Only 5% of European start-ups scale-up and pursue the position of world tech leaders. As high growth companies are the ones largely responsible for job creation and economic benefit, this is a missed opportunity. These growth barriers are even higher for truly high-risk deep tech innovators, the main target of EIC instruments. Considering the high-tech […]
E-commerce: Council adopts new rules for exchange of VAT payment data
The Council today adopted a set of rules to facilitate detection of tax fraud in cross-border e-commerce transactions. The new measures will enable member states to collect, in a harmonised way, the records made electronically available by payment service providers, such as banks. In addition, a new central electronic system will be set up for […]
Council sets its priorities for the 2021 EU budget
The Council adopted the following conclusions setting out its priorities for the 2021 EU budget: The Council underlines that the budgetary procedure for 2021 will be the first in the new programming period 2021-2027. In this regard, the budget will play an important role in the development and delivery of the Union’s objectives and priorities. […]
Commission approves acquisition of joint control over Prosegur Alarmas by Telefónica and Prosegur
The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of joint control over Prosegur Alarmas by Telefónica and Prosegur. The Commission concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in the European Economic Area. Under the proposed acquisition, Telefónica will acquire half of the shares of Prosegur Alarmas from […]
Birth rate of enterprises in the EU
In 2017, the number of new enterprise births in the European Union (EU) as a proportion of the total number of active EU enterprises stood at 9.3 %. This rate remained stable compared with 2016 (9.3%), but it was slightly higher than the rate recorded in 2012 (9.0%). The employment generated by these newly created […]
More than money: the long-term EU budget is a tool for Europe’s future
MEPs underlined that Parliament will only give its consent to a budget that meets the European Union’s ambitions, in a debate on EU funding for 2021-2027. Talking about the budget means talking about the EU’s future, MEPs said in a key plenary debate with Nikolina Brnjac, Croatian State Secretary for Foreign and European Affairs, representing […]
Winter 2020 Economic Forecast: Offsetting forces confirm subdued growth
The Winter 2020 Economic Forecast published projects that the European economy is set to continue on a path of steady, moderate growth. The euro area has now enjoyed its longest period of sustained growth since the euro was introduced in 1999. The forecast projects that euro area gross domestic product (GDP) growth will remain stable […]
Special European Council, 20 February 2020
Agenda highlights EU heads of state or government will discuss the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027 during a special meeting of the European Council on 20 February 2020. In his invitation letter, the President of the European Council said: “The time has come to reach an agreement at our level on the multiannual financial framework.” […]
EIOPA identifies supervisory technology, pensions and cyber underwriting as new supervisory convergence priorities
The Supervisory Convergence Plan for 2020 sets out priorities and activities for the coming year, building on previous years’ work while incorporating new priorities to reflect new trends and emerging risks. Activities fall under three building blocks of supervisory onvergence: Practical implementation of the common supervisory culture and further development of supervisory tools; Risks to the internal […]