Economy & Jobs
UK says it’s confident of Brexit trade deal as EU changing tone
Britain's top minister overseeing Brexit talks said on Friday (7 August) he was confident a free trade deal would be clinched with the EU as there had been a distinct change of tone from the bloc in recent weeks.
Eurozone retail sales return to pre-pandemic levels
The volume of retail sales in the euro zone rebounded in June to levels recorded in February before lockdowns, official estimates showed on Wednesday (5 August), completing a recovery that began in May after record drops in March and April.
EU extends anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel
The European Commission said on Wednesday (4 August) it had extended anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese corrosion-resistant steel to stop producers avoiding existing duties by slightly modifying the material they export.
Virus lays waste to Bulgaria’s tourist hotspot
“We need at least 100 charter flights a day,” says Plamen Kopchev, head of the hotel owners’ association in Bulgaria’s mammoth Black Sea resort of Sunny Beach, laid waste by the coronavirus pandemic. But the trouble is, only a fraction...
ECB committed to stimulus with outlook ‘highly uncertain’, chief economist says
The European Central Bank is committed to supporting the euro zone's economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, using its massive bond purchases as its main tool, chief economist Philip Lane said on Tuesday (4 August).
EU launches ‘in-depth’ probe of Google bid for Fitbit
The European Commission launched an "in-depth investigation" on Tuesday (4 August) into whether US tech giant Google's planned €1.7 billion purchase of smartwatch maker Fitbit would give it an unfair market advantage.
Look-back: Best of the news made in 2020 so far
As the EU institutions - and the EURACTIV newsroom - wind down for the summer break, take a look at some of the biggest, most popular and unusual stories published so far in 2020, as well as the catalogue of our best videos this year.
EU clears creation of world’s second-largest trainmaker
The European Commission on Friday (31 July) signed off on a merger between French trainmaker Alstom and the rail arm of Canadian firm Bombardier, setting a number of competition criteria in the process.
Germany tops up holiday voucher fund with €840m
German holidaymakers received a summer consolation prize on Friday (31 July) when the European Commission approved a government scheme aimed at helping travel operators guarantee replacement vouchers for cancelled trips.
Google’s $2.1 billion Fitbit deal faces EU antitrust probe: sources
Google’s $2.1 billion bid for fitness tracker maker Fitbit will face a full-scale EU antitrust investigation next week, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday (30 July).
EU invests €350m in first domestic battery gigafactory
The European Investment Bank issued a €350 million loan on Thursday (30 July) to a Swedish company that hopes to corner a significant share of the global battery market by building the greenest power packs available.
Vestager calls for EU-US ‘common vision’ on platform competition policy
Worldwide jurisdictions and particularly the EU and the US should formulate "common visions" on how best to regulate competition in the platform economy, the Commission's digital chief Margrethe Vestager has said.
Facebook accused of ‘copy, acquire and kill’ tactics in US antitrust hearing
Social media giant Facebook has come in for heavy criticism as part of a US congressional hearing into the dominance of online tech platforms, being accused of ‘copy, acquire and kill’ tactics as part of its history in acquiring smaller...
WTO set to skip naming acting chief after US push caused deadlock
World Trade Organization members are likely to refrain from appointing an interim director-general to succeed Roberto Azevedo when he steps down at the end of August, two sources following the process said on Wednesday (29 July), after Washington's insistence on a US candidate caused a deadlock.
Wirecard scandal: Why the German government should be nervous
Have leading politicians in the grand coalition up to the Chancellor been involved in a fraudulent scheme? The Bundestag's finance committee is looking into it.
Work starts in France to recreate power of the Sun
Fourteen years after receiving the official go-ahead, scientists began to assemble a machine in southern France on Tuesday (28 July) that will seek to prove whether nuclear fusion, the process which powers the Sun, can be a safe and viable energy source for Earth.
EU startup innovation can aid recovery, MEP says
Despite the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc across a range of sectors in the European single market, the bloc's economic recovery can be aided by making the most of new markets that will emerge in the startup ecosystem, says Eva Kaili.
New study finds tentative ‘glimmers of hope’ in German business climate
The German business climate is improving: according to a survey, the economy is regaining its optimism. However, this phenomenon should be treated with caution, because many companies still lack future prospects, the DIHK warns. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Facebook takes EU antitrust regulators to court
US technology giant Facebook is suing EU regulators after a spat between the two parties erupted over access to company documents as part of an ongoing antitrust probe.
Commission eyes US GAFA hearing for future competition challenges
The heads of US tech giants Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple are set to testify in a US congressional hearing on Wednesday (29 July) as part of an ongoing probe into the dominance of digital platforms. For the EU, the hearing could provide a valuable insight into how to address competition challenges in the digital economy.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
COVID-19 & Startups: Opportunities in Times of Crisis
Covid-19 is an unprecedented challenge for all businesses. For startups at the most vulnerable phase of their development, however, it is a potential existential crisis. Despite this, government aid during the crisis has often neglected startups, favouring incumbents and national champions.
Moscow cries foul over EU’s planned carbon border tax
Russia’s economic development minister warned last week that the EU’s plans to deploy a carbon tax at the bloc’s borders will not be in line with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, just as Brussels doubled down on the idea of green tariffs.
Germany rejects Trump’s proposal to let Russia back into G7
Germany has rejected a proposal by US President Donald Trump to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin back into the Group of Seven (G7) most advanced economies, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in a newspaper interview published on Monday (27 July).