The European Commission is seeking feedback on a revision of the service of general economic interest (‘SGEI’) State aid rules to address the issue of housing affordability. Significant investments are needed to bridge the investment gap for affordable housing. State aid measures can contribute to incentivising the necessary investments. Any interested citizen, business, public authority […]
Read More
2025 European Semester Spring Package sets out guidance to boost EU competitiveness
The 2025 European Semester Spring Package analyses the key economic and social challenges across the EU and offers policy guidance to Member States with the aim of strengthening competitiveness, prosperity and resilience. To that effect, it includes country-specific recommendations (CSRs), and promotes reforms and investments aligned with these EU priorities. The policy guidance presented comes at a time of […]
Read More
Make Europe your base for startup success
The European Commission has launched an EU startup and scaleup strategy to make Europe a great place for starting and growing global technology-driven companies. Startups and scaleups drive innovation and sustainable growth, create high-quality jobs, attract investment and reduce strategic dependencies. However, too many still struggle to take ideas from lab to market or […]
Read More
Commission and national authorities urge SHEIN to respect EU consumer protection laws
Lasy May 26, following a coordinated investigation at European level, the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network of national consumer authorities and the European Commission notified the online marketplace and e-retailer SHEIN of a number of practices on its platform that infringe EU consumer law. The CPC Network directed SHEIN to bring those practices in line with […]
Read More
Parliament approves new tariffs on Russian and Belarussian agricultural goods
MEPs backed increased tariffs on fertilisers and certain Russian and Belarusian agricultural goods on Thursday, seeking to reduce EU dependency on those imports. Plenary has endorsed the Commission proposal to increase by 50% EU tariffs on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus that were not yet subject to extra customs duties. The aim is to […]
Read More
Spring 2025 Economic Forecast
The EU economy began 2025 on a somewhat stronger footing than anticipated. It is projected to keep growing at a modest rate this year, with growth expected to pick up in 2026, despite heightened global policy uncertainty and trade tensions. The Commission’s Spring 2025 Economic Forecast projects real GDP to grow by 1.1% in 2025 […]
Read More
Budgets Committee sets out priorities for next long-term EU budget
MEPs in the Budgets Committee have backed the first report outlining Parliament’s vision for the next long-term EU budget. In the report adopted on Wednesday by 23 votes in favour, 9 against and with 2 abstentions, MEPs emphasise the need for a significantly more ambitious long-term EU budget (multiannual financial framework – MFF) that can […]
Read More
Commission finds Apple and Meta in breach of the Digital Markets Act
Last 23 April, the European Commission found that Apple breached its anti-steering obligation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and that Meta breached the DMA obligation to give consumers the choice of a service that uses less of their personal data. Therefore, the Commission has fined Apple and Meta with €500 million and €200 million […]
Read More
New plan to boost the EU’s circular economy
On 16 April, the European Commission adopted the 2025-2030 working plan for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and Energy Labelling Regulation. The plan provides a list of products that should be prioritised to introduce ecodesign requirements and energy labelling over the next five years. This will foster sustainable, repairable, circular and energy efficient products across Europe, in line […]
Read More