Headline

Restrict aid to companies with links to tax havens, says Brussels

The European Commission recommended Tuesday that EU Member States do not grant financial support to companies with links to countries that are on the EU's list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.

EU reach provisional agreement on consumer class actions

New rules on collective redress, agreed Wednesday by EU states, will enable consumers to seek effective judicial protection collectively when traders’ infringements of EU laws deprive them of their rights.

EU and UK agree new push for Brexit deal in July

EU leaders and British prime minister Boris Johnson agreed in a videoconference Monday to intensify Brexit talks in July to create the best conditions for concluding and ratifying a deal by the end of 2020.

MEPs greenlight new EU resources to fight coronavirus

The European Parliament gave its green light Friday to rapid implementation of a number of proposals for redirection of EU policy funds to address the effects of the coronavirus public health crisis.

EU offers Italy "heartfelt apology" over coronavirus

EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday expressed "a heartfelt apology" to Italy on behalf of Europe for not being at the country's side from the very beginning of the coronavirus crisis.

EU finds EUR 15.6 bn to support global effort against pandemic

The EU is to redirect from existing external resources financial support amounting to more than €15.6 billion to partner countries to help partner countries with their efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

EU medical teams deployed to Italy

A team of European doctors and nurses from Romania and Norway was despatched Tuesday via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to Milan and Bergamo to help Italian medical staff battling the coronavirus.

Brussels plans EUR 100 billion coronavirus solidarity fund

The EU Commission proposed Thursday to set up a EUR 100 bn coronavirus solidarity fund to help businesses stay afloat and workers keep incomes, and to redirect structural funds to coronavirus response.

EC scientists develop new control material to help prevent coronavirus test failures

Scientists at the EC's Joint European Research Centre have designed new control material that laboratories can use to check the correct functioning of their coronavirus tests and to avoid false negatives.

EU waives 'use it or lose it' slot rules for airlines

The EU gave the green light Monday to suspend until 24 October airport slot requirements which oblige airlines to use at least 80% of their take-off and landing slots, in order to keep them the following year.

Coronavirus equipment ready soon after joint EU procurement bid

The joint EU procurement of coronavirus personal protective equipment has been a success, says the European Commission, with equipment available two weeks after Member States sign contracts with the bidders.

'Green lanes' to speed up freight across EU borders

As the coronavirus pandemic continues major disruption to European transport, the EU Commission issued new practical advice Monday on how to keep freight moving across the EU during the current crisis.

EU shuts borders to non-essential travel for 30 days

EU leaders agreed in a video conference Tuesday that they would reinforce the EU's external borders by placing coordinated, temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU for a period of 30 days.

Coronavirus: EU set to relax state aid rules to support Europe's economy

The EU Commission sent a proposal to Member States Monday for a temporary state aid framework to support Europe's businesses in the context of the shocks the corona virus is causing to the economy.

Coronavirus: EU acts to prevent shortages

The EU Commission outlined new guidelines related to Coronavirus Monday, aiming to ensure the right treatment of people who have to travel and ensure essential goods and services remain available.

EU package to counter economic impact of Coronavirus

The EU set out Friday its response to the Coronavirus public health emergency with a package to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak, centred on a European coordinated response.

MEPs give EU-Vietnam trade deal the green light

The European Parliament approved Wednesday the EU-Vietnam trade agreement, described as the "most modern and ambitious agreement ever concluded between the EU and a developing country".

EU offers zero-tariff trade deal if UK keeps to commitment on 'level playing field'

The EU offered the UK a tariff-free trade deal Monday, so long as it kept to commitments it made in the Political Declaration to a 'level playing field' and preventing unfair competitive advantages.

Britain leaves the European Union

More than 45 years of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union came to an end on Saturday, as the UK's EU withdrawal agreement entered into force at midnight CET.

MEPs call for legally binding targets on biodiversity

The European Parliament called Thursday on the upcoming 2020 UN biodiversity conference COP 15 to agree on legally binding targets, as was the case for the Paris agreement on climate change.

New rules to boost crowdfunding across EU borders

The EU Parliament and Council reached provisional agreement Wednesday evening on EU-wide rules to help crowdfunding services function smoothly and foster cross-border business funding.

Unprecedented urgency of Europe's environmental challenge

A change of direction is urgently needed if Europe is to face climate challenges of 'unprecedented scale and urgency', the EU environment agency said in its 'State of the Environment' report, published Wednesday.

EU Parliament declares global climate emergency

The EU must commit to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at an upcoming UN Conference, the European Parliament said Thursday as it approved a resolution declaring a climate emergency in Europe and globally.

Go-ahead for 13 new EU defence projects

EU defence ministers gave the go-ahead Tuesday to an updated list of 13 new projects to be undertaken under the EU's new 'Permanent Structured Cooperation' defence structure (PESCO).

First Ebola vaccine receives European approval

The European Commission adopted a decision Tuesday granting the first-ever market authorisation to the company Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V. for a vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus.