During the first quarter of 2024, guests spent 123.7 million nights in short-term rental accommodation in the EU, booked via Airbnb, Booking, Expedia Group or TripAdvisor. This corresponds to an increase of 28.3% compared with the same period in 2023. Platform tourism continued to set new monthly record values: in January 2024, 33.3 million nights […]
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EU annual budget for 2025: Council agrees its position on the draft budget
The Council’s reached an agreement on its position on the 2025 EU draft budget. In total, the Council’s position for next year’s budget amounts to €191.53 billion in commitments and €146.21 billion in payments, not including appropriations foreseen for special instruments outside the MFF. Overall, the Council takes a prudent approach. The Council stresses the […]
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European Semester 2024: Council agrees on country- specific recommendations
Today, the Council agreed its country-specific recommendations on the economic, social, employment, structural and budgetary policies of each member state. This step is part of the 2024 European Semester process, which enables member states to coordinate their economic, employment and fiscal policies. This year the European Semester cycle will be aligned with the provisions of […]
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Eurostat: House sales drop in 2023
In 2023, the number of housing transactions decreased in 13 out of the 16 EU countries for which data are available, compared with 2022. This marks the second consecutive year that the majority of reporting countries have registered drops in sales. The largest decreases in the number of transactions in 2023 were recorded in Luxembourg […]
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Know your EU passenger rights before you travel
All packed, and ready to go? For those of you heading off on a summer break soon, we hope your travel plans don’t go wrong, but if they should, you should know that EU travel rules cover passengers in a number of eventualities. Whether your flight is cancelled, your train delayed or your luggage lost […]
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EU agri-food exports keep growing steadily in the first quarter
In March 2024, the EU agri-food trade surplus reached €6.7 billion, an 8% increase from the previous month and 3% higher than March 2023. Exports increased by 4% to €20.1 billion, mainly due to increased prices for olives and olive oil. Imports remained stable, reaching €13.5 billion, but 10% lower than March 2023. These are the main findings of […]
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Eurobarometer shows most EU citizens benefit from international trade
According to the third Eurobarometer on international trade published today, over six in ten Europeans believe they benefit from international trade – an increase compared to the last such survey in 2019. The survey reveals that Europeans value the benefits brought by international trade, such as wider consumer choice and more affordable products. Furthermore, there is strong support […]
Read MoreEU Budget 2025 aims to reinforce funding for Europe’s priorities
The Commission has proposed an annual EU budget of €199.7 billion for 2025. The budget will be complemented by an estimated €72 billion of disbursements under NextGenerationEU. This substantial financial envelope will support the EU in meeting its political priorities while integrating the changes agreed in the mid-term revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in […]
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European Semester Spring Package provides policy guidance to enhance the EU’s competitiveness and resilience, and maintain sound public finances
The Commission is providing policy guidance to Member States under the 2024 European Semester Spring Package to build a robust and future-proof economy that secures competitiveness, resilience and long-term prosperity for all, while maintaining sound public finances, in the face of a challenging geopolitical environment. The EU is determined to take further steps to enhance its long-term competitiveness, […]
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