Yesterday, the European Commission has formally sent TikTok and YouTube requests for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission is requesting the companies to provide more information on the measures they have taken to comply with their obligations related to protection of minors under the DSA, including the obligations related to risk assessments […]
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Instant payments: Council and Parliament reach provisional agreement
The Council and the European Parliament have reached a political agreement on the instant payments proposal, which will improve the availability of instant payment options in euro to consumers and businesses in the EU and in EEA countries. The new rules will improve the strategic autonomy of the European economic and financial sector as they will help reduce any excessive reliance […]
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Trade in electric and hybrid cars continued to grow in 2022 in the EU
Between 2017 and 2022, the trade of electric and hybrid cars in the EU registered a staggering increase. In 2022, 42% of the total number of cars imported were electric or hybrid, indicating an increase of 35 percentage points (pp) compared with 2017. The change in exports was also clear with a 24 pp increase in 2022 (26% of the total number of […]
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Commission adopts new proposal on combining transport modes for more sustainable freight
The proposal on combined transport aims to make freight transport more sustainable by improving the competitiveness of intermodal freight – the transportation of goods using two or more transport modes – vis-à-vis road-only transport. The proposal updates the current Combined Transport Directive and completes the Greening Freight Package, the bulk of which was adopted in July 2023. The package will […]
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Commission sends request for information to AliExpress under the Digital Services Act
Yesterday, the European Commission formally sent AliExpress a request for information under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The Commission is requesting AliExpress to provide more information on the measures it has taken to comply with obligations related to risk assessments and mitigation measures to protect consumers online, in particular with regard to the dissemination of […]
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Better consumer protection: new EU rules for defective products
The EU wants to update the existing rules for defective products to better protect consumers and keep up with the development of new technologies. The existing Product Liability Directive was adopted almost 40 years ago. In September 2022, the European Commission published a proposal to adapt the guidelines to address the technological advantages newer products may […]
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EU food prices: olive oil up 75% since January 2021
After substantial increases in 2022, food prices in the EU continued to rise also in 2023. Data for the second and third quarters of this year show that the prices of some items registered a slower increase. In September 2023, prices of eggs, butter and potatoes in the EU are higher than in January 2021 […]
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EU-Japan agreement on cross-border data flows
The EU and Japan have concluded, on the margins of the G7 Trade Ministerial in Osaka, a landmark deal to make doing business in the online world easier, less costly and more efficient. The agreement was concluded at the EU-Japan High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED), co-chaired by European Commission Executive Vice-President, Valdis Dombrovskis, Japanese Minister of Economy, […]
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The European Commission clears the creation of a joint venture between Iberdrola and BP
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of a joint venture between Iberdrola, S.A. of Spain and BP, p.l.c. of the United Kingdom. The operation mainly concerns the markets for the installation, operation and maintenance of a public network of electric vehicle charging stations with fast and ultra-fast charging speeds […]
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