"There are many young, socially minded people in Europe willing to make a meaningful contribution to society and help show solidarity. We can create opportunities for them to do so." - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, 14 September 2016 On 7 December, European Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva will launch the European Solidarity Corps as of 13.00 with the participation of a wide range of organisations and many young people in the Skyshelter dome on the Schuman roundabout in Brussels. Young...

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Market integration, better regulation, strengthened public sector capacities and improved access to finance all help counter low investment and secure a brighter economic future. “Breaking Down Investment Barriers at Ground Level”, a new report from the European Investment Bank (EIB), finds that investment in the European Union is hampered by the insufficient functioning of the internal market, as well as administrative burdens, regulatory fragmentation, constraints of public-sector promoters to procure and implement large infrastructure projects and, not least, the...

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Today, the Commission is launching the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition, together with Member States, companies, social partners, NGOs and education providers, to help meet the high demand for digital skills in Europe which are essential in today's job market and society. The Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition is one of the ten key initiatives proposed by the Commission under the New Skills Agenda for Europe, presented in June this year. Today a series of partners, including over 30 organisations...

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The European Commission has today unveiled a series of measures to improve the Value Added Tax (VAT) environment for e-commerce businesses in the EU. Our proposals will allow consumers and companies, in particular start-ups and SMEs, to buy and sell goods and services more easily online. By introducing an EU wide portal for online VAT payments (the 'One Stop Shop'), VAT compliance expenses will be significantly reduced, saving businesses across the EU €2.3 billion a year. The new rules will...

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