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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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EIF supports micro-enterprises and social entrepreneurs
The European Investment Fund (EIF) has signed guarantee agreements with Soria Futuro, Treball Solidari and Fundación Seira to facilitate access to finance for microenterprises and entrepreneurs in the Spanish social sector. The EIF guarantee will enable these organisations to mobilise up to EUR 12 million in favour of the Spanish social sector and reduce the […]
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New screening rules for foreign investment in the EU
On Tuesday, the International Trade Committee adopted revised rules for screening foreign investments in the EU. Under the new rules, more sectors, such as media services, critical raw materials and transport infrastructure, will be subject to mandatory screening by Member States, in order to identify and address foreign investment-related security or public order risks. The […]
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Statement by President von der Leyen on the announcement of universal tariffs by the US
“President Trump’s announcement of universal tariffs on the whole world, including the EU, is a major blow to the world economy. I deeply regret this choice. Let’s be clear-eyed about the immense consequences. The global economy will massively suffer. Uncertainty will spiral and trigger the rise of further protectionism. The consequences will be dire for […]
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Council adopts regulation on financial benchmarks to ease burden on SMEs
The Council adopted on 24 March a regulation on financial benchmarks, which aims to cut red tape for EU companies, in particular for SMEs. Benchmarks are generally used by companies and investors in the EU as a reference in their financial instruments or contracts. This Regulation amends a 2016 Regulation as regards the scope of […]
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Conference addressing the housing crisis in the European Union
On 24 March, Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis hosted a conference with the Commission to discuss ways to ensure EU citizens can access affordable housing. The conference, organised jointly with the European Commission, addressed the current housing crisis and explore measures that could be taken at EU level to tackle it. MEPs and […]
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