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Business news and information from the European Union

Tusk cements EU-Ukraine partnership, urges unity — 13 July 2017, 21:56 CET

The EU cemented its partnership with Ukraine at a summit Thursday, as Council president Donald Tusk urged the country to keep 'your unity at any cost, and avoid like the plague internal conflicts.'

EU finance ministers approve plan for bad loans — 13 July 2017, 13:58 CET

EU finance ministers at their Council meeting Wednesday approved an action plan to address the problem of non-performing loans in the banking sector, to reduce stocks and prevent their future emergence.

Muskrat, alligator weed added to EU alien species list — 12 July 2017, 23:45 CET

The muskrat and alligator weed were among 12 new species added to the European Commission's list of invasive alien species that require action across the EU, part of EU efforts to halt biodiversity loss.

Experts propose simpler access to EU funds — 11 July 2017, 15:52 CET

Faced with the prospect of Brexit and a diminishing EU Budget, a group of independent Cohesion Policy experts presented its final report Tuesday for a simplified EU funds framework after 2020.

EU and Japan reach agreement on historic free trade deal — 09 July 2017, 23:52 CET

On the eve of the G20 summit, EU and Japanese leaders announced Thursday a political agreement on the EU-Japan free trade deal and closer political cooperation based on shared values.

Paris climate agreement irreversible, rest of world tells Trump — 09 July 2017, 23:51 CET

Leaders of the non U.S. G20 members confirmed Saturday that the Paris Agreement is irreversible and endorsed the G20 Hamburg climate and energy action plan for growth.

Merck, GE and Canon in EU dock over merger rules — 06 July 2017, 22:28 CET

The European Commission sent three separate Statements of Objections to Merck and Sigma-Aldrich, General Electric and Canon Thursday alleging they breached EU merger rules.

Brussels approves Peugeot acquisition of Opel — 06 July 2017, 12:35 CET

The European Commission gave its unconditional approval to the acquisition of Opel by Peugeot Wednesday, concluding that the transaction raised no competition concerns in the relevant markets.

MEPs greenlight tougher anti-dumping rules — 06 July 2017, 12:35 CET

The European Parliament gave its green light Wednesday to start talks soon with national governments on new EU anti-dumping rules designed to give better protection to EU industry and jobs.

Brussels registers 'Stop TTIP' citizen initiative — 05 July 2017, 21:00 CET

A European Citizens' Initiative to stop the EU negotiating mandate for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and the CETA trade deal with Canada was accepted Wednesday by the EU Commission.

MEPs back new tax disclosure rules for multinationals — 05 July 2017, 20:56 CET

Members of the European Parliament gave their backing Wednesday to new rules to force large firms to make information about the tax bills they pay on a country-by-country basis publicly available.

EU Parliament calls for longer lifetime for products — 04 July 2017, 23:45 CET

Europe's Parliament called on the Commission, Member States and producers Tuesday to take measures to ensure consumers can enjoy durable, high-quality products that can be repaired and upgraded.

Brussels launches social security information system — 04 July 2017, 17:02 CET

The EU Commission launched Monday a new IT platform that will connect electronically around 15,000 social security institutions of EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

EU Court delivers another blow to Uber service — 04 July 2017, 16:42 CET

Uber, the taxi app for smartphones, again found itself on the wrong side of the EU's top Court Tuesday when its Advocate-General said France could ban it for "illegal exercise of transport activities".

Tiny Estonia takes over EU presidency — 03 July 2017, 23:59 CET

Estonia's first EU presidency began on 1 July with a focus on an innovative European economy, safety and security, digital Europe and free movement of data, and an inclusive and sustainable Europe.

Carcinogens at work: EU Council, Parliament reach agreement — 29 June 2017, 22:54 CET

The EU presidency and European Parliament reached a provisional agreement Wednesday on a new directive to help protect workers from exposure to carcinogens or mutagens in the workplace.

EU launches action to tackle antimicrobial resistance — 29 June 2017, 22:36 CET

The European Commission launched Thursday a new EU action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance - a growing threat responsible for 25,000 deaths and a loss of EUR 1.5 billion in the EU every year.

Brussels announces portable EU pension plan — 29 June 2017, 18:23 CET

The EU Commission announced plans Thursday for a new class of pan-European pension products, allowing European consumers to benefit from more choice when saving for retirement.

Green light for new EU rules on organic farming — 29 June 2017, 00:05 CET

After 20 months of discussion, EU Parliament and Council negotiators reached an informal agreement Wednesday on an overhaul of existing EU rules on organic production and labelling of organic products.

European Union mulls future finance post-Brexit — 29 June 2017, 00:04 CET

In its fifth reflection paper on the future of the European Union, published Wednesday, the Commission looks at options for financing the EU budget following the departure of the United Kingdom.

EU extends sanctions on Russia for another six months — 28 June 2017, 22:53 CET

The EU Council agreed a formal extension of economic sanctions on Russia Wednesday, targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy Wednesday, until 31 January 2018.

Google fined EUR 2.4 bn for breaching EU antitrust rules — 28 June 2017, 18:13 CET

The European Commission fined Google EUR 2.42 billion Tuesday for giving an illegal advantage to the U.S. search giant's own comparison shopping service, thus breaching EU antitrust rules.

New EU insolvency rules enter in force — 27 June 2017, 22:21 CET

New rules on cross-border insolvency proceedings, first proposed in 2012 and adopted by EU legislators in 2015 to facilitate debt recovery, entered into force throughout the European Union on Monday.

Ministers make limited progress on energy efficiency — 27 June 2017, 16:58 CET

EU ministers agreed reduced energy efficiency targets Monday, of 30 per cent by 2030, as well as what has been termed an 'unambitious' revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Trade barriers on the increase, says EU — 27 June 2017, 13:29 CET

The "scourge of protectionism" is on the rise, the European Commission warned on Monday as it released a report detailing a 10 per cent increase in obstacles currently hindering European exports.