Competition
Commission to announce peace deal with Gazprom by next week
EU regulators will settle their antitrust case with Gazprom by next week, people close to the matter said on Monday (14 May), after the Russian energy giant pledged to change its pricing structure and allow rivals a foothold in eastern Europe.
German perks lure Czech workers across the border
Czech firms in the southwest are facing labour shortages as residents living close to the border are increasingly commuting to Germany for work. The main incentives are salaries, three times higher than the Czech average, and child benefits, the so-called kindergeld....
Why we need to stabilise the Western Balkans
As Europe is confronted by different visions about its future, the question remains how these different visions will affect the developments in the Western Balkans. The Balkans remain fragile, and the external pressures and internal divisions could deliver fresh instability in the region.
Schools of tomorrow – building and transforming skills for a digital world
Europe’s bid to lead the digital and advanced technology trend will be lost if the EU and national governments don’t take steps to make skills development in digitisation their priority. Digital skills need to be conveyed at all levels and in all forms of education to ensure Europe’s global position, writes Martina Dlabajová.
EU antitrust chief says investigation of Google’s Android, AdSense is advancing
Investigations into how Google may be using its Android smartphone operating system and its AdSense advertising service to thwart rivals are advancing, Europe's antitrust chief said on Wednesday (18 April), amid concern about the lengthy proceedings.
European Commission raids offices in sports broadcasting investigation
The European Commission yesterday (10 April) raided the offices of a number of companies involved in sports broadcasting rights, including a unit of Rupert Murdoch's Fox, as part of an investigation into a possible cartel.
Italy buys into TIM Italia to shield strategic interests against France’s Vivendi
Italian state lender CDP said yesterday (5 April) it would buy a stake of up to 5% of Telecom Italia (TIM) to safeguard Rome's interest in a company seen as strategic, and amidst a struggle between investors over its leadership.
Europe, pay your trainees!
Offering internships and traineeships to young people without real prospect of employment and adequate remuneration violates the original nature of these instruments, writes Brando Benifei.
EU circular economy’s REACH for the stars
As the EU doubles down on its waste management efforts and sets its sights on tackling plastic waste, the idea of a circular economy and internal market for recycling is gathering momentum. But it will not be an easy task for lawmakers or industry to realise.
Let’s talk about the losers of protectionism
European politicians have a big role to play in communicating why globalisation matters. We need politicians that are brave enough to talk about the losers of protectionism, not just the losers of globalisation, writes Carola Lemne.
Visa to defend tourists’ card fees at EU antitrust hearing
Visa will today (27 March) try to fend off European Union antitrust charges that it subjects foreign tourists to excessive fees when they use their cards in the EU, people familiar with the matter said.
UPS seeks €1.7 billion damages from EU for aborted TNT buyout
US package delivery giant United Parcel Service is seeking €1.7 billion ($2.1 billion) in damages from the European Commission after it stopped the firm's 2013 bid to take over TNT Express.
Italy fumes against company relocations in bitter election campaign
European Union rules are helping less wealthy nations swipe jobs from their bigger partners, Italy's industry ministry said yesterday (20 February), as plans by a multinational to shift production to Slovakia took centre stage in the national election campaign.
DowDuPont boss: Merger will speed up innovation to face farming challenges ‘quickly’
A merger between Dow Chemical and DuPont (DowDuPont) aims to accelerate innovation in agriculture to help all farm sizes, as well as rapidly facing up to future challenges, DowDuPont’s Pierre Flye Sainte Marie told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
Apple’s Shazam acquisition under EU scrutiny
Apple’s Shazam acquisition could affect competition. The company spent $400 million (€340 million) for the application.
F1 teams withdraw EU anti-trust complaint
Two Formula One motorsport teams have withdrawn a long-gestating anti-trust complaint with the European Commission, after the new commercial rights holder convinced them that changes will be made to the way the sport is run.
Europe needs a flagship for outer space
There are few signs that the European Commission could change its 'business as usual' space strategy focusing on satellite services. Vidvuds Beldavs explains why the Commission should look to the Moon and raise its space ambitions.
Austria to sue EU over Paks-2 nuclear plant, Commission says ‘see you in court’
Austria said on Monday (22 January) it planned to sue the European Commission for allowing Hungary to expand its Paks nuclear power plant, saying it did not view atomic energy as the way to combat climate change or as being in the common European interest.
Political intrigue casts shadow over EU’s latest Energy Council
When EU ministers gathered in Brussels on Monday (18 December) to hammer out an agreement over a set of clean energy laws, the elephant in the room was a proposal from the European Commission to cap subsidies going to coal-fired power plants.
Lufthansa’s Air Berlin buyout secures EU blessing
German carrier Lufthansa clinched EU approval on Thursday (21 December) for its scaled back bid to snap up assets of bankrupt Air Berlin, a European Union statement said.
Commission launches investigation into IKEA’s tax rulings
The European Commission announced on Monday (18 December) that it is investigating Ikea’s tax bills as it suspects that the Swedish furniture maker may have benefited from illegal aid offered by the Netherlands, worth around €1 billion according to some reports.
French court rules out discriminatory language rule
The French supreme court hasrejected a clause that imposed the use of French on public building sites, a predictable outcome under European public procurement law that forbids discriminating rules unless they are in the interest of workers’ safety. EURACTIV France reports.
Ireland makes U-turn, says will collect €13 billion back taxes from Apple
The Irish government has reached an agreement with Apple to start collecting the €13 billion owed by the tech giant, it announced on Monday (4 December).