Breaking news

Business news and information from the European Union

Sweden told to comply with EU cosmetics rules — 05 May 2010, 22:52 CET

The European Commission has taken further steps against Sweden for infringing EU law on cosmetic products by introducing excessive requirements in the notification of such products.

Commission action makes setting up business in Ireland easier — 05 May 2010, 22:50 CET

Following changes to Irish legislation that remove obstacles to setting up a business in Ireland, the European Commission has closed its infringement case.

Euro-MPs urge tightening of animal welfare rules — 05 May 2010, 22:49 CET

More frequent inspections and tougher penalties will be needed to enforce the next EU Animal Welfare Action Plan, says a resolution adopted by the European Parliament today.

"Bulk data" transfers to the US against EU law, warn MEPs — 05 May 2010, 22:46 CET

Euro-MPs warned today that any new agreement on providing bank data to the United States must avoid "bulk data" transfers until they can be processed within the EU.

Incoming British government 'must tackle rising debt' — 05 May 2010, 17:56 CET

EU forecasts on the eve of the British general election put Britain under the highest public deficit levels in Europe, with Brussels warning the next government must focus first on the shortfall.

Euro-MPs urge more time for combustion plants to comply with emission limits — 04 May 2010, 23:15 CET

Certain combustion plants, including some fossil-fuel power stations, should be allowed extra time to meet stricter rules on industrial emissions, Euro-MPs said today. The proposal will be voted in July.

First steps towards reform of EU's Common Fisheries Policy — 04 May 2010, 23:13 CET

The reform of the Common Fisheries Policy begins today, stated the Spanish Minister for the Environment, as the Informal Meeting of Fisheries Ministers in Vigo, Spain, got under way on Tuesday.

E.ON's commitments open up German gas market to competitors — 04 May 2010, 23:10 CET

The European Commission has adopted a decision that renders legally binding commitments offered by E.ON to effectively open up access to the German gas market.

EU proposes rules for fishery imports from Greenland — 03 May 2010, 23:28 CET

The European Commission proposes rules for imports of fishery products from Greenland into the EU. These rules will affect fish, fishery products as well as by-products derived from these sources.

New social security regulations enter into force in the EU — 30 April 2010, 21:51 CET

On 1 May 2010, new regulations on social security coordination in the European Union enter into force. The aim is to make life easier for Europeans on the move.

Reform of the Common Fisheries Policy high on the EU's agenda — 30 April 2010, 21:50 CET

European Fisheries ministers and stakeholders alike will be discussing the future shape of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy at two major events in Spain over the next days.

Late business payments: MEPs want deadlines — 29 April 2010, 23:59 CET

MEPs believe that deadlines for paying bills in the business world should be laid down by law for both the private and public sectors. Yesterday Euro-MPs approved amendments to a planned EU directive designed to tackle the problem of late payments.

EU updates aviation security rules — 29 April 2010, 23:56 CET

New measures to streamline and simplify the EU framework for aviation security, first put in place in 2002 after the September 11 attacks, came into force today.

EU okay for State Street's Intesa Sanpaolo acquisition — 29 April 2010, 23:50 CET

The European Commission has cleared under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of two subsidiaries of the Italian Intesa Sanpaolo banking group by an US-based corporation.

EU opens consultation on double taxation — 29 April 2010, 17:19 CET

The European Commission launched today an online public consultation to ask individuals, companies and tax advisers for information on double taxation problems that they have encountered when operating across borders within the EU.

Progress on services directive too slow, say Euro-MPs — 28 April 2010, 23:34 CET

The hotly contested services directive was due to be implemented in national law by 28 December 2009. This Tuesday, four months after the deadline, MEPs and members of national parliaments held a meeting in Brussels to discuss whether the EU Member States have done their duty in this regard.

MEPs want rules on working hours to apply to self-employed drivers — 28 April 2010, 23:29 CET

Members of the European Parliament have voted against a Commission proposal that self-employed drivers be exempted from the 2002 Working Time Directive on the road transport industry.

Euro-MPs vote to curb energy consumption — 28 April 2010, 23:28 CET

MEPs approved today EU energy efficiency legislation for buildings and the new layout of the EU energy efficiency label.

EU authorises compensation to electricity producers in Hungary — 27 April 2010, 22:22 CET

The European Commission has authorised, under EU State aid rules, an aid scheme to compensate electricity producers for costs incurred after liberalisation of the market in Hungary.

EU moots centre to combat cybercrime in Europe — 26 April 2010, 23:01 CET

The EU on Monday set out plans for a centre to combat cybercrime in Europe. Ministers meeting in Luxembourg proposed the new centre as part of a longer term strategy to cope more effectively with the crimes committed by means of electronic networks.

Cheaper drugs incentive schemes ruled legal by European court — 24 April 2010, 00:30 CET

The European Court of Justice has ruled that public authorities may offer financial incentives to induce doctors to prescribe cheaper medicinal products.

MEPs want say on EU employment guidelines — 24 April 2010, 00:28 CET

The European Parliament is calling on the European Council to postpone adopting the EU 2020 economic competitiveness strategy until the autumn, to give MEPs time to properly analyse the proposals.

ECB to demand loan-level information on asset bonds — 24 April 2010, 00:24 CET

The European Central Bank is to begin work on the establishment of loan-by-loan information requirements for asset-backed securities (ABSs) in the Eurosystem collateral framework.

Illegal cigarette factory in Lithuania raided — 22 April 2010, 23:37 CET

An illegal cigarette factory in Vilnius, capable of producing at least 1000 cigarettes a minute, has been raided and closed down in an operation mounted by Lithuanian Customs supported by OLAF.

EU responds to Internet consumers' fears over traffic monitoring — 22 April 2010, 23:35 CET

The negotiation parties of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) today published the documents of the 8th round of negotiations held in Wellington on 12-16 April.