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Business news and information from the European Union

EU auditors review innovation support for SMEs — 11 April 2019, 23:27 CET

The European Court of Auditors is conducting an audit of EU's innovation support scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including start-ups, it announced Thursday.

EU maps out road to climate neutrality by 2050 — 11 April 2019, 12:13 CET

The EU Commission reported progress on the Energy Union Tuesday, particularly its action plan on batteries, and setting out a path to more efficient and democratic decision making in EU energy and climate policy.

EU, China to cooperate on WTO reform after 'honest' talks — 11 April 2019, 12:13 CET

The European and China agreed at a summit Tuesday to deepen the EU-China strategic partnership, cooperate on WTO reform and intensify talks to strengthen international rules on industrial subsidies.

EU sets out guidelines for ethical articial intelligence — 09 April 2019, 23:41 CET

Based on work of a group of independent experts, the EU Commission launched Monday a pilot phase to ensure that ethical guidelines for Artificial Intelligence (AI) development and use can be implemented in practice.

Half dangerous goods coming to EU made in China: report — 09 April 2019, 23:41 CET

More than half of all dangerous products detected by the EU's 'Safety Gate for dangerous products' came from China, according to the European Commission's 2018 report released Friday.

Final approval for new EU rules to reconcile work and family life — 09 April 2019, 00:03 CET

New rules on paternity leave and non-transferable parental leave, given final approval by MEPs on Thursday, strengthen the role of a father and boost women’s representation in the workplace.

Non-EU gas pipelines set to come under EU law — 08 April 2019, 00:03 CET

Pipelines entering the EU from non-EU countries will come under EU law, including competition rules, following the EU Parliament's approval Wednesday of new gas market rules providing legal clarity for operators.

EU opens infringement procedure against Poland over judicial independence — 05 April 2019, 00:12 CET

The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Poland Wednesday, citing the aim of protecting Polish judges from political control. The Polish government has 2 months to reply.

EU invests EUR 4 bn in large infrastructure projects — 03 April 2019, 00:06 CET

EUR 4 billion of EU funds is to be invested in 25 large infrastructure projects - in areas such as transport, research, environment and energy - in 10 Member States, the Commission announced Tuesday.

EU launches ICT, pharma cases against India, Turkey at WTO — 02 April 2019, 22:26 CET

The EU brought two disputes in the World Trade Organisation against India and Turkey Tuesday, respectively targeting unlawful import duties on IT products and unlawful measures on pharmaceuticals.

MEPs back plans to reform EU agriculture — 02 April 2019, 21:08 CET

MEPs in committee voted Monday and Tuesday on farm policy reform plans including rules for direct payments and rural development and the common market organisation in agricultural products after 2020.

EU welcomes WTO Boeing ruling against US — 29 March 2019, 11:22 CET

The EU has welcomed the World Trade Organisation's ruling Thursday which it says vindicates the EU position that the United States has taken no steps to comply with WTO rules on support to Boeing.

German energy law did not involve state aid: EU Court — 29 March 2019, 00:16 CET

A German law that gave support to businesses producing electricity from renewable energy sources did not involve state aid, the EU Court said Thursday in a ruling annulling the Commission decision.

EU seals deal to ban single-use plastics — 28 March 2019, 23:36 CET

The EU Parliament gave its green light Wednesday to measures to tackle marine litter, targeting 10 single-use plastic products most often found on Europe's beaches, as well as abandoned fishing gear.

Brussels seeks common approach to 5G security threats — 28 March 2019, 23:35 CET

The EU Commission recommended a common EU approach to 5G security Tuesday, setting out measures to ensure 5G infrastructures are resilient and secure from technical or legal 'backdoors'.

Speed limiters to be mandatory in EU cars from 2022 — 28 March 2019, 23:08 CET

Safety features such as speed limiters and advanced emergency-braking systems would need to be installed in new vehicles from May 2022, under Tuesday's provisional agreement by the EU institutions.

EU to invest EUR 421m in smart, green transport projects — 28 March 2019, 12:32 CET

The EU Commission is proposing investment of EUR 421 million in projects promoting digitalisation and fostering intelligent, safe and sustainable finance transport infrastructure projects in Europe.

MEPs vote to end daylight saving time from 2021 — 27 March 2019, 18:56 CET

2021 could be the last year with a seasonal time change in the EU following the European Parliament's vote Tuesday to end the practice of adjusting clocks by an hour in spring and autumn.

Euro-MPs pass controversial Internet copyright law — 27 March 2019, 18:55 CET

The EU Parliament approved new Internet copyright rules Tuesday, giving Internet platforms liability content users upload, and journalists a share of copyright-related revenue obtained by their news publisher.

EU slaps EUR 12.5m antitrust fine on Nike — 27 March 2019, 00:54 CET

The EU Commission fined Nike EUR 12.5 million Monday for banning traders from selling the licensed merchandise of some of Europe's best-known football clubs to other countries within the EEA.

As May loses control of Brexit, EU completes 'no-deal' preparations — 26 March 2019, 00:35 CET

With the UK set to leave the EU without a deal on 12 April, despite unprecedented moves Monday by the British Parliament to take control of Brexit proceedings, the Commission completed 'no-deal' preparations.

Google hit with EUR 1.49 bn EU fine for antitrust advertising practices — 22 March 2019, 01:15 CET

The EU Commission fined Google EUR 1.49 billion Wednesday for breaching EU antitrust rules, saying restrictive clauses in its ads contracts with websites prevented rivals placing search adverts on those websites.

'Fairer rules' on social security agreed for workers abroad — 22 March 2019, 01:10 CET

The EU institutions came to a provisional agreement Wednesday on new rules to ensure 'fair and clear' access to social security benefits for EU workers who have moved to a different EU country.

EU agrees Brexit 'cliff-edge' delay, with conditions — 22 March 2019, 01:09 CET

After lengthy debate at a summit in Brussels Thursday, EU leaders agreed a short Article 50 extension till 12 April, or 22 May if the UK Parliament approves Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement next week.

EU ecodesign and energy labels under auditors' scrutiny — 20 March 2019, 18:35 CET

The European Court of Auditors said Wednesday it is assessing the contribution EU measures for ecodesign and the energy labelling of products make to EU energy efficiency and environmental objectives.