Finance and Monetary Affairs in the EU

Latest news on economic and monetary affairs in the European Union.

Nearly half EU car imports in 2022 electric & hybrid — 06 November 2023, 23:36 CET

Trade of electric & hybrid cars continued its strong rise in 2022, according to the EU's statistics agency Eurostat, with an increase of 35 percentage points compared with 2017.

Highest life expectancy in Spain, EU figures show — 06 November 2023, 23:26 CET

Spaniards live longest in Europe, according to figures from EU statistics agency Eurostat, recording EU overall life expectancy at birth reaching 80.1 years in 2021, with two year declines in 2020-21.

New report: Financial institutions in the EU are driving harm to the environment and human rights — 31 October 2023, 23:31 CET

Financial institutions in the EU have been involved in driving environmental and human rights-related harm, but the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive could minimise such impacts, highlights a new WWF report.

MEPs approve new green bond standards — 05 October 2023, 17:13 CET

MEPs on Thursday adopted a new voluntary standard for the use of a 'European Green Bond' label, laying down uniform standards for issuers who wish to use the designation for marketing of their bond.

New EU anti-coercion trade tool to act as deterrent — 03 October 2023, 18:25 CET

The EU Parliament approved Tuesday a new trade instrument to enable the EU to respond should it or member states face economic blackmail from a foreign country seeking to influence a specific policy or stance.

25 pct young Europeans employed while studying — 28 September 2023, 23:05 CET

25% of young Europeans (aged 15-29) were simultaneously employed in formal education and in the labour market, Eurostat reported Thursday, while 72% remained outside the labour force.

45 pct of world's tourism arrivals are in the EU — 27 September 2023, 23:26 CET

The EU received 45.8 per cent of all international tourism arrivals in the world in 2022, Eurostat reports, even though it represents just 5.6% of the world's population and 3.0% of the world's land area.

InvestEU — 13 September 2023, 17:03 CET

The InvestEU Programme supports sustainable investment, innovation and job creation in Europe. With the EU budget guarantee provided to International and National promotional banks, the InvestEU programme aims to trigger more than €372 billion in private investments to high EU policy priority areas.

Consumers to get extra protection when taking out a loan — 13 September 2023, 00:14 CET

Consumers will get much-needed extra protection when taking out credit (as of 2025), with the European Parliament giving its final stamp of approval to the Consumer Credit Directive today.

New EU SME Relief package to tackle late payments — 13 September 2023, 00:08 CET

The European Commission presented Tuesday a series of initiatives to ease current pressures on smaller businesses (SMEs), including cutting paperwork, simplifying taxes and ensuring they are paid in due time.

EU lowers growth forecast as high inflation takes toll — 13 September 2023, 00:07 CET

The European Union lowered its growth forecast for Europe's economy Monday, with weak demand and consumption, and high and increasing consumer prices taking a heavier toll than expected.

EU looks to speed up access to social benefits from abroad — 06 September 2023, 23:03 CET

The Commission proposed to make access to social security services quicker and simpler across borders Wednesday, by making full use of digital tools, reducing administrative burden for citizens and business.

Digital coordination of social security systems in Europe - guide — 06 September 2023, 18:33 CET

The European Commission proposed on 6 September concrete steps to further digitalise the coordination of social security systems in Europe. In a dedicated Communication, it lays out actions to make access to social security services quicker and simpler across borders by making full use of digital tools, reducing administrative burden for citizens and business.

Russia's share in EU trade falls below 2 pct — 05 September 2023, 23:25 CET

EU trade with Russia has been strongly affected by import and export restrictions imposed by the EU following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU's statistical office reported on Friday.

Business bankruptcies in EU at highest level since 2015 — 28 August 2023, 21:19 CET

The number of bankruptcies declared by EU businesses in the second quarter of 2023 reached the highest level since the start of the data collection in 2015, the EU's statistical office Eurostat reported Thursday.

Commission undermines standards for corporate sustainability reporting under industry pressure — 01 August 2023, 01:05 CET

The European Commission published today a Delegated Act on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) that puts a significant dent into the hope that investors and other users of information will have access to reliable and comparable sustainability data from companies. This is necessary to steer the economy towards a path that is compatible with our planetary boundaries.

Brussels adopts European Sustainability Reporting Standards — 01 August 2023, 00:57 CET

The EU Commission adopted Monday the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for use by all companies subject to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Adoption of European Sustainability Reporting Standards - guide — 01 August 2023, 00:51 CET

The European Commission adopted on 31 July the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) for use by all companies subject to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

EU provisionally agrees new framework for hedge funds — 20 July 2023, 22:32 CET

Negotiators from the EU Council and European Parliament reached political agreement last night on a proposal to improve the regulatory framework applicable to the investment funds industry.

Foreign subsidies rules enter into force — 13 July 2023, 17:12 CET

New foreign subsidies rules began to apply Wednesday, to address distortions caused by foreign subsidies and enable the EU to ensure a level playing field for companies operating within the Single Market.

Brussels adopts rules for implementing Foreign Subsidies Regulation — 10 July 2023, 18:26 CET

The EU Commission adopted Monday rules for implementing the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (‘FSR'). The Implementing Regulation details procedural aspects of the implementation of the FSR.

Commission invites offers for second joint gas purchasing — 07 July 2023, 21:58 CET

The European Commission invited 'reliable international gas suppliers' to submit offers Friday under the second EU joint gas purchasing tender, which runs from 7 July to 10 July.

Sustainability, wellbeing at heart of Europe's 'Open Strategic Autonomy' — 06 July 2023, 21:42 CET

Sustainability and people's wellbeing should be at the heart of Europe's strategic foresight, the European Commission said on Thursday in its 2023 Strategic Foresight Report.

EU's transition to circular economy behind schedule — 04 July 2023, 22:21 CET

EU measures and billions of euros spent have had little impact on EU countries' transition to a circular economy, according to a report published Monday by the European Court of Auditors.

EU payment services update to boost fintech innovation — 03 July 2023, 00:31 CET

The EU Commission put forward proposals Wednesday to modernise payments services and the financial sector to include enhanced protection for consumers making electronic payments in the EU.