Economy & Jobs
German 30-year green bond attracts record demand
Investors have been scrambling to purchase Germany's new 30-year green bond despite the ongoing sell-off in the bond market that usually depresses demand. Previously, green bonds had only been issued with five or 10-year maturities. EURACTIV Germany reports.
As Hungary lauds its ‘Eastern Opening’ policy, statistics fail to show benefits
The Hungarian government has been boasting of its trade policy’s Eastern success, but data shows that the country’s economic reliance on the EU has not changed since 2010, and the promised Eastern opportunities have never materialised. EURACTIV’s media partner Telex...
Amazon wins court fight against €250 million EU tax order
Amazon won on Wednesday (12 May) its fight against an EU order to pay about €250 million euros in back taxes to Luxembourg, as Europe's second-highest court dealt a blow to the bloc's efforts to make multinational corporations pay more taxes.
EU court to decide on Amazon tax appeal
An EU court will rule Wednesday (12 May) on an appeal by online giant Amazon against an order that Luxembourg recoup €250 million in unpaid taxes.
Can the European Green Deal solve Bulgaria’s demographic crisis?
Bulgaria could take advantage of financing available under the EU Green Deal to solve the most pressing challenge the country is currently faced with – the demographic crisis. But is it really that simple? EURACTIV Bulgaria discussed the issue with leading economist Krassen Stanchev.
EU’s Comittee of Regions calls for local participation in Future of Europe summit
The Conference on the Future of Europe launched Sunday (9 May) in Strasbourg can only succeed if local and regional communities are involved, the European Committee of the Regions has argued. EURACTIV France reports.
France ready to pick up the baton on EU minimum wage proposal
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday (8 May) that Paris was ready to pick up the baton on the EU’s minimum wage proposal if an agreement cannot be reached during the Portuguese EU presidency, which ends on 1 July.
EU recovery fund struggles to find its true nature
Amid doubts around the implementation of the €800 billion recovery fund, European Commission and experts stress that the EU instrument is not a US-like emergency stimulus but an investment tool for the medium-term to transform the European economy.
Spaniards return to new normal as state of alarm expires
Spaniards have celebrated the dawn of a new normal as the country's pandemic-era state of alarm expired at midnight on Sunday with the government refusing to propose a new legal framework to allow regions to implement new restrictions in case of fresh coronavirus outbreaks. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Poland, Hungary block ‘gender equality’ from EU social summit
Lobbying by Poland and Hungary has led to the removal of the phrase “gender equality” from a Friday (7 May) declaration on advancing social cohesion in the European Union as it strives to rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic. Poland’s nationalist...
ILO wants investment in training, social protection
It is necessary to invest in training people, social protection and new forms of green and digital work, considering that Europe has enormous possibilities to do so, the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Guy Ryder, urged on Friday...
EU agri-food trade plunges in first month after Brexit
The post-Brexit era opens with a slump in the agri-food trade of 11% in January compared to the same month last year, according to the latest data released by the Commission.
Recovery fund: the engine behind the European transformation
The unprecedented Recovery and Resilience Facility, the main instrument of the EU’s €800 billion recovery fund, represents a unique opportunity to overcome the recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and complete the twin green and digital transitions of the European... VideoPromoted content
CEN and CENELEC: European Standards contribute to the EU’s Industrial Strategy
European Standards are key to make the European ambitions a reality. In this video, Elena Santiago Cid, CEN and CENELEC’s Director General, presents how the European Standardization System helps advance European harmonisation and make European industry more innovative, sustainable and resilient.
Young Europeans struggling to find housing – report
Europe's youth is facing difficulties in accessing housing, and the COVID crisis has further aggravated the situation, according to the annual report on the state of poor housing in Europe published on Thursday (6 May) by the Abbé Pierre Foundation and the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA).
Cyprus to push for gender equality at Porto summit
Cyprus will prioritise women’s role in the post-COVID era at the EU social summit in Porto, according to a non-paper seen by EURACTIV.com.
Spain eyes overhaul of tax, labour market and pensions
The Spanish government wants to implement a series of extraordinary measures in the coming months so as to be eligible for EU funding, including changes to tax laws and reforms of the labour market and pension system. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.OpinionPromoted content
Porto Summit: A New Paradigm for SGI at the heart of the Social Europe
On 7 May, the Social Summit organised by the Portuguese Presidency should be a milestone to reinvigorate the project of a fairer Europe. SGI Europe, EU social partner representing employers of services of general interest (SGI) and of public services, will present its vision and contribution to making Social Europe a reality.OpinionPromoted content
SEA EUROPE CEOs Open Letter to the Comission
SEA EUROPE (1) CEOs calling for Commission action against unfair competition from foreign subsidies in shipbuilding. Dear Commission President Von der Leyen, Dear Executive Vice Presidents Vestager and Dombrovskis, For decades, the European Commission is fully aware that European shipyards suffer...
UK-France fishing row escalates as protest descends on Jersey
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has sent two Navy patrol vessels to Jersey over concerns that French fishermen could blockade its main port in an escalating post-Brexit row.
Transition of cities – an opportunity for people and planet
Mayors and city leaders can play a double role in the green transition – as ambassadors for the European green deal locally, and as representatives of people’s concerns and interests to other levels of government, writes Dario Nardella
Commission bolsters toolbox against disruptive foreign subsidies
Companies subsidised by foreign governments will have to win EU authorities' green light to acquire European firms or to bid in public procurements, according to a European Commission proposal published on Wednesday (5 May).
Ambassador: EU and South Korea born to be best like-minded partners
Climate change is likely to be a key area to strengthen cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the EU in the coming years, the country's ambassador to Brussels, Yoon Soon-gu, told EURACTIV in an interview about multilateralism, climate cooperation and the EU's Indo-Pacific strategy.