Commission fines Qualcomm €242 million over predatory pricing
EU antitrust authority fined €242 million Qualcomm due to the application of predatory prices, resulting in a breach of competition law, Commissioner Margrethe Vestager announced on Thursday (18 July).
The Brief, powered by BP – Time for New Democracy to apologise
Realpolitik can be tricky. It often makes politicians go back on things they had promised before taking office. Greece's newly-elected centre-right government is a case in point. It’s high time they apologised for their stance on the North Macedonia name change deal.
Air traffic control chief: Humans will always be in the loop
Air traffic management is the focus of some serious EU-funded research and development. The aim of much of the work is to improve its efficiency and win gains like improved safety and smaller carbon footprint. One of the main figures behind the project explained it to EURACTIV.
Germany and Italy’s migration schemes are simply ways to avoid uncomfortable truths
The issue of migrants entering Europe will dominate Parliament in its upcoming session, but the proposals already put forward are simple remakes of previously failed plans for the migrant crisis, said Faisal Al Yafai, who contributed this op-ed for the Syndication Bureau, an opinion and analysis article syndication service that focuses exclusively on the Middle East.
Greek government picks Margaritis Schinas for EU Commissioner
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has picked the current European Commission chief spokesperson as Greece's next EU Commissioner, Greek media reported. EURACTIV predicted this nomination on 16 July.
Digital Brief: von der Leyen’s tech stance
Speaking ahead of the vote on Tuesday, von der Leyen said that she stands for "fair taxes" in the industry and that "it is not acceptable" that tech behemoths make profits and "play our tax system," adding that "if they want to benefit, they have to share the burden."
Hungary and Ukraine exchange warnings over Transcarpathia
Tensions have worsened between Budapest and Kyiv over a Ukrainian language law, which Hungary considers hostile to its minority population in the Transcarpathia region
CDU party chief enters testing grounds as she takes up defence minister post
In a surprising turn of events, the leader of the German Christian Democrats (CDU), Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, was appointed Germany's new defence minister. While the opposition is unhappy, observers are wondering whether she will do a good job, given that she had opposed to take cabinet responsibility until recently. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Ukraine vows to enhance customs collaboration with EU to tackle smuggling
The Ukrainian government has adopted new legislation to strengthen customs cooperation with the European Union in order to better combat corruption and smuggling, including tobacco products, the Mission of Ukraine to the EU has told EURACTIV.
Oil tanker investments at risk from climate action, report says
Strong action on climate change would shrink demand for vessels by a third, impacting investment decisions being made now, analysts say. EURACTIV’s partner Climate Home News reports.
With fraudulent practices on Europe’s energy refurbishment market, national market authorities are needed!
Public decision-makers want to see progress on the energy refurbishment market. This means that EU member states need to take measures to enable the emergence of energy transition operators.
Signed, sealed, delivered: Important files closed by Romania
Romania’s EU presidency was partly defined by factors beyond its control, such as the European elections and the ongoing Brexit issue. But the first-time Council chair still managed to do its job: broker agreements on EU legislation. Here are some of the most notable hits.
Paris pushes its pawns in race for key EU Commission jobs
France is eager to claim the position of Secretary-General at the European Commission that will be left vacant after the departure of Martin Selmayr at the end of July. But Emmanuel Macron's quest for control in Brussels could be met with opposition. EURACTIV France reports.
France eyes Selmayr’s post to balance German Commission presidency
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Von der Leyen vote may trigger snap elections in Italy
Italy's two ruling parties clashed on Wednesday (18 July) over the election of German Ursula von der Leyen as the next president of the European Commission in a vote that could endanger Rome's hopes of securing a top job in the new EU executive.
Greens want four EU Commission jobs in return for von der Leyen support
The Greens in the European Parliament have spelt out their conditions for backing future legislative proposals coming out of the new Commission that will take office on 1 November. EURACTIV's media partner Ouest-France reports.
US removing Turkey from F-35 program after its Russian missile defense purchase
The United States said on Wednesday (17 July) that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move long threatened and expected after Ankara began accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defense system last week.
Cables reveal how Britain tried to turn France against the euro in the 1990s
British diplomats tried to establish a "very private link" with former French president Jacques Chirac with the "unavowed aim" of exposing him to the risks of a European currency union, declassified documents revealed Thursday (17 July).
EU, Canada trade warm words at bilateral summit
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau launched the Canada-EU summit Wednesday (17 July) by praising the "progress" resulting from CETA, their free trade deal, while European Council president Donald Tusk called Ottawa the bloc's "closest transatlantic partner."
UK’s Johnson suggests EU would bear some blame for no-deal Brexit
Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to be Britain's next prime minister, suggested Wednesday (17 July) that the EU would bear some responsibility if he took his country out of the bloc without a divorce deal.
Commission opens investigation into Amazon’s handling of data
The European Commission decided on Wednesday (17 July) to launch an antitrust investigation into US online retailer Amazon over its use of merchants' data, in a case that could set a precedent.
The Brief, powered by BP – Building Ursula’s platform
The first question any candidate faces when running for office is why they decided to join the race. The second question is what platform of voters will help them get the job.
No Deal Brexit fears prompt financial market angst
The increasing prospect of a No Deal Brexit is prompting new concerns that there are still ‘substantial’ regulatory gaps between the EU and UK in parts of the financial services sector.