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Business news and information from the European Union

Brussels welcomes speedier Facebook, Twitter responses to hate speech — 06 February 2019, 18:34 CET

89 per cent of flagged content is removed by tech giants Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter within 24 hours and 72% of the content deemed to be illegal hate speech is removed, the EU reported on Monday.

New EU derivatives rules to reduce costs and regulatory burdens — 06 February 2019, 18:32 CET

The EU Parliament and states reached political agreement Tuesday on rules applying to non-financial counterparties, small financial counterparties and pension funds using financial derivative products.

EU imposes steel tariff-rate quotas from 2 Feb — 06 February 2019, 00:19 CET

The EU Commission imposed definitive safeguard measures on imports of steel products on Friday, taking effect on 2 February, and replacing the provisional ones in place since July 2018.

EU company law set to go digital — 06 February 2019, 00:18 CET

EU co-legislators agreed Monday on new rules to make it easier to establish a business electronically and promote online operations throughout a company's lifecycle through the use of digital tools.

EU-Japan free trade zone opens for business — 04 February 2019, 17:01 CET

The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement entered into force on 1 February, allowing businesses and consumers across Europe and in Japan to take advantage of the largest open trade zone in the world.

EU mulls options for a more sustainable Europe by 2030 — 04 February 2019, 16:02 CET

A Reflection Paper published Wednesday by the EU Commission looks at options to deliver the Union's commitment on UN Sustainable Development Goals, including on the Paris climate change agreement.

EU urges tech giants to step up fight against fake news — 31 January 2019, 23:17 CET

The EU Commission called on tech giants including Google, Facebook and Twitter Tuesday to intensify their efforts to crack down on disinformation in the run up to the 2019 European elections.

New EU property regime for international couples in force — 31 January 2019, 21:17 CET

New EU regulations establishing clear rules applicable to property regimes for international married couples or registered partnerships in cases of divorce or death apply as of Tuesday.

CETA investor dispute system 'compatible with EU law' — 30 January 2019, 21:05 CET

The investment dispute mechanism of the free trade agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA) is compatible with EU law, an advocate-general of the EU Court said Wednesday in an Opinion.

EU agrees provisional deal to strengthen consumer rights online — 29 January 2019, 23:16 CET

The EU institutions reached a draft deal Tuesday on new rules to make it easier and safer to buy and sell both goods and digital content across borders - including software, streaming or game downloads.

EU states agree better protection for whistleblowers — 29 January 2019, 21:30 CET

The EU is moving towards guaranteeing a high level protection to whistleblowers across a wide range of sectors, following agreement Friday by EU states' ambassadors.

Erasmus+ pivotal role in building inclusive Europe — 28 January 2019, 12:18 CET

More people than ever before are taking part in the Erasmus+ student exchange programme, the number of projects supported continues to grow, and the programme is becoming more inclusive, says a report.

EU agrees better work-life balance for parents and carers — 28 January 2019, 12:17 CET

The EU institutions reached a provisional agreement Friday on a proposal to improve access for working parents to work-life balance arrangements such as leaves and flexible working arrangements.

No backstop, no consent to UK Withdrawal Agreement, say MEPs — 28 January 2019, 12:17 CET

MEPs made clear Thursday that the European Parliament would not give its consent to a UK Withdrawal Agreement which did not include the backstop-insurance against a hard border in Ireland.

EU-Japan data sharing agreement comes into effect — 24 January 2019, 22:31 CET

The EU Commission adopted Wednesday an 'adequacy decision' which allows personal data to flow freely between the European Union and Japan on the basis of strong protection guarantees.

Austria's Good Friday law discriminatory: EU Court — 24 January 2019, 20:59 CET

Austria's granting of a paid public holiday on Good Friday only to employees who are members of certain churches constitutes religious discrimination prohibited under EU law, the EU's top Court has ruled.

EU fines Mastercard EUR 570m for breaking antitrust rules — 24 January 2019, 00:12 CET

The EU Commission fined Mastercard EUR 570 million Tuesday for breaching EU antitrust rules, by preventing merchants finding better conditions with by banks established elsewhere in the Single Market.

EU highlights risks attached to investors' residence schemes — 24 January 2019, 00:12 CET

Investor citizenship and residence schemes operated by some European states imply a number of risks for the EU, including money laundering, tax evasion and corruption, says an EU report Wednesday.

Commission is circular economy champion: WEF — 23 January 2019, 23:38 CET

The EU Commission received the 2019 Circular Economy prize at the World Economic Forum Monday, in recognition of its work to accelerate the EU's transition towards a circular economy.

EU's ePrescriptions programme gets first roll out in Estonia — 22 January 2019, 21:22 CET

Finnish patients were for the first time able to go to a pharmacy in Estonia and retrieve medicines prescribed electronically by their doctor in Finland, in a trial under the EU ePrescriptions programme.

Brussels adopts negotiating mandates for trade deal with the United States — 22 January 2019, 20:46 CET

The EU Commission adopted Friday proposals for negotiating directives for its trade talks with the United States: one on conformity assessment, and one on the elimination of tariffs for industrial goods.

European AI platform launches with EUR 20m EU funding — 18 January 2019, 01:32 CET

The EU's AI4EU artificial intelligence project officially launched Thursday with a view to mobilising Europe's AI community to build the first European on-demand Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform.

MEPs propose to improve EU approval procedure for pesticides — 18 January 2019, 00:51 CET

The EU Parliament put forward plans Wednesday to make the EU approval procedure of pesticides more transparent and accountable, including granting the public access to studies used in authorisation.

'Blame Brussels' culture must end: European Ombudsman — 17 January 2019, 23:12 CET

Europe's Ombudsman called Thursday for an end to the culture of EU states being able to blame 'Brussels' because of a lack of transparency and accountability of national governments' legislative work.

States who violate rule of law could lose EU funds, say MEPs — 17 January 2019, 23:09 CET

Governments who interfere with courts or fail to tackle fraud and corruption will risk suspension of EU funds, according to a draft law endorsed by the European Parliament on Thursday.