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Business news and information from the European Union

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.

MEPs back new rules for funding of political parties — 18 April 2018, 22:50 CET

The European Parliament in plenary Tuesday approved new rules governing the public funding for European political parties and foundations, to ensure that this is used properly and transparently.

Brussels wants fingerprints added to ID cards — 18 April 2018, 20:36 CET

The EU Commission put forward a package of security measures Tuesday, including more secure ID cards, stricter rules on explosives and firearms, and better data sharing to help fight crime and terrorism.

EU foreign ministers call for relaunch of Syria peace talks — 18 April 2018, 00:01 CET

The parties involved in the Syrian conflict need to relaunch a political solution in the framework of the UN-led Geneva process, EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said at a Council meeting Monday.

6 hours for tech firms to hand over key evidence under EU security proposal — 18 April 2018, 00:01 CET

Police and judicial authorities would gain easier and faster access to e-evidence such as e-mails or documents under new EU proposals to help them investigate, prosecute and convict criminals and terrorists.

Brussels looks to clamp down on unfair food trading practices — 17 April 2018, 15:47 CET

The EU Commission put forward proposals Thursday to ban the most damaging unfair trade practices in the food supply chain, with a view to ensuring fairer treat­ment for smaller food and farming businesses.

EU puts forward 'military mobility' defence plan — 13 April 2018, 00:02 CET

The European Commission and the EU's foreign affairs chief presented Wednesday an Action Plan to improve military mobility within and beyond the European Union.

Food safety: EU acts to make food studies more reliable — 12 April 2018, 23:51 CET

Responding to public concern in the form of a 'European Citizens' Initiative', the EU Commission presented Wednesday a proposal to improve the transparency of scientific studies in the area of food safety.

Member states approve posting of workers compromise — 12 April 2018, 13:43 CET

EU ambassadors approved Wednesday a compromise text negotiated with the Euro-Parliament on the posting of workers - employees sent to work in another EU member state on a temporary basis.

Brussels confirms antitrust raids on sports media firms — 12 April 2018, 00:46 CET

EU officials carried out unannounced inspections in several Member States at the premises of companies active in the distribution of media rights and related rights relating to sports events and broadcasting.

European consumers offered right to collective redress — 12 April 2018, 00:46 CET

The EU Commission proposed Wednesday a European collective redress right as part of a 'New Deal for Consumers' to ensure that all European consumers fully benefit from their rights under Union law.

Concern over decrease in EU's development aid — 12 April 2018, 00:09 CET

A decline in development aid from the EU and its Member States is linked to an 80 per cent reduction in debt relief operations and a decrease in in-donor refugee costs, the EU Commission said Tuesday.

Uber France hit by new EU Court blow — 11 April 2018, 14:16 CET

EU Member States can prohibit illegal exercise of transport activities in the context of the UberPop service without alerting the Commission in advance of draft criminal legislation, the EU Court ruled Tuesday.

Road safety targets unlikely to be met: EU report — 10 April 2018, 23:53 CET

While 2017 showed an improvement in the number of fatalities on Europe's roads, reaching the EU's goal of halving road fatalities between 2010 and 2020 will be challenging, according to an EU report.

EUR 2.1 billion funding boost for European startups — 10 April 2018, 23:18 CET

The EU Commission and European Investment Fund launched a Venture Capital Funds-of-Funds programme Tuesday to boost investment in innovative start-up and scale-up companies.

Brussels proposes new action against carcinogins at the workplace — 05 April 2018, 17:23 CET

The European Commission proposed new measures Thursday to limit workers' exposure to five cancer-causing chemicals, as well as other health problems.

Cheap euro transfers to be extended to non-euro states — 28 March 2018, 23:35 CET

The European Commission proposed Wednesday to make cross-border payments in euro cheaper across the entire EU, instead of only for transactions between Member States of the eurozone.

EU agrees rules to monitor and report CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles — 28 March 2018, 23:06 CET

The EU Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement Tuesday on a Regulation for monitoring and reporting CO2 emissions and fuel consumption data from new heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs).

Digital subscriptions portable from 1 April — 28 March 2018, 17:24 CET

From 1 April 2018 onwards, Europeans will be able to access the online content that they have subscribed to at home, wherever they are in the EU, EU institutions made clear in a joint statement Tuesday.

EU continues dialogue with Turkey over rule of law — 28 March 2018, 11:54 CET

EU leaders conveyed continued concern over the rule of law in Turkey Monday, as Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined them for a wide-ranging discussion on EU-Turkey relations and the way ahead.

New EU rules against geoblocking come into force — 24 March 2018, 00:12 CET

New EU rules against unjustified geoblocking - a discriminatory practice that prevents online customers from buying products from a website based in another member state, entered into force Thursday.

Russian duties on EU vans illegal, WTO confirms — 23 March 2018, 23:42 CET

The WTO has dismissed Russia's appeal and upheld EU arguments in the dispute on the anti-dumping duties imposed by Russia in 2013 on imports of European light commercial vehicles (LCVs).

EU seeks permanent exemption from U.S. steel tariffs — 23 March 2018, 17:31 CET

EU leaders at a summit called on the US Friday to make permanent the temporary exemption from US steel and aluminium tariffs, saying they were an "inappropriate remedy" for global problems of overcapacity.

"Highly likely" Russia behind UK attack: EU summit — 23 March 2018, 11:53 CET

At a summit in Brussels, EU leaders condemned Russia Thursday for the recent nerve agent attack in Britain, agreeing to coordinate their response "in the light of the answers provided by the Russian authorities".