EU Business Blogs | EUbusiness.com
Priority to the digital single market
The Digital Single Market was earmarked as one of the Juncker Commission's top priorities, and this week it duly set out detailed plans to create a Digital Single Market, with set of targeted actions which are scheduled to be delivered by the end of next year.
Jobs, car safety, biofuels and plastic bags - all in a day's work at the European Parliament
Who says Euro-MPs don't do much or what they do has little relation to, or impact on, real life? Certainly nobody who attended their plenary session in Strasbourg this week, where their agenda was full with a number of important issues that affect us all.
EU trademark deal welcome step forward for SMEs
It has taken two years of inter-institutional discussions, but on Tuesday the EU's Latvian Presidency reached provisional political agreement with European Parliament representatives on reform of the European trade mark system.
Are EU charges of unfair practices against Google fair?
Internet giant Google again came under EU fire this week when the European Commission formally charged it with abusing the dominance of its search engine, while at the same time launching a sensitive probe into its omnipresent Android mobile phone operating system.
EU reviews its policy towards its eastern neighbours
Ukraine and Russia were topics of this week in the European Union, with the Europe's Parliament approving huge financial assistance to Ukraine, while the Commission published country reports on implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy.
EU Budget 2016 debate gets under way
The EU got down to preparing plans for next year's budget this week, with the European Parliament targeting growth, solidarity and paying the bills as priorities for the EU Budget 2016.
EU gender equality has some way to go
The eve of International Women's Day (8 March) is a good moment to assess the challenges that remain in tackling gender inequalities across the EU.
Infringements day at the EC
Wednesday was infringements day at the European Commission, a monthly occasion, when the Commission announces the various infringements proceedings it is setting in motion, and including legal actions it is taking against some Member States for failing to comply properly with their obligations under EU law.
Roadmap for a Capital Markets Union
The building blocks of the European Commission's 'Investment Plan for Europe' began to form this week, with the aim of unlocking funding for EU businesses and boosting growth with the creation of a true single market for capital.
Caps on inter-bank fees for card payments good for consumers, good for retailers
It's taken a long time, but the European Parliament and the Council have finally agreed a deal on a regulation to cap interchange fees for card-based payments.
New lobbyists' transparency register has yet to live up to its name
The EU Transparency Register, re-launched this week by the Commission and European Parliament, is another positive step on the way to true transparency, but it has yet to live up to its name.
Latvia presidency looks for progress in key areas
Latvia has already outlined the broad priorities for its presidency of the European Union: competitive, digital and engaged Europe. This week, the country's ministers came to the European Parliament, and gave Euro-MPs in committee some details about some of the items of new legislation and initiatives we can expect over the next few months.
European year of Development 2015
One of the priorities of Latvia in its six-month stint as EU president is to strengthen Europe as a global actor. It is entirely appropriate that 2015 has been designated as the European Year of Development.
Europe declares solidarity against attack on fundamental values
EU flags flew at half-mast on Thursday as officials from the European Council, the Commission and Parliament expressed their solidarity with the victims of this week's murderous attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris.
Allergy sufferers and fussy eaters to benefit from clearer food labelling from this weekend
The provision of food information to consumers takes a major step forward in the EU this weekend, with a new mandatory food labelling system heading for Europe's supermarket shelves and restaurants.
Latvia readies for its first EU presidency
This week Latvia's Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma and members of the Latvian government visited the European Commission in Brussels to discuss the priorities of Latvia's upcoming Presidency of the EU.
Boost for EU transparency, but the Commission has further to go
A boost to transparency in the European Union was promised this week, when the European Commission committed to publishing information about its meetings with lobbyists, as well as providing more access to documents relating to the ongoing talks with the United States for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Transatlantic trade talks: what is the problem?
This week, Europe's Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem attempted to breath new life into the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership talks that have run into opposition particularly as regards one of the deal's most controversial components.
Cameron's anti-EU stance gets a bashing
The gloves came off when the new European Commission took office this week, with Britain, or at least its prime minister David Cameron, taking some hefty blows.
EU budgets a touchy topic
This week marks the last in the Barroso II Commission, and last week's summit was supposed to be a calm transition summit to a new regime at the EU's helm. Instead the stand-out topic of the summit, and of this last week, has been budgets, EU and national.
Michael Ter-Berg, Director
Nick Prag, Founder, EUbusiness