The European Commission has presented a key initiative to fight against the misuse of shell entities for improper tax purposes. This proposal should ensure that entities in the European Union that have no or minimal economic activity are unable to benefit from any tax advantages and do not place any financial burden on taxpayers. This […]
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Tourism nights booked online drop by almost 50% in 2020
In 2020, guests spent around 272 million nights in short-term rental accommodation in the EU booked via Airbnb, Booking, Expedia Group or Tripadvisor, representing a decrease of around 47% compared with 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. These data on short-stay accommodation offered via these platforms are the result of a landmark agreement between the European Commission and […]
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Long-term unemployment in the EU requires more targeted measures
Long-term unemployment can have serious consequences, both for the unemployed and for growth and public finances. Even so, according to a report published by the European Court of Auditors, the measures taken to combat it are not sufficiently targeted. Since 2014, the EU has funded through the European Social Fund (ESF) various measures to promote […]
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The European Commission proposes a reform of the Schengen Area
The Commission is proposing updated rules to reinforce the governance of the Schengen area. The targeted changes will bring greater EU coordination and better equip Member States to deal with emerging challenges when managing both the EU’s common external border and internal borders within the Schengen area. The update seeks to ensure that reintroducing internal […]
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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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The Commission approves an aid of ¤3,000 to promote R&D&I in Spain
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €3 billion Spanish scheme to support research, development and innovation (RD&I), as well as environmental protection and energy efficiency measures of companies in the value chain for electric and connected vehicles. The measure will help Spain to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable […]
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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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