Jeremy Fleming
New payment services lack security standards, officials warn
Proposed rule changes designed to introduce more competition in the credit and debit card markets lack standards to protect consumers from fraud and data security breaches, officials told the European Parliament on Tuesday (7 January).
Pressure grows over EU data watchdog replacement
The European Commission is coming under pressure to explain why it believes no suitable candidates have emerged to replace the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) – the EU’s data protection watchdog – and his deputy, when the pair’s term of office expires on 16 January.
Leaders hail banking union, anticipate fight with Parliament
EU leaders meeting in Brussels late last night hailed the agreement on a pan-European banking union, the final details of which were ironed out by finance ministers meeting yesterday, but anticipated arduous negotiations with the European Parliament. They however failed to agree so-called "contractual arrangements" designed to push member states to reform their economies.
Data ‘Safe Harbour’ under threat as US castigates EU Parliament over Snowden
The 'Safe Harbour' agreement allowing ease of data transfers by US and EU companies should be scrapped pending a more rigorous data umbrella agreement between the two in the wake of the NSA scandal, an influential parliamentary report will recommend.
EU seals agreement on audit sector shake-up
Proposals forcing companies to change accountants every ten years were agreed yesterday (17 December) as part of a wider EU package to reform the audit sector.
Technical spats set to dog payment cards debate
Key rule changes designed to introduce more competition and update the credit and debit card payments landscape are set to ignite a lengthy dispute over technicalities when they come before committee in the European Parliament next week.
EU nations developing cyber ‘capabilities’ to infiltrate government, private targets
European countries have entered a global race to develop aggressive cyber attack capabilities, according to the latest threat landscape analysis published by the European cyber security Agency ENISA yesterday (11 December).
Data protection reform in peril as Germany stymies deal
The prospects of agreeing a proposed Europe-wide data privacy rules by spring next year, a key objective of the European Commission, look in doubt after EU ministers last week failed to agree on the concept of a one-stop-shop for data protection.
Ministers give telecoms proposals tepid approval, timing in doubt
European ministers yesterday (5 December) gave conditional support for the European Commission’s 'Connected Continent' proposals for greater harmonisation of the EU telecoms markets, but cast doubt over the substance and timing.
Council, Commission lawyers in Mexican stand-off on FTT
European Commission lawyers have hit back at their counterparts representing the EU member states in the Council in an ongoing public spat over the legality of the financial transaction tax (FTT).
EU ministers sign off on budget winners: Erasmus+, Horizon 2020
EU ministers today (3 December) formally agreed funding for educational and research programmes Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020, two of the largest budget gainers for the 2014-2020 period.
Commission moves to stem theft of trade secrets
The EU executive is seeking to stem an increase in theft of trade secrets across Europe with a new proposal to harmonise the definition of the practice and block imports of products arising from such theft.
Brussels hits back at UK’s ‘nasty’ proposal against free movement
The European Commission hit back yesterday (27 November) against the UK Prime Minister’s announcement of a crackdown on immigration rules, saying that freedom of movement in the EU is “non-negotiable” and castigating David Cameron for “presenting the UK as a nasty country”.
EU-US trade deal offers hope on reporting convergence
SPECIAL REPORT / EU trade negotiators are optimistic that they can secure a place for financial services regulation within key trade talks next week (27 November), offering some hope that this will help spur the US towards more convergence in international corporate reporting.
Boosted research budget passes Parliamentary hurdle
The European Parliament has formally approved Horizon 2020, the funding programme for research and innovation for the 2014-2020 period, almost putting the final seal on a budget tranche that would rise by 30% from the current period to a total of €80 billion.
EU ministers and MEPs in logjam over auditor rotation
SPECIAL REPORT / Plans to force companies to change accountants regularly are causing a logjam in negotiations between the European Parliament and Council, threatening to delay reforms that the Commission has insisted it wants agreed by the end of its mandate.
Commission to overhaul reporting standards body by end of year
SPECIAL REPORT / The European Commission is set to issue by the end of the year new regulations on accounting standards, overhauling the current standards body and meeting European Parliament concerns that Europe has become a lackey for US influence in the sector.
Furore over tax evasion opens door to new EU proposal on corporate tax
SPECIAL REPORT / EU leaders responding to the public outcry over tax evasion by multinational companies have triggered a quest for pan-European solutions to tax fraud, but the debate has also enabled the European Commission to return to a controversial proposal for a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB).
Member states backtrack on corporate reporting pledge
SPECIAL REPORT / A pledge made by heads of state and government this summer to beef up corporate social responsibility reporting for European companies is set to be ditched because too few member states are prepared to support it, EURACTIV has learned.
TV, film industry pledge easier cross-border copyright
European consumers should find it easier to access television and films from their home state when travelling through the continent if pledges made by the audiovisual sector to the Commission yesterday (13 November) are honoured.
Commission claws back up to €200 million broadband funding in budget breakthrough
SPECIAL REPORT / The EU executive hailed victory in winning back vital funding for its European broadband funding rollout programme following trilogue talks last week that saw up to €200 million in spending secured over the 2014-2020 budget period.
New players cause headaches for mobile payments standards
The multitude of interested stakeholders attempting to break into novel mobile payments (m-payments) markets is holding up the creation of common standards, a leading standards body representative has admitted.
Reding warns data protection could derail US trade talks
Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding yesterday (29 October) issued a stark warning that data protection should be kept off the agenda of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). But EURACTIV understands that US pressure is mounting to keep the debate open on data issues.