The Commission is targeting the most damaging unfair trade practices to grant farmers and small and medium sized businesses greater certainty and less need to manage risks over which they have little or no control. The Commission proposes today to ban the more damaging unfair trading practices in the food supply chain to ensure fairer treat­ment for small and medium sized food and farming businesses. In addition, the proposal includes effective enforcement provisions: sanctions can be imposed by national authorities...

Read more

The European Commission and the European Investment Fund (EIF) have launched a Pan-European Venture Capital Funds-of-Funds programme (VentureEU) to boost investment in innovative start-up and scale-up companies across Europe. Europe boasts a wealth of talent, world-class researchers and skilled entrepreneurs, but it can do better at turning that excellence into success stories. Access to risk capital for innovation plays a key role. Today, the Commission and the EIF are announcing six participating funds to receive EU support in their mission...

Read more

Tomorrow the Commission will bring ministers, representatives of EU countries, industry, academia and civil society representatives together to encourage cooperation in artificial intelligence, blockchain, eHealth and innovation. Discussions will focus on how the technological developments will shape the future of Europe and building a strong Digital Single Market with increased investment and digital skills is crucial.  After last year's Digital Day in Rome that triggered successful cooperation in areas such as high-performance computing, connected mobility and the digitisation of industry, the Commission is...

Read more

The European Commission is today proposing to make cross-border payments in euro cheaper across the entire EU. Under current rules, there is no difference for euro area residents or businesses if they carry out euro transactions in their own country or with another euro area Member State. Today's proposal aims to extend this benefit to people and businesses in non-euro countries. This will allow all consumers and businesses to fully reap the benefits of the Single Market when they send...

Read more

by Rich Jeanneret, Vice Chair, Northeast Region Managing Partner, EY A media outlet recently reached out to hear my thoughts on the new US tax policy’s impact on the world’s economy. As I prepared for the interview, I turned to data and recent discussions I’ve had with many Fortune 500 senior executives to validate the thesis that has been formulating in my mind since tax reform became a reality. Across the globe in the past couple of years, we have been witnessing uneven...

Read more

  By the EACC Network  (Amsterdam, Brussels, Carolinas, Cincinnati, Lyon, New York, Paris, Princeton, Rome, Toulouse)   “I look around my house, and everything but the kids and dog was made in China” (P.J. O’ Rourke)   The big picture of the world economy today is fairly straightforward. With Japan fading away and India still sputtering, three blocs jump out: the US, Europe and China. The US and Europe together represent, roughly in equal parts, 10% of world population, 50% of GDP and 30% of...

Read more

By Antonio de Lecea 14 March 2018 Some in the West argue that the emerging countries have prospered from globalisation at the expense of low- and middle-income classes in advanced countries by abusing open trade. Others in the East counter that the problem is the unfair distribution in Western countries of the benefits derived from global integration. This column argues that Europe's stance on globalisation – a combination of enforcement of a level playing field at home and abroad and a...

Read more

The Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) is pleased to announce the publication of its Annual Report 2017. The Board’s working methods are by now well established. After two full years of experience, the 2017 annual report reflects on a variety of new and enhanced practices – a new range of opinions, broader application of the 'Evaluate first' principle, more comprehensive consideration of the public consultations, mandatory quantification of costs and benefits. New tools include a monitoring system to track quality improvements following Board interactions.  This system allows...

Read more