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Business news and information from the European Union

EU promises 'maximum transparency' in scientific food safety studies

EU ministers gave the green light Thursday to ending secrecy around scientific studies on food safety, with requirements for transparency in scientific information to support risk assessment in the food chain.

EU cites Russian interference in European elections

The EU Commission said Friday it had found evidence of coordinated behaviour to spread disinformation in the run-up to the recent European elections, particularly from Russian sources.

EU blocks ThyssenKrupp-Tata Steel joint venture

The EU Commission gave the thumbs down Tuesday to a proposed joint venture between major steelmakers Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp, saying it would have reduced competition and increased prices.

Euro drop hits cost of living for Europeans in USA

Europe now accounts for less than a fifth (19 per cent) of the world’s most expensive cities, with 11 European cities dropping out of the top 100, according to ECA International's latest Cost of Living report.

New EU shareholders' rights rules enter into force

The new Shareholder Rights Directive, which entered into force on Monday, addresses corporate governance shortcomings that contributed to the financial crisis, says the EU Commission.

Safeguards for children in criminal proceedings apply across the EU

New rules and guarantees in criminal proceedings apply across the EU from Tuesday, when a directive on special safeguards for children starts to apply.

Europe's bathing waters get mostly clean bill of health

Just over 85 per cent of bathing water sites monitored across Europe last year met the EU's highest 'excellent' and most stringent quality standards for water cleanliness, says its annual bathing water report.

Cocaine seizures in Europe hit all-time high: EU drugs report

Seizures of cocaine are at record levels in Europe, with signs of an increase in the drug's availability, according to the European Drug Report released by the EU's drugs agency on Thursday.

More wind, solar power needed if EU is to meet renewables targets

The EU needs to take significant action to generate more electricity from wind and solar power and meet its targets on renewables, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors, out Thursday.

Italy set for EU reprimand over excessive debt

An Excessive Deficit Procedure is warranted against Italy over its rising debt, the European Commission said Wednesday in its 'Spring Package' recommendations for EU Member States' economies.

Cross-border healthcare in EU not living up to high ambitions: report

Better management is needed if the EU wants to deliver on the ambitions of its cross-border healthcare directive, aimed at ensuring safe, high-quality medical care across borders in the EU, says a report.

Albania, N. Macedonia ready for accession talks, says EU

The EU Council should open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, the Commission recommended Wednesday in its annual assessment of reforms in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

Europe's leaders take stock of Euro-election results

The European Union's leaders met at a summit Tuesday to take stock of the weekend's European election results and to kick off the nomination process for new heads of the EU institutions.

Euro-elections shake up Europe's political establishment

Europe's voters delivered a shake-up message in the European Parliament elections Monday, with strong results for the far-right in France and the Greens in Germany, as well as the Brexit party in the UK.

Europe goes to the polls

Three days of Europe-wide elections for the European Parliament got under way Thursday with voters in the Netherlands and also, finally, the United Kingdom going to the polls.The count starts Sunday.

Brussels aims for price transparency in food chain

After bans on unfair trading practices and better producer cooperation, the EU Commission made proposals Wednesday for greater transparency in the way prices are reported throughout the food chain.

Brussels signs landmark aviation agreements with China

The EU strengthened aviation relations with China Monday, signing an agreement on civil aviation safety and a horizontal aviation agreement in a boost for EU trade in aircraft and related products.

EU approves unprecedented cuts to single-use plastics

EU ministers gave final approval Tuesday to new laws to tackle marine litter coming from single-use plastic products found on European beaches, as well as abandoned fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics.

Track & trace system bolsters EU fight against illicit tobacco trade

A new system of tobacco traceability became operational in Europe Monday, with the first EU producers requesting and receiving traceability markings for cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco products.

Banks fined over EUR 1bn for foreign exchange cartel

The EU Commission fined five banks - Barclays, RBS, Citigroup, JPMorgan and MUFG - EUR 1.07 billion Thursday for taking part in two cartels in the Spot Foreign Exchange market for 11 currencies.

EU launches citizens' initiative to save the bees

The European Commission decided Wednesday to register a European Citizens' Initiative entitled ‘Save the bees! Protection of biodiversity and improvement of habitats for insects in Europe'.

Brussels launches new tool to crack down on VAT fraud

A new system to help EU countries crack down on VAT fraud, launched Wednesday by the European Commission, allows EU Member States to rapidly exchange and jointly process VAT data.

Price caps introduced on international calls within the EU

A new maximum price for all international calls and SMS within the EU applies from 15 May, when consumers calling another EU country will pay a maximum amount of 19 cents per minute (+VAT).

InBev fined EUR 200m for breaching EU antitrust rules

The EU Commission fined Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's biggest beer brewer, some EUR 200 million Monday for breaching EU antitrust rules through its actions in hampering cross-border sales of beer.

EU leaders discuss future of Europe after Brexit

With the European Parliament elections only two weeks away, EU leaders met at a summit Thursday to begin a discussion on what sort of EU future they want to build if and when Brexit finally takes place.