Economy & Jobs
Conte buys Italy’s government more time over eurozone bailout fund
Italy's prime minister Giuseppe Conte claimed victory on Friday (13 December), after changing the wording of the Euro summit's conclusion postponing a final agreement on the reform of the eurozone bailout fund.
Costa and Centeno clash over euro budgetary instrument
Tensions between Portuguese prime minister, Antonio Costa, and his finance minister and Eurogroup president, Mario Centeno erupted in front of EU leaders on Friday (13 December) as the two clashed over the design of the eurozone budgetary instrument .
Leaders ask the Commission for a mandate to start post-Brexit negotiations with UK
The European Council has asked the Commission to present a mandate to start post-Brexit negotiations with the UK as soon as possible, following Thursday (12 December) UK elections results that confirmed a strong majority for Boris Johnson.
AS IT HAPPENED: EU leaders discuss budget, climate change
EU27 leaders meet in Brussels on 12-13 December to discuss the bloc's next seven-year budget and ways to financially sweeten its 'green component', in order to meet the new European Commission's top priority of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050.
Coke and nickel keeping EU steel industry up at night
The European Commission is considering removing coking coal from a list of critical raw materials. The steel industry, already facing difficulty importing the raw materials it needs, says this could spell disaster.
ECB to embark on soul-searching process in 2020
The European Central Bank will next year review its tools and objectives in order to better fulfil its mandate of price stability, and it also intends to assess the appropriateness of issuing its own digital currency, in the face of growing concerns about Facebook’s Libra.
EU Council chief takes over budget negotiations
The European Council handed over the negotiation of the next EU long-term budget to its president, Charles Michel during the first round of the December summit on Thursday (12 December).
Parliament puts its trust in Michel for progress on EU budget
As European Council president Charles Michel takes over the negotiations on the EU's long-term budget, the Parliament hopes this will give a new impetus to the slow-moving talks, lawmakers in charge told a press briefing on Wednesday (11 December).
Businesses aim to move focus on tax transparency beyond income tax
After national capitals blocked a deal to force multinationals to publish the income tax they pay in the EU last month, businesses representatives argued that corporate tax should not be the sole tax transparency target during an event at EURACTIV.
EU leaders to call for strengthening of trade sanction toolbox
EU leaders will urge co-legislators in the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to examine “as a matter of priority” the possibility to sanction countries breaching trade rules and blocking the dispute settlement process, according to the latest version of the summit conclusions seen by EURACTIV.
Schmit to unveil EU minimum wage proposal in January
Nicolas Schmit announced on Tuesday (10 December) that he will unveil his proposal for an EU minimum wage framework in early January, following his first Council meeting as a member of the new European Commission.
‘Less action plans, more action’: EU Commission under fire over money-laundering overhaul
The European Commission said it would only consider money-laundering reforms after it completes a thorough assessment of the issue, dashing hopes the EU executive would act rapidly to crack down on dirty money flowing through the continent.
Boosting circular economy requires joint effort, experts warn
If Europe wants to transition towards a circular economy model, the practices have to be mainstreamed and all actors should be involved in the process, experts warned during an event hosted by EURACTIV.
EU to strengthen trade sanctions as WTO paralysis starts
As the international system for settling trade disputes is set to become crippled on Tuesday (10 December), Europe will in the coming days propose ways to bolster its sanction toolbox against countries that adopt ilegal trade measures and block the renewal of WTO’s appellate body.
Inflation, climate, jargon: ECB launches major review
The European Central Bank's new president Christine Lagarde has announced that the Frankfurt-based institute will soon undertake a strategic review, its first since 2003.
France ready to take Trump’s tariff threat to WTO
France is ready to go to the World Trade Organization to challenge US President Donald Trump's threat to put tariffs on champagne and other French goods in a row over a French tax on internet companies, its finance minister said on Sunday (8 December).
EU budget rules need rethink, says Gentiloni
The EU's new economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said the bloc should consider loosening its strict budget deficit rules to respond to climate risks and weak growth, echoing a similar call by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Strong mobilisation against pension reform puts French government to the test
In protest at the government's pension reform proposal, French workers staged a massive strike on Thursday (5 December), which paralysed the country. With teachers and transport sector workers expected to strike again today, this will be Macron's ultimate test. EURACTIV France reports.
Libra maintains 2020 approval target despite concerns
Facebook-sponsored digital currency Libra is determined to getting the green light by European regulators next year, despite the numerous concerns raised by EU finance ministers, a senior representative of the project told EURACTIV.com.
EU reaches milestone by agreeing on green criteria for finance
MEPs and the Finnish presidency of the EU Council agreed Thursday (5 December) on a taxonomy to determine what economic activities can be considered ‘green’, paving the way for billions of euros to be channelled into investments to fight climate change.
Digital Brief: Mastering Innovation
Welcome to EURACTIV’s Digital Brief, your weekly update on all things digital in the EU. You can subscribe to the newsletter here. “We don’t want to be dependent on imports of crucial technologies.” – Lucilla Sioli, Director of Artificial Intelligence and...
CO2-tracking satellites crucial for climate efforts, say space experts
Current Earth observation technologies are not accurate enough when it comes to monitoring carbon dioxide emissions, according to delegates at the EU’s space week in Helsinki. A new system set to launch in 2025 should change all that.
Von der Leyen criticises Finnish presidency’s EU budget proposal
The new European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, did not mince her words at her first press conference on Wednesday (4 December), criticising a recent proposal of the Finnish EU Presidency for the bloc’s 2021-2027 budget and voicing concern "about the severe cuts in the proposal".