EU web links

A collection of links to web sites of the European Union institutions and other European business web sites.

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New common agricultural policy: 2023-27 — 07 December 2021, 23:46 CET

On 2 December, 2021, the agreement on reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) was formally adopted. The new legislation, which is due to begin in 2023, paves the way for a fairer, greener and more performance-based CAP. It will seek to ensure a sustainable future for European farmers, provide more targeted support to smaller farms, and allow greater flexibility for EU countries to adapt measures to local conditions.

EU rules on waste shipments — 18 November 2021, 22:35 CET

EU rules on transporting waste within and beyond EU borders, to protect the environment and public health.

EU Energy prices — 14 October 2021, 18:01 CET

In the EU, each EU country can decide its own energy mix, but it has to follow the rules of the internal EU energy market and take into consideration the EU's climate ambitions. The primary objective of a well-functioning market is to foster a secure supply of energy, produced as sustainably as possible, at affordable prices. The EU energy sector responds to market forces so that energy companies strive to be as competitive as possible.

Fruit and vegetables market observatory — 06 October 2021, 17:56 CET

The aim of the EU fruit and vegetables market observatory is to provide the EU fruit and vegetables sector with more transparency by means of disseminating market data and short-term analysis in a timely manner. The market observatory has an expert group, which is divided in four subgroups on pip fruit, citrus fruit, stone fruit and tomatoes.

Wine market observatory — 06 October 2021, 17:50 CET

The aim of the EU wine market observatory is to provide the EU wine sector with more transparency by means of disseminating market data and short-term analysis in a timely manner. Dashboards and reports display statistical data and the evolution of wine production and consumption on the European market over time.

Combating antisemitism — 05 October 2021, 17:41 CET

EU activities to combat antisemitism including remembrance, education, and legislation

National holidays in Austria — 21 September 2021, 14:33 CET

National holidays in Austria from world-calendar.com

European Green Deal — 13 July 2021, 20:57 CET

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal will transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, ensuring: no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050; economic growth decoupled from resource use; no person and no place left behind. The European Green Deal is also seen as Europe's lifeline out of the COVID-19 pandemic. One third of the 1.8 trillion euro investments from the NextGenerationEU Recovery Plan, and the EU’s seven-year budget will finance the European Green Deal.

VAT — 28 June 2021, 22:09 CET

The application of VAT is decided by national tax authorities but there are some standard EU rules, which are explained on this European Commission website. Check basic VAT rules in each EU country, and consult a Tax information Communication database.

Medical Devices Regulation — 26 May 2021, 18:13 CET

Regulation (EU) 2017/745 is a regulation of the European Union on the clinical investigation and sale of medical devices for human use. It repeals Directive 93/42/EEC, which concerns medical devices, and Directive 90/385/EEC, which concerns active implantable medical devices, on 26 May 2021.

EU Immigration Portal — 18 May 2021, 18:44 CET

At the EU Immigration Portal, you can find practical information about coming to work or study in the EU for more than 90 days and on how to join your family in the EU. If you already are in the EU and you would like to know more about your rights or you would like to move from one EU country to another, you can also find relevant information on this Portal.

Just Transition Fund — 26 April 2021, 23:40 CET

The 'Just Transition Fund' supports the economic diversification and reconversion of the territories concerned. This means backing productive investments in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, creation of new firms, research and innovation, environmental rehabilitation, clean energy, up- and reskilling of workers, job-search assistance and active inclusion of jobseekers programmes, as well as the transformation of existing carbon-intensive installations when these investments lead to substantial emission cuts and job protection.

Recovery and Resilience Facility — 10 February 2021, 14:10 CET

The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the key instrument at the heart of NextGenerationEU to help the EU emerge stronger and more resilient from the current crisis. The Facility will make EUR 672.5 billion in loans and grants available to support reforms and investments undertaken by Member States. The aim is to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic and make European economies and societies more sustainable, resilient and better prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the green and digital transitions.

European Electronic Communication Code — 04 February 2021, 16:11 CET

The EU Electronic Communications Code (EECC) is a new directive consolidating and reforming the framework for the regulation of electronic communications services and networks across the EEA. Member states had to adapt their existing telecommunications regulations in accordance with the EECC by 2020 - Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (Recast)Text with EEA relevance.

EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement — 01 February 2021, 16:15 CET

The EU and Japan's Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2019. Together the EU and Japan make up for a quarter of the world's GDP and bilateral trade reaches some EUR 170 billion a year. The trade agreement with Japan: removes tariffs and other trade barriers and creates a platform to cooperate in order to prevent obstacles to trade; and helps the EU shape global trade rules in line with its standards and shared values, and sends a powerful signal that two of the world's biggest economies reject protectionism.

Euroscola — 19 January 2021, 23:40 CET

The European Parliament set up the Euroscola project in 1990, thus allowing hundreds of thousands of high-school students to participate in a simulation exercise of the work of MEPs.

SME definition — 11 January 2021, 23:10 CET

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 99 per cent of all businesses in the European Union. The definition of an SME is seen as important for access to finance and EU support programmes targeted specifically at these enterprises.

Draft EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement — 26 December 2020, 15:27 CET

On 24 December 2020, the European Union and the United Kingdom reached an agreement in principle on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

GI view - Search for Geographical Indications across the European Union and beyond — 26 November 2020, 17:28 CET

GIview is a modern user interface portal on geographical indications (GIs). It offers the public in general, as well as specific interested parties (e.g. producers, trade mark and other IP rights holders, enforcement authorities, public administration examiners), comprehensive information on all GIs protected within the EU (including non-EU countries’ GIs protected at EU level through bilateral and multilateral agreements), as well as on EU GIs protected in non-EU countries.

Access2Markets - Exporting from the EU, importing into the EU — 16 November 2020, 21:24 CET

Product-by-product information on tariffs & taxes; customs procedures; rules of origin; trade barriers; product requirements; statistics for all EU countries and for more than 120 export markets around the world.

2021-2027 long-term EU budget & Next Generation EU — 11 November 2020, 22:18 CET

On 10 November 2020, the European Parliament and EU Member States in the Council reached a historic agreement on the next long-term budget and NextGenerationEU, the temporary recovery instrument. Once adopted, the package of a total of €1.8 trillion will be the largest package ever financed through the EU budget. It will help rebuild a post-COVID-19 Europe, which will be greener, more digital, more resilient and better fit for the current and forthcoming challenges.

EU Agency for Railways — 30 October 2020, 23:16 CET

The EU Agency for Railways is mandated to issue single safety certificates and vehicle (type) authorisations valid in multiple European countries and to ensure an interoperable European Rail Traffic Management System, in the development and implementation of the Single European Railway Area.

Single European Sky — 22 September 2020, 17:19 CET

Since 2004, the European Union (EU) has gained competences in air traffic management (ATM) and the decision-making process has moved away from an intergovernmental practice to the EU framework. The EU’s main objective is to reform ATM in Europe in order to cope with sustained air traffic growth and operations under the safest, most cost- and flight-efficient and environmentally friendly conditions.

Geographical indications and traditional specialities — 14 September 2020, 22:01 CET

EU quality policy aims at protecting the names of specific products to promote their unique characteristics, linked to their geographical origin as well as traditional know-how. Product names can be granted with a 'geographical indication' (GI) if they have a specific link to the place where they are made. The GI recognition enables consumers to trust and distinguish quality products while also helping producers to market their products better.

Strategic Foresight — 09 September 2020, 16:43 CET

Foresight is the discipline of exploring, anticipating and shaping the future to help building and using collective intelligence in a structured, systematic and systemic way to anticipate developments. Strategic foresight, on the other hand, seeks to embed foresight into European Union policy-making. Strategic Foresight will: anticipate trends, emerging issues, and their potential implications and opportunities in order to draw useful insights for strategic planning, policy-making and preparedness; inform the design of new initiatives and the review of existing ones in line with the revamped Commission Better Regulation toolbox; build collective intelligence in a structured and systematic way to better develop possible transition pathways, prepare the EU to withstand shocks and shape the future we want.