The new year can be a great opportunity to make a change, face a new challenge or expand your horizons. In terms of employment, this could mean accessing a new industry or even embarking on a new career. However, in a competitive job market, how can you maximize your chances of success? How about focusing […]
European Citizens’ Initiative: Commission registers ‘#NewRightsNow’ initiative
#NewRightsNow’ initiative The European Commission has today decided to register a European Citizens’ Initiative entitled ‘#NewRightsNow – Strengthening the rights of “uberised” workers’. The organisers call on the Commission to ‘establish an obligation for digital platforms to pay a guaranteed minimum income to self-employed people who regularly work for them.’ The organisers argue such measures […]
European Parliament confirms that the 2017 EU budget was well-managed
The European Parliament today gave its final approval, known as ‘discharge’, to the way in which the European Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, managed and implemented the EU budget in 2017. The positive vote follows from the European Court of Auditors’ decision to give the EU annual accounts a clean bill of health for […]
Employment and social developments in Europe: Record number of people in employment, but more investment in skills needed
The spring edition of the Commission’s Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) Quarterly Review published today shows that the number of people in employment and the number of hours worked continues to rise. Hours worked are finally above the peak of 2008. Most of the jobs created are permanent and full time jobs. But growth is […]
Car rentals: EU action leads to clearer and more transparent pricing
Following a call from the European Commission and EU consumer authorities, five industry leaders, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise, Hertz and Sixt, have changed the way they present car rental prices, making them fully transparent to consumers. Until now, the companies concerned had not fully implemented some of their commitments in order for the European Commission and EU consumer […]
Antitrust: Commission fines Nike €12.5 million for restricting cross-border sales of merchandising products
The European Commission has fined Nike €12.5 million for banning traders from selling licensed merchandise to other countries within the EEA. This restriction concerned merchandising products of some of Europe’s best-known football clubs and federations, for which Nike held the licence. Licensed merchandising products are extremely varied (e.g. mugs, bags, bedsheets, stationery, toys) but all […]
Deal agreed to protect consumers against misleading and unfair practices
Updates to EU consumer protection rules to tackle misleading rankings in online marketplaces and dual quality of products were provisionally agreed on Friday. Transparency rules for online rankings and reviews Online marketplaces and comparison services (e.g. Amazon, eBay, AirBnb, Skyscanner) will have to disclose the main parameters determining how offers resulting from a search query […]