Workers will be better represented in EU-based multinational companies thanks to new rules for the so-called European Works Councils (EWCs). These Councils ensure that employees are involved in decisions related to transnational issues, like re-structurings. They help workers anticipate and manage changes in the world of work, including labour shortages and new technologies. Around 1,000 EWCs currently represent nearly 11.3 million European employees. While these Councils represent more than half of the eligible workforce, this is still less than a third of the estimated almost...

The Council and Parliament found a provisional agreement on parts of the anti-money laundering package that aims to protect EU citizens and the EU's financial system against money laundering and terrorist financing. "This agreement is part and parcel of the EU’s new anti-money laundering system. It will improve the way national systems against money laundering and terrorist financing are organised and work together. This will ensure that fraudsters, organised crime and terrorists will have no space left for legitimising their...

Global growth is set to slow further this year, amid the lagged and ongoing effects of tight monetary policy, restrictive financial conditions, and feeble global trade and investment. Downside risks to the outlook include an escalation of the recent conflict in the Middle East and associated commodity market disruptions, financial stress amid elevated debt and high borrowing costs, persistent inflation, weaker-than-expected activity in China, trade fragmentation, and climate-related disasters. Against this backdrop, policy makers around the world face enormous...

AI will affect almost 40 percent of jobs around the world, replacing some and complementing others. We need a careful balance of policies to tap its potential Kristalina Georgieva We are on the brink of a technological revolution that could jumpstart productivity, boost global growth and raise incomes around the world. Yet it could also replace jobs and deepen inequality. The rapid advance of artificial intelligence has captivated the world, causing both excitement and alarm, and raising important questions about its potential...

Households' financial investment increased at annual rate of 1.9% in third quarter of 2023, after 2.1% in previous quarter Non-financial corporations' financing grew at broadly unchanged rate of 0.7% Non-financial corporations' gross operating surplus increased at annual rate of 2.2%, after 5.9% in previous quarter Chart 1 Household financing and financial and non-financial investment (Annual growth rates) Sources: ECB and Eurostat. Chart 2 Data for household financing and financial and non-financial investmentNFC gross-operating surplus, non-financial investment and financing (annual growth rates) Source: ECB and Eurostat. Data for NFC gross-operating surplus, non-financial investment and...

Background: The Global Minimum Tax (GMT) represents a major step forward in international cooperation on the taxation of multinational enterprises (MNEs). It will ensure that MNEs with revenues above EUR 750 million are subject to a 15% effective minimum tax rate wherever they operate. The GMT, introduced by the Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Rules, is a key part of Pillar Two of the two-pillar solution. Agreed by over 135 member jurisdictions of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion...

Member states’ EU ambassadors today agreed on the Council’s partial negotiating mandate on the proposed Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The platform will support investments in critical technologies in the fields of digital and deep tech, clean tech and biotech in the EU. It will reduce the EU’s strategic dependencies and enhance its long-term competitiveness. The Council’s negotiating mandate is partial, because its position on additional financial support for STEP will depend on the final outcome of the horizontal negotiations...