Competition
Commission readies ‘crisis scheme’ for state aid approval
The European Commission prepared a temporary framework to fast-track state aid approval as a response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), last used in the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008.
Italy to bail out Alitalia, as COVID-19 scares off buyers
The Italian government is close to taking full control of Alitalia, as the coronavirus outbreak in Europe forces Rome to abandon plans to find a buyer for the ailing national carrier, Il Messaggero said on Sunday (15 March).
EU pledges €25 billion to weather coronavirus impact
EU institutions and member states agreed on Tuesday (10 March) to ease EU spending rules and mobilise at least €25 billion of EU funds to address the economic fallout from the coronavirus.
EU inquest into Italy’s €400m Alitalia loan takes off
The European Commission announced on Friday (28 February) that its competition watchdog will probe the Italian government's December decision to loan national airline Alitalia €400 million. Brussels wants to find out if the pay-out was illegal state aid.
TGV-maker Alstom confirms bid attempt for Canadian rival
French train maker Alstom has confirmed it is in talks on the possible acquisition of the train business of Canada’s Bombardier, a potential €6.5 billion deal that could help it build scale in the increasingly competitive rail sector.
Google vs EU: a decade-long saga goes to court
Google and the EU have a big day in court Wednesday (12 February) as the search engine giant enters a new phase of a legal saga that began a decade ago.
US packaged foods juggernaut under EU antitrust probe
US consumer goods group Mondelez International is being investigated for suspected anti-competitive practices covering EU several member states, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed to EURACTIV.
Bulgaria mulls re-opening Gazprom antitrust probe
Because of Bulgaria's discontent, Gazprom risks re-opening the antitrust case the European Commission had led against the Russian gas export monopoly over suspected abuse of its dominant position in the Eastern European gas market, EURACTIV.bg has learned.
LEAK: EU must step up Single Market enforcement, states tell Commission
The European Union must step up the application and enforcement of Single Market law or risk losing ‘credibility and effectiveness’, according to a leaked paper to the EU executive signed by 14 member states.
Eurozone 2020: The race against the clouds
After seven years of growth, the eurozone's outlook is deteriorating. There is a risk of a recession if the trade war with Washington worsens, while member states continue to disagree over the completion of the economic and monetary union that would help them cope with a downturn.
Commission ponders state aid review to support ‘Airbus of the future’
The European Commission is considering reviewing its state aid rules to support cutting-edge projects financed by several member states, as requested by national capitals in order to strengthen Europe’s industrial might.
Businesses aim to move focus on tax transparency beyond income tax
After national capitals blocked a deal to force multinationals to publish the income tax they pay in the EU last month, businesses representatives argued that corporate tax should not be the sole tax transparency target during an event at EURACTIV.
Von Der Leyen urged to prioritise single market to counter slowdown
The European economy is undergoing a rapid transition, with digital technology and climate change needs set to transform normal commerce. Is the EU’s single market flexible enough to handle the change?
Frontier Research – A good return on investment?
From healthy lives to sustainable cities, from food security to equal societies – frontier research is often credited to have the potential to produce paradigm-shifting discoveries with economic, societal and policy impacts. With almost 10,000 researchers supported all over Europe,...
A Europe that is close to citizens is a Europe that needs its notaries
What do the will of Queen Isabel la Católica, the award of the George Cross to the Maltese nation, the purchase of the Island of Herreninsel by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the renunciation document signed by Archduchess Marie-Antoinette on the crowns belonging to the House of Austria have in common?
REGI chair: If von der Leyen has an ambition for Europe, she must have an ambition for Cohesion
The European Parliament shall not accept cuts on the budget of Cohesion Policy and expects the European Commission and its new President to be on its side, says MEP Younous Omarjee.
Europe seeks a comprehensive strategy to lift its competitiveness
The dominance of US firms and Chinese companies in the digital world has sounded the alarm bells in Europe. EU and national officials have agreed that the competitiveness of European firms requires a comprehensive strategy that goes beyond easing the bloc's competition rules.
Commissioner hearings LIVE: Margrethe Vestager
The European Parliament is grilling the proposed members of Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission in a series of hearings between 30 September and 8 October. On Tuesday, Danish official Margrethe Vestager, nominated as Executive Vice President for Europe fit for the Digital Age, will be questioned by MEPs
CEOs reject watering down Commission’s antitrust powers
A group of European multinational chiefs proposed a modernization of the EU’s competition rules to face the rivalry of US and China’s companies in the digital age, but rejected France and Germany’s proposal to interfere in European Commission’s exclusive powers.
The Brief, powered by ACCA – A €1-billion question for candidate Commissioners
German carmaker Volkswagen is nearing a decision to build a new plant in Turkey. Sources close to the company say the multi-brand factory would cost more than one billion euros.
EU ready to act alone on digital tax if no global deal in 2020
European Union commissioners-designate said the bloc should agree on a digital tax if no deal on the matter was reached at a global level by the end of next year, ramping up pressure on multinationals accused of paying too little.
EU justice dismisses Starbucks tax ruling case, upholds Fiat
The EU general court rejected on Tuesday (24 September) the European Commission's decision that Starbucks had enjoyed a selective advantage in the Netherlands but confirmed assessment that Fiat had benefited from an unlawful tax ruling in Luxembourg.
Thomas Cook collapse will put new EU directive to the test
The collapse of Thomas Cook, the world's oldest travel company, will put the new EU Package Travel Directive to the test. Although the directive allows for the repatriation of holidaymakers, refunds for trips already booked are not guaranteed. EURACTIV France reports.
Agriculture DG loses state aid oversight to boost competition rules
In an unexpected move, Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has decided to move state aid competences in farming and fisheries from two directorates-general, Agriculture and Maritime affairs and fisheries, to DG Competition.