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EU and US to pledge joint action over China concerns

By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, May 13 (Reuters) - Washington and the EU will pledge joint action to tackle concerns focused on China about non-market practices and coordinate their export controls on semiconductors…

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Malta gets first European Bench on Campus

The first European Bench in Malta was launched today at the University of Malta Campus in Msida by MEP Alex Agius Saliba with JEF Malta and the European Parliament Office…

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EU plans to tweak China policy but keep balanced approach

By Andrew Gray STOCKHOLM, May 12 (Reuters) - The European Union's diplomatic service has set out plans to recalibrate the bloc's China policy, aiming to reduce the risks of economic…

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ECB now closer to final stages of rate hiking cycle, ECB’s De Cos says

MADRID, May 11 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is now closer to the final stages of its interest rate raising cycle, ECB's policymaker Pablo Hernandez de Cos said on…

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EU power trading value soared 58% to record high in 2022 – report

LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - The notional value of wholesale power trades in Europe's main markets soared by 58% last year to a record high of 1,314 billion euros, researchers…

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EU lawmakers’ committees agree to tougher draft AI rules

By Foo Yun Chee, Martin Coulter and Supantha Mukherjee May 11 (Reuters) - European lawmakers came a step closer to passing new rules regulating artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT,…

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Euro zone consumers raise inflation expectations – ECB survey

FRANKFURT, May 11 (Reuters) - Euro zone consumers raised their inflation expectations in March, even as the rate of price growth fell and the European Central Bank kept raising interest…

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EU’s Vestager says ‘all options on the table’ after Lufthansa/SAS rulings

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - The European Union's top competition official said "all options" were on the table but did not indicate what her next steps could be after Lufthansa and SAS…

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ECB must be ‘extremely attentive’ to wages, Lagarde says

TOKYO, May 10 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank must be "extremely attentive" to factors that may fuel inflation further, such as wage growth, ECB President Christine Lagarde said in…

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No quick deal in sight as EU countries start talks on new Russia sanctions

By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, May 10 (Reuters) - European Union states hold a first discussion on Wednesday on proposed new sanctions over Russia's war in Ukraine that would target Chinese…

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Increasing ammunition production is about the EU’s credibility, Breton tells parliament

The European Parliament on Tuesday (May 9) will vote on a Commission proposal to increase ammunition production to help Ukraine and replenish the stocks of EU member countries. Under the…

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EU’s China envoy says consultancy crackdown, anti-spy law worrying for business

The European Union's ambassador to China said on Tuesday that a broadening of Beijing's anti-espionage law and investigations into consultancies operating there were concerning and could hurt efforts to open…

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EU draft Data Act puts trade secrets at risk, Siemens, SAP say

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) - German business software maker SAP and German engineering company Siemens have joined U.S. tech giants in criticising draft EU laws on…

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Euro zone investor morale unexpectedly dips in May

BERLIN, May 8 (Reuters) - Investor morale in the euro zone took a surprising dip in May, with stubborn inflation and energy concerns upending expectations of a spring recovery, a…

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UPDATED: EU takes aim at Chinese firms, third country exports to tighten Russia sanctions – sources

By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) - The European Union's executive has proposed blacklisting several Chinese companies and curbing exports to nations seen as involved in bypassing Russia trade…

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Poland to call for EU sanctions on imports of Russian farm products

WARSAW, May 6 (Reuters) - Poland will demand European Union sanctions on imports of Russian farm products, its ambassador to the EU Andrzej Sados was quoted as saying on Saturday…

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Photo Story: Visitors attend European Institutions Open Day in Brussels

A visitor draped in a Flag of Europe poses in front of a picture of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the VIP reception lounge of the EU…

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Euro zone retail sales fall more than expected in March

FRANKFURT, May 5 (Reuters) - Retail sales in the euro zone fell more than expected in March, Eurostat said on Friday, as rapid inflation and rising interest rates ate deep…

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Euro zone inflation could hold above target -ECB survey

FRANKFURT, May 5 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation could be lower in the coming years than previously expected but may stay above the European Central Bank's 2% target further out,…

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Euro zone companies are slowing price hikes – ECB poll

FRANKFURT, May 5 (Reuters) - Euro zone companies are raising prices at a more moderate pace as their costs stabilise, demand cools and competition mounts, although growing wages remain a…

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UPDATED: UBS expects ECB to deliver another 25 bp rate hike in July before taking pause

May 5 (Reuters) - UBS economists said the European Central Bank (ECB) was likely to hike interest rate by another 25 basis points (bps) in July, lifting the benchmark for…

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Euro zone April business activity grows on strong services demand – PMI

By Indradip Ghosh BENGALURU, May 4 (Reuters) - Growth in euro zone business activity sped up in April, though less than initially indicated, as robust services more than offset a…

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UPDATED: ECB raises rates by 25 bps in inflation fight

Debate was between 25 and 50 bps hikes Decision in line with market, analyst expectations Inflation remains too high and stubborn Hike was 7th straight, but so far the smallest…

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Kosovo, Serbia fail to agree on lowering tensions in north Kosovo, says EU policy chief

Leaders of Kosovo and Serbia failed to agree on how to lower tensions in Serb-majority areas in north Kosovo, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday, warning that any further escalation could undermine…

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Euro zone banks slowed lending further in March, ECB says

Bank lending to euro zone companies and households slowed again in March as higher interest rates and an uncertain economic outlook appeared to put a dampener on credit, European Central Bank data…

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Behind EU lawmakers’ challenge to rein in ChatGPT and generative AI

By Martin Coulter and Supantha Mukherjee LONDON/STOCKHOLM, April 28 (Reuters) - As recently as February, generative AI did not feature prominently in EU lawmakers' plans for regulating artificial intelligence technologies…

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EU tweaks draft patent rules making it easier for patent holders to sue

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission has tweaked draft patent rules to make it easier for patent holders to sue companies over royalty disputes following criticism…

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Pfizer, BioNTech propose EU pays half for each cancelled COVID dose – FT

April 30 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's new proposal to the European Union, amid a glut of COVID-19 shots, includes a provision for member states to pay half price,…

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EU curbs Syria’s Assad cousins, others over suspected drug trade

(Reuters) - The European Union this week placed sanctions on people and groups linked to what it described as the Syrian government's "large-scale drug trafficking operations," and the EU also…

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EU tech tsar Vestager sees political agreement on AI law this year

TAKASAKI, April 30 (Reuters) - European Union tech regulation chief Margrethe Vestager said on Sunday the bloc will likely reach a political agreement this year that will pave the way…

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ECB should keep raising rates until mid-2024, EU must tighten fiscal policy -IMF

The International Monetary Fund called on the European Central Bank on Friday to keep raising interest rates until the middle of 2024 and on European Union finance ministers to tighten fiscal policy…

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EU sets out patent rules for smart technology to limit law suits

By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, April 27 (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed rules on Thursday to govern patents increasingly in demand for technologies used in smart devices such as drones,…

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EU macrofinancial assistance for Tunisia is conditioned to deal on IMF programs

BRUSSELS, April 27 (Reuters) - Any EU deal on macrofinancial assistance for Tunisia would be conditioned to the nation's closing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, the EU Commission…

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EU agrees binding green fuel targets for aviation

By Kate Abnett and Sudip Kar-Gupta BRUSSELS, April 26 (Reuters) - The European Union has agreed a deal to set binding targets for airlines in Europe to increase their use…

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EU publishes proposed drug laws overhaul, setting up tussle with industry

Reforms will be biggest changes to EU's medical laws in 20 years EU says new incentives system will improve access to medicines Pharma industry warns it will invest and innovate…

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EU countries should focus on net expenditure, cut debt over 4 years -EU executive

By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, April 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed on Wednesday that, under a reform of the EU's fiscal rules, governments should make sure public debt falls…

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EU regulators set out ideas to plug climate ‘insurance gap’

Issuing "catastrophe bonds" and setting up public-private partnerships could help plug the "insurance gap" to better cover damage from climate change, a discussion paper from the European Central Bank and European Union…

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Italy touts money for reforms as EU discusses upheaval in Tunisia

By Gabriela Baczynska and John Irish BRUSSELS/PARIS, April 24 (Reuters) - Italy offered Tunisia a prospect of money in exchange for economic and political reforms as European Union foreign ministers…

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Climate change fight a ‘core duty’ for central banks – ECB’s Villeroy

By Marc Jones LONDON, April 24 (Reuters) - France's central bank governor François Villeroy de Galhau has pushed back against criticism of central banks' increasing involvement in the fight against…

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UPDATED: China says it respects sovereignty of ex-Soviet states, after EU uproar over Ukraine comment

By Andrew Gray and Ingrid Melander LUXEMBOURG, April 24 (Reuters) - China respects the status of former Soviet member states as sovereign nations, its foreign ministry said on Monday, after…

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EU will keep pushing for settlement in Sudan, Borrell says

LUXEMBOURG, April 24 (Reuters) - The European Union will keep working for a political settlement to the conflict in Sudan despite the recent evacuation of diplomatic staff and other EU…

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UPDATED: EU’s Borrell sees deal soon to buy ammunition for Ukraine

By Andrew Gray LUXEMBOURG, April 24 (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed confidence on Monday that the bloc would finalise a plan within days to buy ammunition…

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EU court ups the pressure on Italy over tenders for beach licences

ROME, (Reuters) - The European Union this week raised the pressure on Italy over freeing up the market for beach club licences, which the bloc's court of justice said must…

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EU updates bank crisis rules to strengthen taxpayer shield

(Reuters) - The European Union set out draft reforms to rules for closing down failing banks this week. The original rules were introduced after the 2007-09 global financial crisis when…

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ECB says 16 euro zone banks fall short of climate demands, may face penalties

15% of banks fail to disclose enough information ECB can name, fine banks that don't comply Capital requirements can be increased too Banks must make first disclosure by June FRANKFURT,…

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EU’s top court halves daily fine on Poland in judiciary dispute

WARSAW, April 21 (Reuters) - The European Union's top court has halved the daily fine imposed on Poland in a dispute over judicial reforms to 500,000 euros, it said on…

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Euro zone recovery unexpectedly gathering pace in April -PMI

April 21 (Reuters) - The euro zone economic recovery has unexpectedly gathered pace this month as the bloc's dominant services industry saw already buoyant demand rise, more than offsetting a…

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Photo Story: Czech President Petr Pavel visits EU institutions

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola (L) and Czech President Petr Pavel visit the Vaclav Havel bench in memory of the former Czech president at Leopold Park ahead of a meeting…

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EU presidency warns against Bosnian Serb secession threats

SARAJEVO, April 20 (Reuters) - The European Union warned against secessionist threats by Bosnia's autonomous Serb Republic and laws limiting media freedom and LGBT rights that could undermine Bosnia's progress…

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EU lawmakers demand obligatory hosting of migrants under looming overhaul

By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, April 20 (Reuters) - European Union lawmakers voted on Thursday to require member countries to host some of the refugees and migrants coming to the bloc…

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EU, Norway plan cooperation on carbon capture, hydrogen, draft shows

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, April 20 (Reuters) - The European Union and Norway aim to work together to develop infrastructure to capture and store CO2 emissions and scale up renewable…

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ECB’s Knot ‘not uncomfortable’ with terminal rate market expectations

DUBLIN, April 20 (Reuters) - European Central Bank (ECB) policymaker Klaas Knot is "not uncomfortable" with current market expectations which envisage interest rates rising to around 3.85% from 3% currently,…

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Women facing violence, forced marriage may get EU refugee status, top court adviser says

PARIS, April 20 (Reuters) - Women from outside the European Union at risk of "honour" crimes, forced marriages or domestic violence in their country of origin may be granted refugee…

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Photo Story: Official launch ceremony of the FRONTEX Joint Operation in North Macedonia

Members of FRONTEX talk prior to the official launch ceremony of the FRONTEX Joint Operation in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia, 20 April 2023. It is planned that in 2023,…

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EU parliament backs world’s first comprehensive rules for cryptoassets

By Huw Jones LONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly backed the European Union's first set of rules to regulate cryptoasset markets. Parliament voted by 517…

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EU’s top court rules Italy can’t allow beach concessions to keep control of the sandy shore

Italy can't allow beach clubs to keep control of the sandy shore until 2033, the European Union's top court ruled on Thursday. While Italy's seafront is public property, large parts…

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Germany, Italy push euro zone into trade surplus in Feb

BRUSSELS, April 20 (Reuters) - The euro zone swung to a trade surplus in February from a deficit a year earlier, non-adjusted data showed on Thursday, mainly thanks to a…

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