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Business news and information from the European Union

EU digital rules can be global 'game changer': Facebook whistleblower — 11 November 2021, 19:00 CET

The EU’s future Digital Services Act can set the global standards in transparency, oversight and enforcement, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told MEPs at a public hearing Monday.

EU road charging reform to reduce CO2 emissions — 10 November 2021, 17:59 CET

European Union ministers gave the green light Tuesday to stronger and wider road charging rules (the Eurovignette directive) to incentivise cleaner and more efficient transport operations.

EU, United States agree steps to decarbonise steel — 09 November 2021, 16:26 CET

The European Union and the United States agreed Sunday to suspend bilateral WTO disputes on steel and aluminium and start discussions on a Global Arrangement on Sustainable Steel and Aluminium.

EU pledges EUR 1 bn to protect world forests — 09 November 2021, 16:25 CET

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced a EUR 1 billion contribution to the Global Forests Finance Pledge at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

MEPs strengthen EU-wide requirements against cyber threats — 04 November 2021, 18:18 CET

A new draft law, agreed Thursday by a European Parliament committee, would set tighter cybersecurity obligations in terms of risk management, reporting obligations and information sharing.

EU moves to strengthen banks' resilience — 01 November 2021, 18:01 CET

The EU Commission said Wednesday its review of EU banking rules will ensure EU banks become more resilient to potential future economic shocks and contribute to Europe's recovery post-COVID.

EU agrees provisional deal on use of hired lorries — 28 October 2021, 22:45 CET

Negotiators from the EU Council and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement Tuesday on revised rules to ease current restrictions on the use of hired vehicles for goods transport.

Renewables overtake fossil fuels as top EU power source — 28 October 2021, 22:45 CET

Renewables overtook fossil fuels as the EU's leading power source for the first time in 2020, according to Tuesday's energy reports, generating 38% of electricity compared to 37% for fossil fuels.

No EU money for gov'ts who undermine EU values, say MEPs — 23 October 2021, 23:23 CET

EU money should be withheld from governments who 'flagrantly' undermine EU values, the European Parliament said Thursday, as MEPs condemned Poland for undermining the primacy of EU law.

EU leaders search for solutions to soaring energy prices — 23 October 2021, 23:23 CET

EU countries and the European Commission should urgently use the tools available to rein in surging energy prices, EU leaders affirmed Friday at the end of their two-day summit in Brussels.

MEPs back plans for healthier and more sustainable food — 23 October 2021, 23:23 CET

MEPs presented plans Wednesday for a revamp of the EU's food systems to produce healthier food, ensure food security, a fair income for farmers and reduce agriculture's environmental footprint.

Euro-Parliament's Sakharov Prize goes to Alexei Navalny — 21 October 2021, 18:45 CET

The European Parliament on Wednesday awarded Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny the European Parliament’s 2021 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

EU and Qatar sign aviation agreement — 20 October 2021, 22:48 CET

The European Union and the State of Qatar signed a comprehensive air transport agreement Monday, upgrading rules and standards for flights between Qatar and the EU.

EU's digital COVID certificate sets global standard — 20 October 2021, 22:40 CET

More than 591 million EU Digital COVID Certificates - seen as a crucial part of Europe's response to the pandemic - have been generated, the EU said Monday in a report covering its implementation across the EU.

Brussels adopts its work programme for 2022 — 20 October 2021, 22:38 CET

The European Commission adopted its 2022 Work Programme Tuesday, setting out the next steps in an agenda for a post-COVID-19 Europe that is 'greener, fairer, more digital and more resilient'.

EU 'toolbox' to tackle rising energy prices — 14 October 2021, 22:28 CET

The EU Commission presented Wednesday a 'toolbox' of measures to help Europe's people and businesses tackle the exceptional rise in global energy prices, projected to last through the winter.

Brussels funds innovative start-ups with EUR 363m — 14 October 2021, 22:26 CET

65 innovative European start-ups and smaller businesses are to receive EUR 363 million of funding for breakthrough innovations, the EU announced Thursday, under its new 'innovation accelerator'.

EU sets out new proposals to save NI Protocol — 14 October 2021, 22:14 CET

The European Commission proposed Wednesday a number of bespoke arrangements to respond to the difficulties that people in Northern Ireland have been experiencing because of Brexit.

EU agrees 2022 fishing quotas for Baltic Sea — 13 October 2021, 22:46 CET

EU fisheries ministers reached a political agreement Tuesday on next year's total allowable catches and quotas per member state for the ten most commercially important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea.

EU offers 60,000 free travel passes to 18-20 yr-olds — 13 October 2021, 22:44 CET

The EU is to provide free travel rail passes to 60,000 Europeans aged from 18 to 20 years through its DiscoverEU initiative that gives the opportunity to discover Europe through learning experiences.

Nitrates continue to pollute Europe's water: report — 12 October 2021, 18:16 CET

A European Commission report on nitrate pollution based on 2016-2019 data shows little progress over the last decade, with nutrient pollution from agriculture still a serious concern for many EU states.

EU Blue Card to attract highly skilled workers to Europe — 11 October 2021, 18:45 CET

The EU Council and Parliament gave their final approval Thursday to the revised Blue Card Directive, a new scheme to respond to skills shortages and attract highly skilled workers from outside the EU.

Wine, fruit, veg sectors to receive additional EU aid — 07 October 2021, 18:31 CET

Support measures for the wine sector adopted by the EU Wednesday include increasing support for harvest insurance and mutual funds, and extending by a year the flexibility measures already in place.

EU agrees position for COP26 climate summit — 07 October 2021, 18:27 CET

The EU agreed its position Wednesday for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, stressing the need for urgency and for a just and fair climate transition across the world.

EU strategy to combat rising antisemitism in Europe — 06 October 2021, 22:47 CET

With antisemitism on the rise in Europe and beyond, the European Commission presented Tuesday the first-ever EU strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life.