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 […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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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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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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Savings and investments union: better financial opportunities for EU citizens and businesses
The Commission has adopted a new strategy to channel savings into productive investments. It seeks to increase EU citizens’ participation in capital markets with broader investment options and improved financial literacy, fostering their wealth and boosting the EU economy. About 70% of household savings in the EU – worth €10 trillion – are held as bank deposits. They are safe and […]
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Commission proposes to cut red tape and simplify business environment
The European Commission has adopted new proposals that will cut red tape and simplify EU rules for citizens and business. In the recent Competitiveness Compass, the Commission set out its vision to make the EU’s economy more prosperous and competitive, building on the recommendations of the Draghi report. To regain competitiveness and unleash growth, the EU needs to foster […]
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Towards an EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy
The Commission is developing a Startup and Scaleup Strategy in 2025. Why it’s needed, how to contribute, news and events. What the Commission is doing In 2025, the European Commission will adopt an EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. The Commission has put startups, research and innovation among the key priorities of its mandate, with the goals […]
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Parliament green lights update of VAT rules to make them fit for digital times
The update will notably require that VAT be paid for services provided through online platforms, putting an end to an unfair distortion of competition. It will also fight VAT fraud. On Wednesday, Parliament’s plenary approved the changes to the rules that member states indicated in November they wished to make to the VAT Directive. MEPs […]
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