By Cecilia Malmström A couple of weeks ago a new EU-Canada trade agreement, known as CETA, came into force. If you're involved in a business that already exports to Canada, or is considering doing so, it's time to crack open the champagne. Why? Well, if you export goods, CETA is the tariff beater – you no longer have to pay Canadian customs duties on 98% of all products from day one, saving your company money and allowing you to compete more...

Beyond Nominal Convergence The current criteria for adopting the euro refer to nominal variables relating to the macroeconomic environment – the inflation rate, the long-term interest rate and the exchange rate – and to the budget deficit and debt ratios. However, these criteria do not necessarily reflect developments in the real economy, which can also pose challenges on the road to adopting the euro. The European debt crisis, multiple euro area accession experiences, academic analyses, as well as evidence from the...

The European Investment Bank has agreed to provide EUR 100 million to finance construction of the new Amphia Hospital in Breda. Amphia is one of the most advanced clinical hospitals in the Netherlands and the new hospital will strengthen healthcare for the North Brabant province. This is the first Dutch hospital to be financed by the EIB under the Investment Plan for Europe. During the formal ceremony in Breda finance agreements were also signed with BNG, Rabobank and ING. Supporting transformational...

GREENVILLE, South Carolina - The European American Chamber of Commerce Carolinas (EACC-Carolinas) will be hosting a cocktail reception to welcome a delegation of EU Trade Counselors in Greenville. Economic Development and Trade Officials from 20 countries in Europe are planning to attend as part of a trade mission to South Carolina planned by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.  The private event expects 100 business executives between EACC-Carolinas members and selected guests and it is scheduled for November 1st from 6:00 to 7:30pm at...

Today the European Commission publishes its first annual report on the functioning of the EU- U.S. Privacy Shield, the aim of which is to protect the personal data of anyone in the EU transferred to companies in the U.S. for commercial purposes. Andrus Ansip, Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, said: "The Commission stands strongly behind the Privacy Shield arrangement with the U.S. Making international data transfers sound, safe and secure benefits certified companies and European consumers and businesses, including EU...

Today in Washington D.C., at a key debate on how to improve the functioning of the Eurozone and Europe’s economy as a whole, European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer stressed the importance of investment in infrastructure and for a particular focus on creating the right conditions for young and innovative firms to thrive in Europe. He also said that the possibility of a new future relationship between the European Stability Mechanism and the EIB should be given “serious thought”. “Supporting...

Priorities: boosting renovations for more energy-efficient buildings supporting infrastructure for electrical vehicles in new buildings better monitoring of buildings energy performance to reduce costs New measures to ensure that all new buildings in the EU are as energy-efficient as possible by 2050 were agreed by the Industry and Energy Committee. Rules to channel the focus towards energy-efficiency and cost-effectiveness when existing buildings are renovated in the EU were approved on Wednesday by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). This...