With growth slowing and the region facing a wide array of challenges — from the long-running Greek debt crisis to the possibility of a British exit from the European Union — the European Commission, the 28-nation bloc’s executive arm, warned on Tuesday of “high risks” and “substantial uncertainty” in the economy. Here are some highlights from the commission’s latest forecast: The European Economy “The recovery in the euro area remains uneven, both between member states and between the weakest and the strongest...

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The European Commission is today publishing its report on the EU crowdfunding sector, part of the Capital Markets Union Action Plan. Supporting innovative ways of connecting savings to growth and diversifying the funding sources for European businesses is crucial to improving growth and job creation in Europe. The report finds that crowdfunding remains relatively small but is developing rapidly. If appropriately regulated, it has the potential to be a key source of financing for SMEs over the long term. EU Member...

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The European Central Bank (ECB) today publishes a legal act adopted on 28 April 2016 relating to the second series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations (TLTRO-II). TLTRO-II is intended to reinforce the ECB’s accommodative monetary policy stance and to strengthen the transmission of monetary policy by further incentivising bank lending to the real economy. Decision ECB/2016/10 of 28 April 2016 on the second series of targeted longer-term refinancing operations defines the conditions for participation in TLTRO-II and other operational aspects. In line...

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Economic growth in Europe is expected to remain modest as key trading partners' performance has slowed and some of the so far supportive factors start to wane. As a result, GDP in the euro area is forecast to continue growing at modest rates over the 2015-2017 period. According to its spring forecast, the Commission expects euro area GDP of 1.6% in 2016 and 1.8% in 2017 after 1.7% in 2015 (Winter forecast: 2015: 1.6%, 2016: 1.7%, 2017: 1.9%). GDP...

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The fight for fair taxation in the EU is high on Parliament's agenda following the revelations as a result of LuxLeaks and the Panama papers. At a time when EU countries are struggling to recover from the crisis, MEPs are pushing for greater transparency and an end to tax unfair practices. Read on for our overview of Parliament initiatives. The new committees dealing with tax issues Parliament has set up two special committees to look into tax rulings and is in...

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An upgrade of the EU lobbyist register is in the works after the European Commission launched a public consultation on switching from voluntary to mandatory registration for anyone interested in speaking to EU institutions to influence their work. EP Vice-President Sylvie Guillaume holds a debate with experts together with Commission’s First Vice-President Frans Timmermans on 2 May at 15.00 CET in Parliament’s premises in Brussels. Follow it online and watch our video to learn more. The European Transparency Register was...

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In 2014, Germany's primary foreign direct investment stocks (outward FDI) and foreign direct investment stocks in Germany (inward FDI) rose only moderately on balance. German corporate assets abroad Claims from outward FDI rose significantly to just under €1.3 trillion in total, for which an increase in primary investment capital (+€78 billion) was primarily responsible.  Loans to German FDI companies abroad and to foreign affiliates of German companies remained virtually unchanged (€248 billion). However, liabilities from lending by foreign investment enterprises to their German investors...

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New customs rules come into force on Sunday 1 May that will make life simpler for businesses that trade in Europe and better protect consumers against illegal and counterfeit goods. The new Union Customs Code (UCC) represents a major overhaul of existing EU customs legislation, which dates back to 1992. It is a milestone for the European Customs Union, the framework which allows more than €3 trillion worth of goods to flow in and out of the EU each year. The...

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