The European Commission has adopted a Recommendation for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations for an EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar. The Commission also presented its proposal for negotiating guidelines. It is now for the Council to adopt this draft mandate, after which the Commission can begin formal negotiations with the United Kingdom. Gibraltar […]
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CJEU: the sound produced when a beverage can is opened cannot be registered as a trademark since it has no distinctive character
The Court gives a ruling for the first time on the registration of a sound mark submitted in audio format An audio file containing the sound made by the opening of a drinks can, followed by silence and a fizzing sound, cannot be registered as a trade mark in respect of various drinks and for […]
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European Green Deal: transformation of EU economy and society to meet climate ambitions
The European Commission has adopted a package of proposals to make the EU’s climate, energy, land use, transport and taxation policies fit for reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. Achieving these emission reductions in the next decade is crucial to Europe becoming the world’s first climate-neutral […]
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Reducing unemployment: EU policies explained
After uneployment in the EU had steadily increased since 2013, the Covid-19 pandemic led to a rise in 2020. Find out how the EU works to reduce unemployment and fight poverty. Although EU labour market conditions and workers’ rights have significantly improved in recent years, the fight against unemployment and the consequences of the Covid crisis remain […]
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Why is EU funding for regions so important?
EU funding will help regions recover from the Covid crisis, whilst reducing disparities, making them greener and creating jobs. Revamping EU regional policy During a plenary session in June 2021, Parliament adopted a cohesion package, including the main regional funds the European Regional Development and Cohesion Fund and the European Territorial Goal of the regional […]
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New VAT rules for e-commerce in the EU
New value added tax (VAT) rules for online shopping came into force this week. This development comes in the context of efforts to ensure a more level playing field for all businesses, simplify cross-border e-commerce and introduce greater transparency for EU shoppers in terms of prices and choice. The EU VAT system was last updated […]
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European Commission endorses Spain’s recovery and resilience plan
The European Commission has adopted a positive assessment of Spain’s recovery and resilience plan. This is an important step towards the EU disbursing €69.5 billion in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) over the period 2021-2026. This financing will support the implementation of the crucial investment and reform measures outlined in Spain’s recovery […]
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EU and US take decisive step to end aircraft dispute
European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai reached an understanding relating to large civil aircraft, transforming almost 17 years of disputes into a forward-looking, collaborative platform to address bilateral issues as well as global challenges. Both sides will now seek to overcome long-standing differences in order to avoid future litigation and preserve […]
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22 billion euros in new European Partnerships for social challenges
Today, the Commission launched 11 new European Partnerships together with industry, to boost investments in research and innovation and to overcome major climate and sustainability challenges, towards making Europe the first climate neutral economy and delivering on the European Green Deal. In line with the goals of the ‘twin’ green and digital transition, the Partnerships […]
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