The new system will allow Member States to rapidly exchange and jointly process VAT data, leading to earlier detection of suspicious networks. The launch of the Transaction Network Analysis (TNA) tool comes as recent media investigations once again laid bare the huge costs of VAT fraud for public finances, with criminal gangs profiting at the […]
Antitrust: Commission fines AB InBev €200 million for restricting cross-border sales of beer
The European Commission has fined AB InBev €200 409 000 for breaching EU antitrust rules. AB InBev, the world’s biggest beer company, has abused its dominant position on the Belgian beer market by hindering cheaper imports of its Jupiler beer from the Netherlands into Belgium. Anheuser-Busch InBev NV/SA (AB InBev) is the world’s biggest beer […]
Digital Single Market: Cheaper calls to other EU countries as of 15 May
As of 15 May, a new maximum price will apply for all international calls and SMS within the EU. As a result, consumers calling from their country to another EU country will pay a maximum amount of 19 cents per minute (+VAT) and 6 cents per SMS message (+VAT). Following the end of roaming charges […]
Can you afford to pay all your bills?
In 2018, 6.2 % of the population or around 31 million people in the European Union (EU) were severely materially deprived. This means that they cannot afford at least four of the following items, which are considered by most people to be desirable or necessary to lead an adequate life: pay their bills on time; keep their home […]
European Parliament backs key measures to boost jobs and growth
The Commission welcomes the European Parliament’s final votes on legislation putting in place the building blocks of a Capital Markets Union (CMU). This adoption of a substantial number of proposals constitutes another step forward in the completion of the CMU, one of the Juncker Commission’s top political priorities. The Capital Markets Union project has been […]
Gig economy: EU law to improve workers’ rights
Find out how new EU rules will improve the rights of the most vulnerable workers and ensure better working conditions. MEPs are set to vote on a provisional agreement reached with EU ministers on new minimum rights for all employees. This legislation grants new rights for the most vulnerable employees on atypical contracts and in […]
Protecting whistleblowers: EU safeguards for people acting in public interest
EU rules seek to protect people reporting breaches of EU law and provide incentives for those aware of wrongdoing to act in the public interest MEPs will vote on 16 April to ensure minimum common standards of protection for people reporting breaches of EU law across the EU. Currently, legislation for whistleblower protection is different […]
European Social Fund: fighting poverty and unemployment
The European Parliament is backing updated rules to tackle unemployment and high rates of poverty in the EU. The report, adopted in plenary on 4 April, proposes to increase funding for the European Social Fund in the EU’s budget for 2021-2027 with a primary focus on youth employment and children. Many people are concerned about […]
Natural gas: Parliament extends EU rules to pipelines from non-EU countries
To provide legal clarity for operators and competitive gas supply for all Europeans, MEPs approved new gas market rules to bring incoming pipelines under EU law. MEPs adopted an overhaul of EU gas market rules on Thursday with 465 votes to 95, and 68 abstentions to extend EU rules (including EU competition rules) to all […]