Comuniq.EU

Euro zone current account surplus widens in February

FRANKFURT, April 19 (Reuters) - The euro zone's current account surplus widened in February as imports fell thanks lower energy costs and already large net exports of services remained broadly…

Read More Here

EU passenger car sales up 28.8% to over 1 million units in March, ACEA says

April 19 (Reuters) - Passenger car registrations in the European Union rose 28.8% in March to more than one million units, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) reported on Wednesday.…

Read More Here

EU excess deaths back to pre-pandemic levels

For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no excess deaths in the EU, according to data from February. While the figure is an average…

Read More Here

Disability groups urge EU to end air travel ‘nightmare’

By Catarina Demony April 19 (Reuters) - People with disabilities in Europe still face disproportionate obstacles when flying, with denial of boarding common due to purported safety reasons often related…

Read More Here

Core euro zone inflation edges up in March, keeping ECB on alert

Headline annualised consumer inflation eases to 6.9% Edges up to 7.5% minus unprocessed food and fuel ECB tipped to hike rates by either 25 or 50 bps in May By…

Read More Here

EU proposes $1.2 billion plan to counter growing cybersecurity threats

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission announced a 1.1-billion-euro ($1.2 billion) plan to counter growing cybersecurity threats, underscoring mounting concerns about a series of high-profile hacking incidents. The growing use…

Read More Here

EU Parliament backs overhaul of Europe’s biggest climate policy

EU Parliament approves reform to carbon market Main policy to deliver EU climate goals Industries face higher costs for polluting EU to impose CO2 levy on imports of steel, cement…

Read More Here

EU plans to prevent taxpayer cash being used to save failing banks

By Huw Jones (Reuters) - The European Union proposed making it harder for states to pour billions of euros of aid into an ailing bank, as Italy did with Monte…

Read More Here

Airlines in line for green fuel funding boost under EU climate law

Airlines could be in line for 2 billion euros in European Union funding to help them switch to sustainable fuels, under reforms to strengthen Europe's climate change policies. The European Parliament on Tuesday approved…

Read More Here

Casa’s Social Climate Fund becomes law after final European Parliament approval

The European Parliament today approved the most ambitious climate package yet, with a multibillion social mechanism delivered through Casa’s Social Climate Fund. “The Social Climate Fund is the most significant…

Read More Here

Campaigners sue EU for labelling gas and nuclear investments as green

Greenpeace and other campaign groups are set to take the European Commission to court on Tuesday, seeking to overturn European Union rules that class nuclear energy and natural gas as climate-friendly investments.The…

Read More Here

EU prolongs flexibility on auto deals for distribution, repairs

BRUSSELS, April 17 (Reuters) - The European Commission has prolonged for five years rules giving the auto industry freer rein to conclude agreements with distributors, spare part retailers and repair…

Read More Here

ECB told not to take banks’ word for it when assessing risk

FRANKFURT, April 17 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank should stop relying on banks' self-assessments when setting capital requirements and do its own homework instead, independent experts said on Monday.…

Read More Here

EU lawmakers call for political attention to powerful AI

April 17 (Reuters) - Legislators from the European Parliament said on Monday that political attention needed to be focused on powerful artificial intelligence (AI), agreeing with an open letter signed…

Read More Here

EU says unilateral trade action unacceptable after Poland, Hungary ban Ukraine grain, food imports

WARSAW, April 16 (Reuters) - Unilateral action on trade by European Union member states is unacceptable, a European Commission spokesperson said on Sunday, after Poland and Hungary announced bans on…

Read More Here

China relationship will be determined by Beijing’s behaviour, EU policy chief says

By Humeyra Pamuk and Sakura Murakami KARUIZAWA, Japan, April 16 (Reuters) - The relationship between China and Europe will be determined by Beijing's behaviour, including what happens with Taiwan, the…

Read More Here

Germany’s Buch seen as favorite to be new ECB top supervisor, sources say

By Balazs Koranyi WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three women are seen as the top contenders to become the European Central Bank's new supervisory chief, with Germany's Claudia Buch considered the clear…

Read More Here

Casa calls for Venice Commission mandate to investigate Sofia inquiry refusal

MEP David Casa urged the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to raise the issue at the Assembly, and mandate an investigation into the Maltese…

Read More Here

EU cannot trust China unless it seeks peace in Ukraine -Borrell

European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell said it would be hard for Europe to trust China if it did not try to find a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. The comment was contained…

Read More Here

European privacy watchdog creates ChatGPT task force

The body that unites Europe's national privacy watchdogs said on Thursday it had set up a task force on ChatGPT, a potentially important first step toward a common policy on setting…

Read More Here

Euro zone industrial output stronger than expected in February

BRUSSELS, April 13 (Reuters) - Euro zone industrial output was stronger than expected in February, data showed on Thursday, mainly thanks to a rise in production of capital and non-durable…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Lift off of ESA Jupiter mission postponed

The European Space Agency (Esa) posponed the a satellite to the planet Jupiter, one of the organisation's most ambitious missions ever. The satellite was to leave Earth on Thursday on…

Read More Here

ECB policymakers converging on 25-bps rate hike in May – sources

By Balazs Koranyi WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - European Central Bank policymakers are converging on a 25 basis point interest rate hike in May, even if other options remain on…

Read More Here

Euro zone banks boost capital, profits, ECB data shows

April 12 (Reuters) - Euro zone banks bolstered their capital buffers and cut their bad debts in the final quarter of 2022, while higher interest rates boosted lending margins, European…

Read More Here

EU’s Borrell postpones China visit after testing positive for COVID-19

April 12 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday said he had tested positive for COVID-19 and has postponed his visit to China. Borrell said he…

Read More Here

EU concerned by Chinese drills around Taiwan, calls for restraint

BRUSSELS, April 10 (Reuters) - The European Union expressed concern on Monday over Chinese military drills around Taiwan, saying the island's status should not be changed by force as any…

Read More Here

Lithuania offers carve-outs to EU sceptics over Russia nuclear sanctions

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A new Lithuanian bid to push the European Union to impose sanctions on Russia's nuclear energy industry includes proposed exemptions for Hungary and a two-year period to…

Read More Here

EU calls for restraint, calm amid Israel-Palestinian clashes

BRUSSELS, April 8 (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday condemned the escalating violence between Israel and the Palestinians, urging all parties to exercise restraint and promote…

Read More Here

ECB may need to hike rates again in May – Lane

FRANKFURT, April 6 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank will need to raise interest rates again in May if inflation develops along the path seen in the bank's March economic…

Read More Here

Euro zone food inflation still intensifying: ECB’s Lane

NICOSIA, April 5 (Reuters) - Food inflation is still intensifying in Europe and may be the key driver of price growth now, European Central Bank chief economist Philip Lane said.…

Read More Here

EU likely to clinch deal on Chips Act on April 18

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, April 5 (Reuters) - EU countries and lawmakers are likely to clinch a deal on a multi-billion euro plan to boost the bloc's semiconductor industry…

Read More Here

Euro zone recovery gathered pace in March on demand for services -PMI

LONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - The euro zone recovery picked up pace last month but the upturn was uneven across industries and countries, according to a survey which showed price…

Read More Here

Between ‘reset’ and ‘de-risk’, EU leaders pay rare visit to China

Von der Leyen and Macron fly to Beijing First such trips since 2019 Trade risks and Ukraine in mind By Michel Rose and Laurie Chen BEIJING, April 5 (Reuters) -…

Read More Here

EU vote on human rights ‘due diligence’ looms for financial firms

Financial services companies would be required to take action if their clients were failing to protect human rights and the environment, a preliminary deal due to be voted on later…

Read More Here

EU launches LNG benchmark in attempt to tame price spikes

European Union energy regulators have launched a liquefied natural gas (LNG) benchmark price in an effort to avoid the market mirroring spikes in volatile costs for pipeline gas. The EU…

Read More Here

WATCH: NASA names woman, Black astronauts to Artemis II crew in lunar first

NASA on Monday named the first woman and the first African American ever assigned as astronauts to a lunar mission, introducing them as part of the four-member team chosen to…

Read More Here

As families struggle with medicine shortages, EU revamps drug laws

The EU is revamping laws governing the 136 billion euro ($148 billion) pharmaceuticals industry aimed at reviving investment and boosting access to affordable drugs at a time when health budgets…

Read More Here

Oil price surge changes ECB narrative only at the margins

FRANKFURT, April 3 (Reuters) - An oil production target cut announced by some of the world's top exporters is bad news for the European Central Bank as it tries to…

Read More Here

EU preparing 2040 emissions cut target to combat climate change

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, April 3 (Reuters) - The European Union is moving ahead with plans to set an emissions-cutting target for 2040, a milestone to steer the world's third-biggest…

Read More Here

EU’s von der Leyen to visit China April 5-7

BEIJING, April 3 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will visit China from April 5 to 7, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on Monday, a trip that…

Read More Here

Euro zone factory downturn deepened in March -PMI

LONDON, April 3 (Reuters) - Activity at struggling factories across the euro zone fell further last month as consumers feeling the pinch from rising living costs cut back, according to…

Read More Here

Car services groups warn of unfair competition as EU data plan stalls

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - Car services groups warned a stalled EU proposal to ensure fair access to valuable vehicle data could pave the way for unfair competition…

Read More Here

Philippine leader cheers European Commission’s move as job losses for 50,000 seafarers averted

MANILA, April 2 (Reuters) - Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on Sunday welcomed the European Commission's (EC) decision to continue recognising certificates issued by his country for Filipino seafarers, saying…

Read More Here

Ursula von der Leyen in the running to be new NATO head

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in the running to be the new head of Nato, The Sun newspaper reported, citing a diplomatic source. A number of Nato member states have suggested von der Leyen would…

Read More Here

Photo Story: Dutch King receives Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament

King Willem-Alexander (R) of The Netherlands receives the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola (L), during an audieneve at the 'Huis ten Bosch' palace in The Hague, The Netherlands,…

Read More Here

Euro zone inflation posts record drop but core prices accelerate

FRANKFURT, March 31 (Reuters) - Inflation in the euro zone dropped by the most on record in March but growth in core prices accelerated, Eurostat data showed on Friday, likely…

Read More Here

Euro zone sentiment defies expectations of rise, deteriorates in March

BRUSSELS, March 30 (Reuters) - Euro zone economic sentiment defied market expectations for another slight improvement and deteriorated in March, pulled down by a sharp decline in optimism in the…

Read More Here

China more repressive at home, assertive abroad – EU’s von der Leyen

BRUSSELS, March 30 (Reuters) - China's targeting of other countries to ensure they comply with its wishes and its human rights record point to an overall hardening of its posture,…

Read More Here

UPDATED: EU reaches deal on more ambitious renewable energy targets for 2030

BRUSSELS, March 30 (Reuters) - European Union negotiators struck a political deal on Thursday on more ambitious targets to expand the use of renewable energy by 2030, an important pillar…

Read More Here

Northern Ireland’s Orange Order says new Brexit deal needs improvement

Northern Ireland's influential Orange Order said it had voted unanimously to oppose any return of devolved government in the British province unless substantial improvements are made to a reworked post-Brexit deal…

Read More Here

EU reaches deal on service stations for EVs, alternative fuels

The European Union on Tuesday reached a provisional deal on the deployment of more service stations for cars running on electricity and alternative fuels as the bloc seeks to reduce the carbon…

Read More Here

EU banking regulator warns sector still at risk

The head of the European Banking Authority (EBA) warned that the banking sector remained very vulnerable even after measures to stem the fallout of crises at Silicon Valley Bank and…

Read More Here

EU agrees on retaliation to counter economic coercion

The European Union has agreed to allow retaliation against countries that put undue economic pressure on EU members to change their policies, such as the trade restrictions the bloc says…

Read More Here

EU and China to discuss competition policy and enforcement as relations hit low

Officials and experts from the EU and China will meet from 28 to 31 March 2023 to discuss their cooperation on competition law and enforcement in the EU and China.…

Read More Here

Half of Europeans concerned on ability to pay their bills

Almost half of European consumers (48%) were worried about being able to pay their bills, and a large majority (71%) took measures to reduce their energy consumption at home. In…

Read More Here

Alitalia must repay 400 mln euros illegal state aid, EU says

By Foo Yun Chee and Bart H. Meijer BRUSSELS, March 27 (Reuters) - Alitalia, the predecessor of Italian state-owned airline ITA Airways, will have to repay a 400 million-euro ($430…

Read More Here

EU-German deal maps legal path for e-fuel cars after 2035 -document

EU plans 2035 phaseout of new combustion engine cars EU, Germany strike deal to exempt e-fuel cars from ban EU ministers to vote on 2035 law on Tuesday By Kate…

Read More Here