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Business news and information from the European Union

Major Russian Gas Pipelines to Europe — 20 March 2014, 15:39 CET

Major Russian Gas Pipelines to Europe - Image Samuel Bailey

Western Balkans gearing up for Horizon 2020 — 26 February 2014, 17:47 CET

While the scientific performance of the Western Balkan countries (WBCs) has improved in recent years, it still lags behind that of EU countries, both in terms of quantity and quality.

S&P downgrades EU debt, Commission hits back — 22 December 2013, 13:21 CET

The Standard and Poor’s ratings agency downgraded the European Union’s credit-worthiness by one notch on Friday, blaming threats to cohesion including Britain’s role in curtailing budgets and holding a membership referendum.

Indonesia, EU seal pact to stop illegal timber exports — 01 October 2013, 13:10 CET

Indonesia, Asia's leading exporter of timber to Europe, on Monday signed a long-awaited pact with the European Union to fight the trade in illegal timber, a driver of environmentally damaging deforestation.

European leaders seek Asian support on debt crisis — 05 November 2012, 11:38 CET

European leaders flew to impoverished Laos Monday on a mission to reassure Asia they are finally getting a grip on the eurozone debt crisis during a major summit in the tiny landlocked nation.

Eurozone to launch ESM rescue fund — 08 October 2012, 12:12 CET

The eurozone finally gets its 500 billion euro rescue fund on Monday when finance ministers meet amid growing uncertainty over Greece's tortuous debt bailout and whether Spain will need help in turn.

EU Transparency Register: over 5,000 interest groups sign up — 28 June 2012, 23:01 CET

Over 5,000 interest groups have registered with the European Parliament or European Commission for the EU Transparency Register, in its first year.

Boost for Enterprise Europe Network in Asia, North Africa — 29 September 2011, 12:55 CET

The European Commission is extending the reach of the Enterprise Europe Network - its business and innovation support network for SMEs - by opening new contact points in Japan, as well as doubling its presence in China. The aim, it says, is to see more European small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) profit from the fast growing markets in Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.

Italy's Tremonti to meet eurozone's Juncker Wednesday — 02 August 2011, 20:24 CET

Italian finance minister Giulio Tremonti will hold talks on Wednesday in Luxembourg with eurozone chief Jean-Claude Juncker, as pressure intensified on Rome on government bond markets.

Funding boost of EUR 7bn for Innovation Union — 21 July 2011, 13:17 CET

Research is set to remain high on the EU's political agenda as Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announces the release of nearly EUR 7 billion for stimulating European innovation through research funding.

EU set to release more loans to keep Greece afloat — 20 June 2011, 00:48 CET

Eurozone finance ministers, gathering in Luxembourg Sunday, were set to release more loans to keep Athens from default in the summer and mull the shape of a second major bailout to appease nervous markets.

Euro-Parliament strikes at Europe's late payment culture — 21 October 2010, 13:11 CET

Small firms should no longer face financial problems due to late payment of bills by public authorities or companies under a deal endorsed by Euro-MPs in plenary session on Wednesday. A recasting of the EU's Late Payment Directive, setting a standard deadline for paying bills at 30 days, is intended to bolster solvency, innovation and jobs.

EU seals first Asian free trade deal with S. Korea — 16 September 2010, 17:48 CET

Europe agreed a vast free trade deal with South Korea on Thursday, hailing it as the first in a chain of bilateral pacts with Asian nations that will bind the continents together.

Sky Italia can participate in allocation of TV frequencies in Italy: EU — 20 July 2010, 23:10 CET

The European Commission has authorised Sky Italia, the Italian subsidiary of Newscorp, to participate in the future tender for the allocation of nationwide digital terrestrial television frequencies in Italy.

EU okays funding mechanism for France Télévisions — 20 July 2010, 23:05 CET

The European Commission has approved the annual funding mechanism for France Télévisions, which is deemed to comply with the European Union's state aid rules.

EU greenlights state aid for high speed internet in Estonia — 20 July 2010, 23:05 CET

The European Commission has authorised under the EU State aid rules Estonia's plans to support the establishment of a country wide high speed broadband infrastructure, the EstWin project.

EU approves Swedish scheme supporting newspapers — 20 July 2010, 23:05 CET

The European Commission has concluded that a changed regime to support newspapers in Sweden is now in line under EU state aid rules.

EU to make cross border transportation of euro cash easier — 16 July 2010, 19:33 CET

The European Commission has adopted today a proposal for an EU Regulation to lift regulatory obstacles to professional cross-border transportation of euro cash by road between euro-area Member States.

EU safeguards taxpayers' right to VAT refunds — 16 July 2010, 11:47 CET

The European Commission is to postpone the deadline for the submission of VAT refund requests related to 2009, to give more time to taxpayers to apply for VAT refunds.

EU Member States back new rules for auctioning of emissions allowances — 16 July 2010, 00:10 CET

EU Member States supported today proposed rules for auctioning emission allowances valid for the third trading period of the EU ETS starting in 2013 as well as allowances to be used by aircraft operators already as from 2012.

EU okays acquisition of French IMS by Jacquet Metals — 16 July 2010, 00:10 CET

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed acquisition of the French IMS International Metal Service by the Belgian JSA SA, the holding company of Jacquet Metals of France, both active in the distribution of steel products throughout the EU.

EU approves the acquisition of Giraud by French Geodis — 16 July 2010, 00:10 CET

The European Commission has approved, in accordance with the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition by Geodis, which belongs to the SNCF group, of sole control of Giraud, an international road freight group.

EU asks Poland to comply with rules on flood prevention — 14 July 2010, 18:31 CET

The European Commission asks Poland to comply with EU environmental legislation in the area of flood prevention and risk management.

Poland must stop violating EU rules on internal gas market: EU — 14 July 2010, 18:31 CET

The European Commission has sent a request to Poland to stop the violations of the EU rules creating a Single Market for gas after Poland imposed an obligation on gas importers to store a certain percentage of gas in the country.

EU to fast-track admission of third-country seasonal workers — 13 July 2010, 23:32 CET

The European Commission has proposed a fast-track procedure for admission of third-country seasonal workers. This would be based on common definitions and criteria, in particular the existence of a work contract or binding job offer.