Economy & Jobs
No breakthrough in Brexit stalemate, admits Barnier
The stalemate on EU-UK trade talks remains unbroken both sides conceded on Friday (5 June), with the EU again accusing London of attempting to back-track on its commitments made in the Withdrawal Agreement that took the UK out of the bloc in January.
Greece ‘more than sea and sun’, says PM in tourism launch
Greece is "more than just sea and sun," the country's PM said Thursday (4 June) as a campaign was launched to resurrect its tourism-dependent economy from the coronavirus lockdown.
Changes in education as a result of COVID-19 crisis are here to stay, experts say
As lockdown measures are relaxed and schools reopen across Europe, EURACTIV has interviewed experts on whether the pandemic could have a long-lasting impact on education systems in Europe, and they said changes are here to stay.
ECB doubles down on pandemic response after German ruling
The European Central Bank announced on Thursday (4 June) that it will add €600 billion to its €750 billion bond-buying response against the coronavirus, in its first governing council meeting after Germany’s Constitutional Court ruled against the bank's asset-purchasing programme.
Germany’s €130bn stimulus package praised by all sides
After 21 hours of negotiations spread over two days, Germany's grand coalition came to an agreement on the €130 billion economic stimulus package close to midnight on Wednesday (3 June). The result has been received surprisingly positively by all sides. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Airports and airlines volunteer to be EU virus safety guinea pigs
EU guidelines put together by the bloc’s aviation safety and health agencies will be trialled by seven of Europe’s airport operators and three of its airlines, as the air travel industry begins to kick back into gear following the coronavirus outbreak slump.
RWE-E.ON deal will run smaller firms out of the market, green power boss claims
The European Commission’s decision to approve an agreement between Germany’s big power firms risks distorting energy market competition, according to the head of another company, who explained to EURACTIV Germany why he has started legal action.
Key EU workers – interpreters – left on brink of survival during COVID
The lack of physical meetings during the COVID-19 lockdown has been devastating for nearly 1,200 freelance interpreters in the European institutions who struggle to make ends meet.
Germany’s ruling parties agree on €130bn virus stimulus
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s ruling coalition on Wednesday (3 June) agreed a bumper stimulus package to speed up Germany’s recovery from the coronavirus. It includes a reduced VAT rate and beefed-up electric vehicle purchase premiums.
24 countries sign pledge to boost international rail routes
Twenty-four European countries agreed on Wednesday (3 June) to work together on international rail transport and make it “an attractive alternative” over distances where it is currently not competitive.
An EU minimum income framework is an urgent safety net after Covid-19
The upcoming German EU presidency intends to take up an initiative for an EU framework for minimum income systems. Shannon Pfohman looks at what this should look like.
ECB seen beefing up eurozone support as pandemic persists
Most analysts expect the European Central Bank on Thursday (4 June) to beef up its emergency bond-buying scheme with hundreds of billions of euros to weather the coronavirus pandemic, providing governments with the breathing space to decide their own response.
Car emissions spike, as countries plan ‘cash for clunkers’ redux
Europe’s average CO2 emissions from new cars and vans increased again in 2018, according to data released on Wednesday (3 June) by the EU’s environment agency. National plans aimed at stimulating the sector could worsen those figures further.
Spain says digital tax won’t discriminate against countries as US ups ante
Spain’s plans to tax tech companies’ revenues does not discriminate against any country, a government source told Reuters on Tuesday (2 June) after the United States opened a probe into such taxes or proposals by its various trading partners.
Africa hits back against EU’s name and shame game
The question of tax avoidance and financial information exchange remains a sore point for EU-African relations, and the European Commission’s annual lists of ‘non co-operative’ countries on tax and money laundering laws have done little to improve the situation.
EU’s chief diplomat takes position against readmitting Russia to G7
The EU's chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, rejected on Tuesday (2 June) the idea floated by the White House over the weekend to reinvite Russia to this year's G7 gathering hosted by the US, saying the conditions had not been met.
Commission says new Single Market tax would target below 0.2% of turnover
A new corporate tax could raise €10 billion a year to help fund stimulus plans while amounting to less than 0.2% of turnover of large companies that benefit from the European Union's single market, the bloc's executive said on Monday (1 June).
Worker participation in management can be stabilising factor, expert argues
Worker participation in the management can be a stabilisation factor in times of crisis, according to a recent study conducted by the Institute for Codetermination and Corporate Governance. EURACTIV has interviewed the co-author and political adviser on the matter, Sebastian Campagna.
Lufthansa board gives green light to €9bn bailout
The supervisory board of German airline Lufthansa voted on Monday (1 June) in favour of the government's €9 billion aid package, after the European Commission compromised on its conditions for approving the bailout.
Austria opposes current EU rescue, wants changes
Austria opposes Europe's current €750 billion plan to help economies recover from the coronavirus pandemic and wants to negotiate changes to the proposal, the country's finance minister said on Saturday (30 May).
EU trade commissioner Hogan mulling candidacy for WTO chief
European trade commissioner Phil Hogan is considering putting his name forward as a candidate to be the next director-general of the World Trade Organization, his spokesman said on Sunday (31 May).
Renault targets €2bn in savings, will cut 15,000 jobs
Carmaker Renault said Friday (29 May) that it would cut nearly 15,000 jobs, including 4,600 at its core French operations, as it seeks to steer out of a cash crunch exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.
Moving to WTO terms carries major economic health warning for UK
The UK may be moving closer to trading with the EU on World Trade Organisation terms, but that could carry a major additional economic hit as London faces up to the costs of the coronavirus pandemic.