Breaking news

Business news and information from the European Union

Belgium airport fears TNT departure, eyes FedEx deal — 05 January 2013, 12:27 CET

Belgium's Liege airport, one of Europe's busiest freight hubs, hopes to entice US parcel delivery firm FedEx away from Paris airports should Dutch firm TNT Express depart for Germany.

US Google ruling has no impact on EU probe — 04 January 2013, 20:13 CET

The decision by US authorities to close down an 18-month anti-trust investigation into Internet giant Google has no bearing on what the EU will do with its own probe, the European Commission said Friday.

Greece to enact reforms tied to EU loans — 04 January 2013, 17:23 CET

Greece must enact a new batch of fiscal reforms in time to earn its next slice of EU loans later this month, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said on Friday.

Eurozone inflation 2.2% in December — 04 January 2013, 13:14 CET

Inflation in the 17-member eurozone was stable at 2.2 percent in December, official data confirmed on Friday, as the slowing economy took pressure off prices.

Germany back to growth as December PMI raises hopes — 04 January 2013, 13:13 CET

Germany appeared set for a return to growth in December as wider eurozone business activity hit a nine-month high, a closely watched survey showed on Friday.

Germany plans EUR 5-6 bn in more cuts by 2014: report — 04 January 2013, 13:12 CET

The German government is eyeing 5.0-6.0 billion euros in additional spending cuts in 2014 in a bid to balance the government budget, a newspaper reported on Friday.

Relief for Google as US ends monopoly probe — 03 January 2013, 22:43 CET

US regulators have closed a lengthy antitrust probe into Google, saying there is not enough evidence to show the Internet giant manipulated its search results to harm its competitors.

Commission head says markets no longer see eurozone break-up — 03 January 2013, 17:31 CET

Investors no longer think there is a risk that the eurozone could break up, says European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, though the situation in Europe remains "difficult".

EU concerned over German bank regulator: report — 03 January 2013, 13:32 CET

The European Commission is concerned that Germany's banking supervisor could be restricting the free flow of capital to lenders abroad, a newspaper report said on Thursday.

Microsoft slams Google on 'proper' YouTube app — 03 January 2013, 13:31 CET

Microsoft has stepped up its criticism of Google on antitrust grounds, claiming the Internet giant refuses to allow Windows Phone users "proper access" to the YouTube video service.

Poland bans cultivation of GM maize, potatoes — 02 January 2013, 18:57 CET

Poland on Wednesday imposed new bans on the cultivation of certain genetically modified strains of maize and potatoes, a day after an EU required green light for GM crops took effect.

Europe is 'real risk' for global economy: Nobel laureate — 02 January 2013, 11:28 CET

Debt problems in both the United States and Europe represent the biggest risks for the global economy in 2013, Nobel prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz wrote in a newspaper article on Wednesday.

Eurozone manufacturing shrinks in December — 02 January 2013, 11:28 CET

Eurozone manufacturing activity contracted for a 17th month running in December, a key survey of business managers showed on Wednesday.

France, Belgium pump fresh capital into Dexia bank — 31 December 2012, 20:34 CET

Belgium and France have subscribed to a 5.5 billion euro injection of capital to bail out the Dexia bank, in line with a restructuring plan approved by the European Commission last week.

Tighter EU rules on budgets, deficits in force Jan 1 — 31 December 2012, 20:33 CET

The EU's 'fiscal compact,' a hard-won step towards tighter economic coordination agreed as part of efforts to tame the debilitating debt crisis, comes into effect on Tuesday.

Turkey claims progress in EU bid despite Brussels criticism — 31 December 2012, 13:40 CET

Turkey claimed Monday it has made progress over the last year toward accession to the European Union, rejecting accusations by the bloc against its human rights record and reform efforts.

Spain faces EUR 207 bn headache in 2013 — 31 December 2012, 13:05 CET

Spain defied the markets by averting a sovereign bailout this year but high interest rates could yet force Madrid to its knees as the nation confronts a 207-billion-euro financing headache in 2013.

Germany's fabled chimney sweeps to try luck in free market — 30 December 2012, 14:12 CET

The new year will bring big changes to chimney sweep Norbert Skrobek and his tradition-steeped trade, as Germany overhauls the market after years of resistance against pressure from Brussels.

Serb nationalist regime turns a step closer to EU — 30 December 2012, 13:40 CET

Serbia's new government, a coalition of nationalists and socialists that led the country during the 1990s Balkan wars, has surprised many with its pro-European moves, especially regarding breakaway Kosovo.

EU running out of patience with eurosceptic Britain — 28 December 2012, 20:21 CET

Europe's patience with an increasingly eurosceptic Britain is running out, EU President Herman Van Rompuy has warned, saying London's pick-and-choose approach puts the whole project at risk.

Britain should leave EU: former Commission chief Delors — 28 December 2012, 15:54 CET

Britain could leave the European Union and enter into a different sort of partnership with the political and economic bloc instead, former EU Commission chief Jacques Delors said on Friday.

French shipyard lands billion-euro luxury liner deal — 28 December 2012, 15:53 CET

Officials hailed some rare good news for France's struggling economy on Friday after an ailing shipyard landed a billion-euro contract to build a luxury liner for a US cruise company.

EU clears latest Dexia restructuring plan — 28 December 2012, 15:50 CET

The European Commission has approved the latest, 90-billion-euros restructuring plan for Dexia, a Franco-Belgian bank bailed out at the height of the financial crisis which has struggled ever since.

Euro crisis undercuts EU rotating presidency — 28 December 2012, 11:44 CET

The European Union's rotating six-month presidency has lost much of its authority in recent years as the eurozone crisis and increased powers for Brussels have undercut its role and importance.

Ireland's EU presidency hoping for growth but trouble persists — 28 December 2012, 11:43 CET

Bailed-out Ireland hopes to use the momentum of its presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2013 to push through measures to boost growth and create jobs.