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Business news and information from the European Union

New EU rules start to apply for Google, Microsoft, Amazon gatekeepers — 11 March 2024, 18:48 CET

Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and ByteDance, deemed online 'gatekeepers' under the EU's Digital Markets Act, must from 7 March fully comply with all obligations.

EU transfer of proceedings law to help fight cross-border crime — 07 March 2024, 22:56 CET

The Belgian EU presidency and European Parliament reached political agreement Wednesday on a proposed EU law related to the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters.

Tinder pledge on clearer pricing brings end to EU probe — 07 March 2024, 22:19 CET

U.S. online dating app Tinder committed Thursday to informing its customers that discounts they propose for their premium services are personalised by automated means, as required to do under EU law.

EU moves to bolster cyber security capacities — 06 March 2024, 23:40 CET

The EU Parliament and Council reached provisional agreement Wednesday on the Cyber Solidarity Act to strengthen the EU's capacities to prepare for, detect and respond to cybersecurity threats.

EU revisions to strengthen plant health law — 06 March 2024, 23:39 CET

The EU Council and Parliament reached provisional agreement Wednesday on a targeted revision of the Plant Health Law, which aims to improve and streamline its application and enforcement.

EU agrees single sky deal for airspace management — 06 March 2024, 23:37 CET

After a decade of negotiations the European Parliament and the EU Council agreed Wednesday on new EU rules to optimise flight routes, reduce flight delays and cut CO2 emissions.

EU strikes deal to ban products made with forced labour — 05 March 2024, 18:59 CET

Products made with forced labour are to be banned from the EU market under the provisional deal agreed Tuesday by the European Parliament and EU Council.

EU sets out plan to boost Europe's defence readiness — 05 March 2024, 18:52 CET

In the light of Russia's continuing war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Commission and EU foreign policy chief set out plans Tuesday for a major boost to Europe's defence industrial readiness.

EU sets targets to reduce packaging consumption — 05 March 2024, 18:51 CET

The EU Council and Parliament reached agreement Monday to revamp rules to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, including a ban on 'forever chemicals' in food contact packaging.

EU issues EUR 176m call for AI, data, cloud projects — 04 March 2024, 18:19 CET

The European Commission launched a set of calls Friday worth over EUR 176 million in the areas of artificial intelligence, data, cloud to edge infrastructure, deployment of digital public services and digital skills.

Brussels hits Apple with EUR 1.8 bn fine over music streaming — 04 March 2024, 18:18 CET

The European Commission fined Apple over EUR 1.8 billion Monday for abusing its dominant position on the market for distribution of music streaming apps through its App Store.

Booking, ByteDance, X set to become EU Internet gatekeepers — 04 March 2024, 18:17 CET

Internet platforms Booking, ByteDance and X could be subject to new EU rules on gatekeeper platforms, after notifying the EU Commission they potentially meet Digital Markets Act thresholds.

EU tightens data rules for short-term rentals — 01 March 2024, 23:42 CET

The European Parliament adopted harmonised requirements Thursday on how data related to short-term rental services such as Airbnb, Booking.com and Expedia should be collected and shared.

Brussels queries Meta on No Ads Facebook subscription options — 01 March 2024, 23:40 CET

The EU Commission sent American tech giant Meta a formal request Friday to provide more information under the Digital Services Act over subscription for no ads options for both Facebook and Instagram.

EU launches EUR 1 bn call for alternative fuels infrastructure projects — 29 February 2024, 21:46 CET

The EU Commission launched a call for proposals Thursday under the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport Programme, making EUR 1 billion available to support the deployment of alternative fuels supply.

Poland fulfills rule of law milestones to unblock EU funding — 29 February 2024, 21:45 CET

The EU Commission moved to unlock some EUR 137 billion of EU funding for Poland Thursday, following efforts made by the Polish government to strengthen the rule of law and judicial independence.

MEPs back updating of EU rules on driving licences — 28 February 2024, 22:14 CET

Mobile driving licences, self-assessment of fitness to drive and better awareness of pedestrians are some of the changes to EU driving licence rules agreed by the European Parliament Wednesday.

MEPs seal deal to restore degraded ecosystems — 28 February 2024, 18:59 CET

The European Parliament adopted a law Tuesday which sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20 per cent of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

Suppliers offer almost 100bcm of gas to European consumers in first tender — 28 February 2024, 18:58 CET

The first tender with a new mid-term product for joint EU purchasing of gas under the EU's AggregateEU programme closed Tuesday night, with offers for a total volume of 97.4 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas.

New WTO rules to simplify services trade in force — 27 February 2024, 23:03 CET

Trade in services received a boost Tuesday with the entry into force of new World Trade Organization rules aimed at facilitating and simplifying global trade in services.

Euro-Parliament extends list of environmental crimes — 27 February 2024, 22:52 CET

MEPs extended the list of environmental crimes Tuesday to include illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources, and serious breaches of EU chemicals legislation and pollution caused by ships.

EU adopts 13th package of sanctions against Russia — 26 February 2024, 23:18 CET

Two years on from Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, the EU adopted Friday its thirteenth package of sanctions against Putin’s regime, those responsible for perpetuating its war and those lending it their support.

23 pct of EU enterprises engaged in online sales in 2022 — 26 February 2024, 23:17 CET

22.9 per cent of EU enterprises conducted sales online in 2022, according to figures released Monday by Eurostat, 0.1 per cent higher compared with 2021 and 6.5% higher that in 2012 (16.4%).

EU adopts instant 10-second payments regulation — 26 February 2024, 22:23 CET

The EU Council adopted Monday a regulation that will make instant payments fully available in euro to consumers and businesses in the EU and in EEA countries.

EU reaches deal on mobile machinery rules for public roads — 23 February 2024, 19:00 CET

The EU institutions reached provisional agreement Thursday on harmonised road safety requirements for the circulation of self-propelled machinery such as lawnmowers or bulldozers.