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 […]
Read More
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 […]
Read More
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 […]
Read More
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 […]
Read More
Commission announces actions for safe and sustainable e-commerce imports
The Commission is taking action to tackle risks stemming from low-value imports sold via non-EU online retailers and marketplaces hosting non-EU traders. These actions are part of the Communication on E-Commerce, ‘A Comprehensive EU Toolbox for Safe and Sustainable E-commerce’, which the Commission is proposing today. The Commission encourages actions, among others, in the areas of […]
Read More
What is the Competitiveness Compass?
A new framework to rekindle economic productivity and secure the EU’s competitive edge has been presented by the European Commission. The Competitiveness Compass builds on the recommendations set out in Mario Draghi’s report on the future of European competitiveness. It will steer the EU’s work on competitiveness over the next five years and translate the report’s recommendations […]
Read More
Commission calls on Member States to review outbound investments and assess risks to economic security
The Commission published on the 15t a Recommendation calling on EU Member States to review outbound investments of their companies into non-EU countries. The Recommendation applies to three technology areas of strategic importance as well as the highest risk – semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies – and calls on Member States to assess risks to economic security potentially […]
Read More
House prices and rents went up in Q3 2024
In the third quarter of 2024, house prices in the EU went up by 3.8%, while rents increased by 3.2% compared with the third quarter of 2023. Compared with the second quarter of 2024, house prices increased by 1.4% and rents by 0.9%. This information comes from data on house prices and rents published by Eurostat today. This article presents […]
Read More
Spanish group NorteGas backed with €80 million to build biomethane plants in Spain
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted Nortegas Group a framework financing of up to €80 million to enable group subsidiary Nortegas Renovables to finance the construction of biomethane plants in Spain and launch a digital operations centre. The EIB and InvestEU-financed project will enable the development of the first phase of Nortegas Renovables’ strategic plan, […]
Read More