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Business news and information from the European Union

Worst of the euro crisis 'behind us', says German FM — 27 December 2012, 17:50 CET

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he believes the embattled eurozone is already past the peak of its three-year-long debt crisis, citing positive developments in Greece and France.

France has obligation to reverse budget deficit: Moscovici — 27 December 2012, 17:50 CET

French Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici said Thursday his country had a "duty" to reverse years of budget deficits.

Italian rates edge upwards in EUR 8.5 bn debt auction — 27 December 2012, 17:43 CET

Italian borrowing rates rose slightly in a short-term debt auction that raised 8.5 billion euros political uncertainty ahead of a general election in February.

French general to lead EU training force in Mali — 26 December 2012, 22:36 CET

French general Francois Lecointre, a veteran of peacekeeping missions in Africa, will lead an EU mission to train soldiers in Mali, whose north is under the control of Islamists.

Euro survives 2012, further tests in store — 23 December 2012, 12:33 CET

The battered euro, written off as a dud many times during a crisis-wracked year, appears to have survived 2012, but 2013 could prove just as difficult if the economy continues to struggle.

Germany warns Britain against 'blackmailing' EU — 23 December 2012, 12:32 CET

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned Britain in a Sunday newspaper interview against "blackmailing" its EU partners in a bid to bring powers back home from Brussels.

Hungary bars foreigners from buying farmland — 22 December 2012, 23:32 CET

Hungary has amended its constitution to bar foreigners from buying farmland, a move the government called "historic," but one that could cause friction with the European Union.

Spanish satellite operator drops Iran state TV: report — 22 December 2012, 23:31 CET

Spanish satellite operator Hispasat has dropped broadcasts by two of Iranian state broadcaster IRIB's channels because of EU sanctions against its chief, the Mehr news agency reported on Saturday.

Germany says Dutch minister good candidate for eurogroup chief — 21 December 2012, 23:45 CET

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Friday he considered his Dutch counterpart Jeroen Dijsselbloem as a good possible candidate to take over as head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers.

Samsung injunctions against Apple breach rules: EU — 21 December 2012, 23:42 CET

The European Commission said Friday that South Korea's Samsung Electronics was abusing its dominant market position in certain technologies when it took out injunctions against fierce rival Apple.

Combative Putin takes EU to task — 21 December 2012, 19:33 CET

EU leaders played up the positives of a 30th summit with Russia Friday but a combative Russian President Vladimir Putin took them bluntly to task over energy and human rights.

EU welcomes Putin with Syria back in focus — 21 December 2012, 19:32 CET

Russian President Vladimir Putin went into talks with European Union leaders Friday, tackling a lengthy agenda of contentious issues from trade and human rights to Syria.

Eurogroup, ECB rule out debt haircut for Cyprus — 21 December 2012, 19:27 CET

The Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers and the European Central Bank ruled out Friday a partial debt write-off for Cyprus.

EU, Russia say new settlements are 'obstacle to peace' — 21 December 2012, 19:26 CET

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday issued a rare and strong joint condemnation of Israeli plans to massively expand settlements.

EU tightens noose on Iran with new sanctions — 21 December 2012, 19:25 CET

The EU has agreed new sanctions against Iran, adding 18 companies or institutions and one person to a blacklist aimed at forcing stalled talks on Tehran's contested nuclear drive to resume.

Up to EU to decide on Cyprus aid: Putin — 21 December 2012, 19:20 CET

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday it was up to European Union countries to decide on a bailout for Cyprus, despite its close economic links with Moscow.

Greece set to return to growth in 2014: ECB official — 21 December 2012, 17:08 CET

The Greek economy is likely to start growing again in 2014, a top European Central Bank official said in a newspaper interview released on Friday.

Romania's MPs send 'bad' signal against graft: PM — 21 December 2012, 16:12 CET

Romanian MPs on Friday refused to allow the arrest of a lawmaker accused of corruption, a move that will undermine the country's international credibility according to Prime Minister Victor Ponta.

Bailout candidate Cyprus rules out debt haircut — 21 December 2012, 16:11 CET

Bailout candidate Cyprus on Friday ruled out any "haircut" on its debt in order to help pave the way for much needed financial aid.

Topless Femen feminists detained in anti-Putin protest — 21 December 2012, 13:02 CET

Four pro-democracy activists from Ukraine's feminist group Femen staged a brief topless protest Friday against Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in Brussels attending a European Union summit.

France needs more reform not austerity: EU's Rehn — 21 December 2012, 12:57 CET

EU Economy Commissioner Olli Rehn said Friday that France needed more reform rather than more austerity, suggesting a slower fiscal adjustment a day after the government's ability to meet its deficit target was called into question.

EU finds fault with Switzerland ties — 21 December 2012, 12:43 CET

The European Union is unhappy with Switzerland's practice of negotiating sector-by-sector accords, a policy which the EU says has reached its limits and should be reviewed.

Bulgaria names new top prosecutor despite EU concerns — 21 December 2012, 12:34 CET

Bulgaria's top judicial body has elected a new chief national prosecutor despite criticism he is too close to the government, even as the European Commission is closely monitoring the country's judiciary.

Fishing nations, campaigners split on new EU quotas — 21 December 2012, 11:01 CET

European Union fisheries ministers Thursday struck a deal on 2013 quotas viewed as a "compromise" between efforts to protect endangered stocks while ensuring jobs for Europe's fishermen.

EU puts EUR 1.2 bn into pilot renewable energy projects — 20 December 2012, 23:06 CET

The European Commission announced Tuesday that it was putting 1.2 billion euros into renewable energy demonstration projects but had found no carbon capture ventures to back.