Economy & Jobs

EU Parliament passes €330b regional package that fails on spending controls, say critics

The European Parliament adopted the EU's long-term budget regional support plan at a plenary on Wednesday (23 June). Some EU lawmakers, however, were disappointed at the lack of support for cross-border projects and the lack of ability to monitor spending.

Tensions grow in France over recovery plan cohesion policy clash

Tensions are mounting in France over crossovers between the country's €100 billion plan to recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic and the European Union's cohesion policy, with regions complaining they have not been sufficiently consulted. 

Cohesion Policy Quiz: How much do you know about EU cohesion funds?

As we near the end of EURACTIV’s project “Let’s Meet Cohesion Policy” co-financed by DG REGIO, now is the time to test your knowledge on how the EU supports its regions. Test your knowledge here

Cohesive recovery: where do structural funds fit in?

Cohesion, the EU’s €330 billion investment package, making up about a third of the bloc’s new seven-year budget, will focus on bringing about a smarter, greener and more connected Europe, closer to its citizens by 2027.  That’s a tall order...

Lagging German regions may lose out due to rush of EU pandemic recovery money

Following European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s visit to Berlin on Tuesday (22 June), where she delivered the approved German recovery plan, concerns are emerging that the new pot of money may crowd out funding for weak regions and thwart their efforts to catch up with wealthy areas.

EU watchdog tells banks to have a 10-year climate plan

Banks in the European Union must have a 10-year plan spelling out how they will deal with environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks to their bottom line, the bloc's banking watchdog said on Wednesday (23 June).

Workers’ groups seek to influence Green Deal

The workers’ groups of the European Economic and Social Committee have seized upon the term “just transition” in a bid to insert their aims for workers’ co-determination into the Commission’s flagship policy, the European Green Deal.

Sven Giegold: ECB should start ‘digging into’ financial crime in Bulgaria

To join the Euro, Bulgaria needs to tidy up with financial crime, and the European Central Bank (ECB) should be doing its job and finally start “digging into this”, MEP Sven Giegold told EURACTIV in a telephone interview.

Cohesion and recovery funds: Friends or foes?

  In this edition of our series on cohesion policy, we are joined by two very special guests European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira and EURACTIV’s Jorge Valero. We take a closer look at how Europe’s historic recovery...

Britain begins negotiations to join trans-Pacific trade deal

Britain will begin negotiations on Tuesday (22 June) to join a trans-Pacific trade deal that it sees as crucial to its post-Brexit pivot away from Europe and towards geographically more distant but faster-growing economies.

Behind Airbus-Boeing truce lies a common rival: China

While the United States and Europe waged a 17-year trade battle over subsidies to Boeing and Airbus, China poured money into its own commercial aircraft to take on the Western aviation duopoly.

A fairer playing field for businesses and consumers

The EU's new VAT regime will create rules fit for the digital age and benefit businesses and consumers, writes Gerassimos Thomas.

Europeans struggle for unity on global tax drive

EU finance ministers worked Thursday (17 June) to find European unity on striking an international deal on taxation, with low-tax countries Ireland and Hungary needing cajoling to stay on board.

COVID-19 triggers ‘demographic tragedy’ in Spain

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been devastating not only for the Spanish economy but also, and above all, in terms of human lives: since March 2020 Spain’s mortality rate increased by 17%, with 492,930 new deaths directly or partially related to the pandemic, a historic mark not seen in the Iberian country since 1941.

Euro fiscal watchdog endorses suspension of Stability Pact in 2022

The European Fiscal Board supported on Wednesday (16 June) maintaining the suspension of the Stability and Growth Pact throughout next year but called for reinstalling a revised set of fiscal rules from 2023 to minimise risks.

Commission convinces markets with first issuance of recovery bonds

The European Commission raised €20 billion in the markets on Tuesday (15 June) to start financing the EU’s €800 billion recovery fund, beating its expectations for the planned monthly bond sale.

EU-US aircraft deal heralds new trade cooperation in Biden era

The first summit between the EU and US President Joe Biden concluded on Tuesday (15 June) with a deal on a five-year suspension of tariffs in the longstanding Airbus-Boeing dispute, paving the way for stronger cooperation against the challenges posed by China’s economic model.

Germany to ‘plug holes’ in budget with EU green transition money, critics say

Germany is set to dispense €40 billion to its regions affected by the country’s planned 2038 coal phase-out. But that number is a lot less grand than it looks, as the programme will swallow EU funds. EURACTIV Germany reports.