In 2020, the EU’s sparkling wine exports to countries outside the EU amounted to 494 million litres, a decrease with respect to the 528 millions litres exported in 2019. This was the first decrease in sparkling wine extra-EU exports in a decade (-6% when compared with 2019), where the pandemic significantly dampened wine trade growth as many bars and restaurants […]
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Spain’s top maritime freight transport and commerce in Algeciras, Valencia, and Barcelona
Weight of goods handled by EU ports dropped by 7% in 2020. In 2020, EU ports handled around 3.3 billion tonnes of goods in gross weight, a substantial decrease compared with 2019 (-7%). This fall can be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictions put in place across the Member States and worldwide. After reaching a new […]
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Commission fines former ethanol producer Abengoa € 20 million in cartel settlement
The Commission has fined the Spanish company Abengoa S.A. and its subsidiary Abengoa Bionenergía S.A. (together ‘Abengoa’) € 20 million for participating in a cartel concerning the wholesale price formation mechanism in the European ethanol market. Abengoa admitted its involvement in the cartel and agreed to settle the case. Abengoa, formerly one of the biggest […]
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New rules to increase toy safety
MEPs propose updating EU rules to ensure that toys sold on the European market do not put children at risk. The Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee will vote on a report on toy safety. The report contains proposals to strengthen current legislation and ensure that toys on the European market, including those imported from […]
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EU strengthens protection to prevent “economic bullying”
The European Commission has proposed a new instrument for a new, more powerful and agile trade weapon to be able to impose sanctions quickly and decisively against third countries that are subjecting an EU member state to “economic coercion”. This legal instrument is a response to the deliberate economic pressure to which the EU and […]
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Signs of recovery of the tourism sector in summer 2021
In the summer of 2021, tourism showed signs of recovery following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. August 2021 showed the most promising signs of recovery to pre-COVID figures in terms of the number of nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the EU, such as hotels, holiday and other short-stay accommodation, and campsites. August 2021 recorded a 20% decline when compared with […]
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The EU wins against the US on Spanish black olives
A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel report ruled that US countervailing duties applied on imports of ripe olives from Spain, put in place during the previous administration in 2018, are illegal under WTO rules. The EU now expects that the US will take steps to bring itself in compliance with the panel’s recommendations. Executive Vice-President […]
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EU forces more tax transparency on multinationals
As of October 2021, Panama is on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Multinational companies will have to disclose publicly how much tax they pay in each EU country, which will increase scrutiny of their tax practices. On 11 November MEPs will vote on a provisional agreement with the Council that would […]
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New road charging rules adopted by Council
The Council today gave its green light for stronger and wider road charging rules (Eurovignette directive) to incentivise cleaner and more efficient transport operations. The revised law includes a new scheme to address CO2 emissions to reduce transport’s carbon footprint in line with the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement. “These new road pricing rules and a […]
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