bees that pollinate food and fruit crops.

Euro-MPs back US trade talks, but with 'cultural' exceptions — 24 May 2013, 13:04 CET

MEPs have voted for cultural and audiovisual services to be excluded from upcoming talks on what would be the world's largest free trade deal with the United States, which insists there should be no exceptions.

EU must extend Syria arms embargo: Oxfam — 24 May 2013, 11:10 CET

EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels next week must extend the arms embargo on Syria and push for a political solution to the country's civil war, British-based charity Oxfam said on Friday.

Germany 'most popular country' in the world: poll — 23 May 2013, 22:37 CET

Germany is the most popular country in the world despite well-publicised protests against its insistence on austerity measures within the European Union, an annual poll for the BBC World Service revealed on Thursday.

EU seeks China investment accord as first step to free trade deal — 23 May 2013, 16:47 CET

The EU wants to negotiate an investment protection accord as a first step towards a wider Free Trade Agreement with China, one of its biggest trading partners despite a series of tit-for-tat disputes.

EU drops mooted ban on olive oil in jugs in restaurants — 23 May 2013, 16:06 CET

The European Commission withdrew on Thursday a planned ban on restaurants serving olive oil in jugs on diners' tables pending consultations with the industry and consumers.

Top Hungary court rejects appeal to block constitution changes — 23 May 2013, 16:04 CET

Hungary's constitutional court threw out Tuesday an appeal by the country's parliamentary ombudsman to annul a controversial set of constitutional changes which have drawn ire from the EU.

Five Kosovo ex-guerrillas arrested in war crimes probe — 23 May 2013, 16:00 CET

Police on Thursday arrested five ethnic Albanian former guerrillas suspected of war crimes against civilians during the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo, the EU rule of law mission said.

Kosovo's ex-anti-graft prosecutor jailed for bribe — 23 May 2013, 15:58 CET

A European Union-run court on Thursday sentenced Kosovo's former top anti-graft prosecutor to five years in prison for corruption, said the EU's rule-of-law mission.

Lithuania approves growing hemp for textiles — 23 May 2013, 15:57 CET

Lithuania on Thursday legalised growing hemp as of January for the industrial-scale production of textiles, making it the last of the EU's 27 members to give it the green light.

Being 'very open for business' important to Dublin: Irish PM — 23 May 2013, 15:57 CET

Being "very open for business" is important for Irish jobs, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Thursday as Dublin faced heat from the United States over a tax dispute involving Apple.

Eurozone business sluggish, but signs look up — 23 May 2013, 13:11 CET

The downturn in eurozone private sector business activity eased in May, even as the recession continued, a widely-watched survey showed on Thursday.

EU accepts deal with Air Canada, United, Lufthansa — 23 May 2013, 13:02 CET

The European Commission said on Thursday it had accepted and would make legally binding the commitments made by Star Alliance members Air Canada, United and Lufthansa to satisfy its anti-trust concerns on the New York-Frankfurt route.