The Commission eliminated in 2017 the highest number ever of trade barriers faced by EU companies doing business abroad  The annual report on Trade and Investment Barriers, released today, shows that the European Commission has eliminated the highest number ever of trade barriers faced by EU companies doing business abroad. European exporters reported a major increase in protectionism in 2017. The report highlights that thanks to the EU's enhanced Market Access Strategy, 45 obstacles were lifted fully or in part in 2017...

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The Commission's 2018 European Innovation Scoreboard published today shows that the EU's innovation performance continues to improve, but further efforts are needed to ensure Europe's global competitiveness. Every year, the Commission publishes a comparative assessment of the innovation performance of Member States and benchmarks it with international competitors. The data helps Member States, and the EU as a whole, assess in which areas efforts need to be focused. Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: "The 2018 Scoreboard shows...

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Today, in the capital of New Zealand, Wellington, Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström and New Zealand's Minister for Trade David Parker officially launched talks for a comprehensive and ambitious trade agreement. The negotiations will aim at removing barriers to trade in goods and services, as well as developing trade rules to make trade easier and more sustainable. Today's announcement follows on the footsteps of the launch of negotiations with Australia earlier this week. It also comes soon after the conclusion of...

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Following their summit in Charlevoix on June 8-9, G7 leaders adopted a joint communiqué affirming their commitment to fight trade protectionism and to reform the World Trade Organisation among many other commitments (read the full text here). The EU, represented by President Donald Tusk with President Jean-Claude Juncker, reaffirmed its strong commitment to implement the Paris climate agreement, along with France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the UK. Despite President Trump's refusal to sign the joint communiqué, the EU stands behind the final...

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  G7 Summit: The European Union will continue to stand up for the international rules-based multilateral system  European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk represented the EU at the G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Canada. G7 leaders committed to fight trade protectionism and to reform the World Trade Organisation and urged Russia to end its actions undermining democracies and its support of the Syrian regime. They also called for the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and of Iran. Leaders vowed to work together to achieve inclusive...

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By Donald Tusk| President of the European Council  Good morning. Bonjour. When we met on the eve of our Taormina summit last year, I said that it would be the most challenging G7 in years. Unfortunately, this is even more true today. Despite the excellent preparation by our Canadian friends, including the personal engagement of Prime Minister Trudeau, our discussions here in Charlevoix will be far from easy. It is evident that the American president and the rest of the Group...

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For the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027, the Commission is proposing measures to make tax and customs cooperation between Member States better and more efficient. Continued funding of these programmes will help the EU to progress inoffering businesses unfettered and easy access to the EU's Single Market so that trade can flourish, protect citizens from dangerous goods entering the Union at our external borders and ensure that Member States are equipped to fight tax avoidance and tax evasion. Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for...

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On May 23, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation with the Netherlands.  The Netherland’s economic recovery has taken hold. Real growth is forecast to reach 3.1 percent in 2018 owing to robust domestic demand. Private consumption has been supported by rising disposable income and positive wealth effects from increasing house prices. Net exports have proven resilient to global uncertainties, pushing up the already large current account surplus. Unemployment has continued to decline rapidly,...

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