Jorge Valero
Commission’s ‘stabilisation function’ very modest, says eurozone fiscal sheriff
The European Fiscal Board has discredited the Commission’s proposed fund to protect investment as “very modest”, “narrow” and not well designed, its chair Niels Thygesen said on Monday (18 June).
Eurogroup nears debt deal for Greek bail-out exit
Greece and its creditors are getting closer to a deal on a debt relief package to be sealed during the next Eurogroup meeting on 21 June, senior EU officials said on Wednesday (13 June).
Rutte rejects Commission’s new funds for monetary union
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Wednesday (13 June) the EU should use the tools that are already available to support reforms and protect the euro, in his latest criticism of proposals to deepen the bloc's integration.
Uber’s European chief: ‘Resetting the moral compass is part of our change’
Following a difficult year that brought a new CEO at the helm, Uber is serious about listening to its drivers and policymakers, Pierre Dimitri Gore-Coty told EURACTIV. Now the company aims at becoming a multimodal mobility platform, integrating bike sharing services or public transports.
EU aims for the stars with new €100 billion innovation fund
European Commission detailed on Thursday (7 June) plans to strengthen its science and innovation fund, focusing on disruptive innovations and financing “a couple of good missions” that would inspire people as the moon-landing project did, commissioner Carlos Moedas said.
EU tariffs on US goods to take effect in early July
The EU is set to impose €2.8billion worth in tariffs on US exports in early July in response to duties Donald Trump's administration has levied on European steel and aluminium, the European Commission confirmed on Wednesday (6 June).
Commission’s budget chief becomes Spain’s new economy minister
The EU's director-general for budget, Nadia Calviño, was picked on Tuesday (5 June) for the post of the economy minister by the new Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, signalling the Socialist government’s readiness to meet the EU’s fiscal commitments in times of market instability.
Commission hails similarities with Merkel’s eurozone proposals
European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s proposals to strengthen the euro area, noting the similarities between the Bundesrepublik's and EU executive’s ideas on structural reform and investment support.
EU and China pledge to deepen relationship despite trade tensions
The EU and China said on Friday (1 June) they would expand trade and investment cooperation amid the global trade dispute triggered by US tariffs. But as part of the efforts to address outstanding trade disputes, Europe will present a complaint before the World Trade Organisation against China’s intellectual property practices.
Unemployment peaks to trigger new investment shield
A spike in unemployment numbers would give EU countries access to €30 billion of soft loans to maintain investment in times of economic turbulences, according to proposals unveiled by the European Commission on Thursday (31 May).
Trump starts trade war with allies, Europe to respond ‘within hours’
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (31 May) that the United States would slap tariffs on steel and aluminium from the EU, Canada and Mexico, prompting Europe to say it would respond with "counterbalancing measures within hours" in what amounts to a trade war with Washington.
MEP Rodrigues: Imposing eurozone ‘as it is’ on Italy is not the answer
Populist forces in Italy are “playing with fire” and exposing the country to market pressure, vice-president of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament Maria João Rodrigues warned in an interview.
EPP silent on Spanish scandal, pledges to do ‘everything’ to fight corruption
The European Peoples' Party (EPP) will set up a committee in November to do “everything” to address “unethical behaviour” but remained silent on whether it would send a warning to its Spanish member following a major sentence against Partido Popular (PP).
EU considers tariffs if Trump imposes quotas
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström told MEPs on Tuesday (29 May) that the EU would activate “immediate" rebalancing measures if US President Donald Trump decides to impose quotas on the EU’s steel and aluminium exports as an alternative to tariffs as of Friday (1 June).
Spain’s former central banker: ‘De Guindos led us to disaster’
A former governor of the Bank of Spain told EURACTIV that Luis de Guindos has the right CV to become vice-president of the ECB, a post he will take up later this week. But the ex-minister’s “brutally wrong” decisions led the country to the “disaster” of the bailout, he added.
Commission ‘concerned’ about potential US car tariff increase
The EU's Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström expressed concern on Thursday (24 May) about the US administration's announced plan to launch an investigation into imports of cars and trucks that might lead to new tariffs.
Commission’s bond-backed product gets lukewarm reception
Financial representatives poured cold water on Thursday (24 May) on the European Commission’s proposal to create sovereign bond-backed securities (SBBS), insisting that not all the elements exist yet for a successful market for the product.
Commission demands ‘credible response’ from Italy to reduce debt
The European Commission on Wednesday (23 May) approved Italy’s efforts to balance its public accounts but asked the new government for a “credible response” in order to further reduce its immense public debt.
An Italian job to shield the euro
Market pressure, the strong hand of EU institutions and the limits of power will determine how far the new Italian government will go in shaking up the eurozone’s status quo.
Trump’s trade exemptions might not be prolonged, EU warns
The EU's Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said on Tuesday (22 May) there were “signals” from the US administration that it would impose tariffs on EU's steel and aluminium exports or enforce other restrictions, as she warned the bloc's steelmakers to prepare for the worst.
Europe rules out generous quotas as solution for Trump trade dispute
EU leaders demanded on Thursday (17 May) “permanent” and “unlimited” exemption from US President Donald Trump’s tariffs as a precondition for any trade negotiation with his administration, including market access.
Commission’s Eurobond alternative still viewed with scepticism
The European Commission has said that the zero-risk weight of its forthcoming sovereign bond-backed securities proposal will be a ‘game changer’, but member states and the financial sector remain sceptical about how the new asset could work in practice.
Trump becomes number one threat to European economy
US President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the Iran deal represents his third strike against the European economy in half a year and will add more volatility in an already difficult period.