Trade defence tools play an essential role in protecting EU jobs by promoting fairness and a level playing field, according to the 2023 Report on EU Trade Defence Activities, adopted yesterday. A total of 182 trade defence measures were in place in the EU at the end of 2023, including 156 anti-dumping measures, 25 anti-subsidy measures, and […]
Read More
Rail market opening: competition leads to lower ticket prices, EU study finds
A study released by the European Commission today highlights the user benefits of competition in both passenger rail and rail freight services. It reveals that increased competition in the EU rail market has resulted in significant reductions in ticket prices for rail passengers and in freight transportation costs. Efficiency gains are evident across all segments – passenger open access, public […]
Read More
Commission opens WTO consultations on China’s anti-subsidy investigation on EU dairy products
The Commission has today launched a request for consultation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), challenging China’s initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation against imports of certain EU dairy products. This is the first time that the EU has decided to challenge an investigation at its initial stage. The EU’s action has been prompted by an […]
Read More
Commission report shows social investments and reforms support competitiveness, economic growth and social inclusion
Social investments and reforms in key areas can boost employment, social inclusion, competitiveness and economic growth. This is the main finding of the Commission’s 2024 Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) report. Reforms and financial support for early childhood education and care, skills development, lifelong learning, vocational training and certain job support schemes are particularly […]
Read More
European Commission reinforces support for Ukraine by proposing comprehensive financial assistance package
The European Commission last week took a decisive step towards strengthening support for Ukraine by proposing a comprehensive financial assistance package, consisting of a loan cooperation facility with Ukraine of up to 45 billion euros and an exceptional macro-financial assistance loan of up to 35 billion euros. This package leverages extraordinary profits from immobilised Russian […]
Read More
Mario Draghi outlines his plan to improve Europe’s competitiveness
On Tuesday, Mario Draghi outlined his blueprint for improving Europe’s competitiveness through closer cooperation in core areas and massive investment in shared objectives. Mr Draghi, author of a report on European competitiveness requested by the President of the European Commission, said that the EU needed to focus on three crucial issues: closing the innovation gap […]
Read More
Employment rate up, labour market down in Q2 2024
In the second quarter of 2024, the employment rate of people aged 20-64 in the EU stood at 75.8%, an increase of 0.2 percentage points (pp) compared with the first quarter of 2024. Labour market slack – encompassing those with unmet employment needs, a large part of which includes unemployed persons – amounted to 11.0% of the extended labour force aged 20-64 in […]
Read More
The Governing Council of the ECB decided today to reduce the interest rate on the deposit facility by 25 basis points
The Governing Council today decided to lower the deposit facility rate – the rate through which it steers the monetary policy stance – by 25 basis points. Based on the Governing Council’s updated assessment of the inflation outlook, the dynamics of underlying inflation and the strength of monetary policy transmission, it is now appropriate to […]
Read More
EU extends individual sanctions over Russia’s war on Ukraine for six months
The Council decided today to prolong the restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for another six months, until 15 March 2025. The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed […]
Read More