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Business news and information from the European Union

EU mulls upgrade to rules on machinery safety, product liability — 08 May 2018, 15:57 CET

With a view to ensuring that legislation keeps up with emerging digital technologies and innovative products, the Commission published evaluation reports Monday on EU machinery safety and product liability rules.

Brussels raises EU's long-term budget to plug Brexit gap — 03 May 2018, 17:42 CET

The EU Commission set out proposals for a 'pragmatic, modern, long-term budget for the 2021-2027 period' Wednesday, raising funding for security and defence and acknowledging the budget gap left by Brexit.

Solid growth forecast for EU economy — 03 May 2018, 17:41 CET

Growth in the European economy is set to remain strong in 2018 and ease only slightly in 2019, with growth of 2.3% and 2.0% respectively, according to the EU's Spring Economic Forecast published Thursday.

Member States need to do more on pensions, says EU — 02 May 2018, 23:37 CET

Further measures are needed if EU Member States are to maintain the income of men and women for the duration of retirement and prevent old-age poverty, an EU report on pensions adequacy said Monday.

New EU consular protection rules come into force — 30 April 2018, 21:09 CET

From 1 May, EU citizens living or travelling outside the EU will get better benefit from consular protection in case of need, where their country of origin is not represented in the non-EU country they visit.

EU takes on social media over fake news — 29 April 2018, 23:29 CET

The Commission put forward measures Thursday to tackle fake news online, including a code of practice on disinformation, fact-checkers, and actions to promote quality journalism and media literacy.

EU states vote to ban bee-harming pesticides — 29 April 2018, 23:29 CET

A committee of EU member states' representatives have backed a proposal for a near-total ban of three bee-killing neonicotinoid insecticides which a scientific review said were harmful to bees.

Europe's artificial intelligence efforts set for EUR 1.5bn boost — 27 April 2018, 00:52 CET

The EU is to boost investment in artificial intelligence by EUR 1.5 bn, the EU Commission announced on Wednesday, as part of a package of measures to boost Europe's competitiveness in the field of AI.

30 pct European content quota under new media services directive — 27 April 2018, 00:24 CET

The EU institutions reached preliminary agreement Thursday on revised rules for audiovisual media, focusing on protection of minors, hate speech and 30% European content for on-demand services.

Online business platforms to be more transparent under new EU rules — 26 April 2018, 18:18 CET

New rules for online platforms, announced Thursday by the EU Commission, aim to create a fair, transparent and predictable business environment for their smaller business and trader users.

Messi can register 'MESSI' trademark says EU Court — 26 April 2018, 13:16 CET

Lionel Messi, the world's best-paid footballer, can register the trademark 'MESSI' for sports equipment and clothing, the EU's top Court ruled Thursday despite a Spanish company's 'MASSI' trademark.

EU probe threatens Apple's acquisition of Shazam — 25 April 2018, 23:42 CET

The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation Tuesday into U.S. tech giant Apple's proposed acquisition of the UK's Shazam music identification service.

New EU rules to help companies grow and merge in single market — 25 April 2018, 20:36 CET

EU companies should find it easier to merge, divide or move within the single market and to digitalise setting-up and running a business, under new company law rules outlined Wednesday by Brussels.

Whistleblowers to be protected by EU law — 24 April 2018, 14:05 CET

In the wake of the Dieselgate, Luxleaks, Panama Papers and recently the Cambridge Analytica revelations, the EU Commission proposed Monday a new law strengthen whistleblower protection across the EU.

Mexico and EU agree revamped trade deal — 24 April 2018, 14:05 CET

Almost all trade in goods between the EU and Mexico are to be duty-free, including in agriculture, following Saturday's agreement on a new trade deal, part of a broader, updated global agreement.

After Dieselgate: Europe's car type approval rules tightened — 23 April 2018, 20:48 CET

Stronger supervision of the European car approval system was voted in by the EU Parliament Thursday, giving the Commission the power to make sure manufacturers are no longer able to cheat on emissions.

EU extends anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel rope — 20 April 2018, 23:33 CET

The European Commission decided Friday to extend anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese steel rope and cable for another five years. Duties of 60.4 per cent have been in place since 1999.

Brussels bids to revive Europe's city centres — 20 April 2018, 20:12 CET

The EU Commission published a set of best practices for the retail sector Thursday in a bid to revive city centres and increase innovation and competitiveness in one of the EU economy's biggest sectors.

Logging in Bialowieza Forest broke law: EU Court — 20 April 2018, 00:14 CET

Increasing logging operations in Poland's Białowieza Forest nature reserve infringed EU law, the European Court of Justice ruled Tuesday in a final judgement.

Green light for new EU rules on organic food — 19 April 2018, 23:25 CET

Euro-MPs gave the green light Thursday to a new law on organic food production and labelling, with a view to boosting organic production and ensuring that only high-quality organic food is sold in the EU.

Kitkat protected status in doubt in EU Court's opinion — 19 April 2018, 20:53 CET

The future of the three-dimensional shape of Nestle's ‘Kit Kat 4 fingers’ chocolate as an EU trade mark is in doubt following Thursday's opinion of the Advocate-General of the European Court of Justice.

Brussels urges early signing of Japan trade deal — 19 April 2018, 00:13 CET

The European Commission urged a swift conclusion of trade deals with Japan Wednesday, presenting the outcome of negotiations on the biggest bilateral trade partnership ever negotiated by the EU.

EU raises recycling targets for circular economy — 18 April 2018, 23:40 CET

The European Parliament backed ambitious targets for recycling Wednesday under legislation on waste and the circular economy intended to benefit the environment, climate, and human health.

EU aims for near zero-energy buildings by 2050 — 18 April 2018, 23:23 CET

MEPs set a goal of near zero-energy buildings in the EU by 2050 Tuesday as they gave final approval to the Energy Performance of Buildings directive for smarter and more energy efficient buildings.

Commission recommends membership talks for Albania, Macedonia — 18 April 2018, 22:53 CET

The Commission's annual Enlargement Package, adopted Tuesday, recommends that the Council open accession negotiations with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and with Albania.