Single Market Archives | Euractiv

EU lawmakers agree on quick fix for food chain rules

Maria Simon — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:50:44 +0000

EU retailers fear the regulation could trap them in legal limbo

Europe lacks muscle to compete – the Merger Guidelines review must fix this

Alkistis Damianakou — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 10:00:38 +0000

Few words have been used as frequently in Brussels this year as “competitiveness”. The mission statement for the new Commission at the start of the year was to restore Europe to a leadership position on the global stage. Implicit in that is the acceptance that the continent has fallen behind other major economies and that […]

Influential conservative MEPs fire back at EU Space Act regulation

Théophane Hartmann — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:53:00 +0000

A directive would have allowed national authorities to make better use of their “long-standing experience and expertise,” said Niebler.

EU launches regulatory rocket at space players – including Elon Musk

Théophane Hartmann — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:45:19 +0000

The EU executive is aiming to regulate foreign firms as well as its own fast-growing space sector.

Driving Europe’s Competitiveness

Laurine Augere — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 05:00:53 +0000

The PES’ 10 Ambitious Objectives for Industry and the Single Market

EU Commission White Paper sets out steps for ‘single market for defence’

Aurélie Pugnet — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 18:07:04 +0000

The Commission also listed seven areas in which there are “several different critical capability projects” and where EU countries needed to prioritise spending.

Commission unofficially announces EU space market regulation

Théophane Hartmann — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 08:02:51 +0000

With the Commission set to officially publish its work programme on 11 February, the status of the EU Space Law as a regulation or a directive will be officially confirmed.

Europe’s Competitive Future: Innovation, Investment, and Empowerment

Alkistis Damianakou — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:00:16 +0000

The key to unlocking Europe’s potential lies in harnessing new technology to revitalise the economy, and in empowering citizens and SMEs.

EU’s beauty sector growth threatened by regulation, limited R&D

Brian Maguire — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 22:11:20 +0000

The European cosmetics and personal care sector, valued at €96 billion and supporting over 3.5 million jobs, faces significant challenges due to regulatory complexities and limited support for innovation.

Singing from the same hymn sheet, why standardisation is crucial for EU candidate countries

Brian Maguire — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 01:23:03 +0000

As the Western Balkans and other candidate countries steadily make their way to the European Union, alignment with European standards and regulations is a crucial tool that can facilitate their integration, especially in the Single Market.

Security and unity challenges awaiting EU’s first defence commissioner

Evi Kiorri — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 04:00:06 +0000

Andris Kubilius, the EU’s first-ever defence commissioner, faces two monumental tasks: to unite member states on defence policy amid rising global threats and to create a true single defence market in the EU.

Recommitting to European Standards is key for a strong Single Market

Siofra Gilmore — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 05:00:44 +0000

Very often, European standards go unnoticed. And yet, they are an essential tool that makes sure that may of the things in our daily lives function efficiently, everywhere in Europe. Among them, the Single Market.

Breton’s resignation could mark a new chapter for EU digital policy

Théophane Hartmann — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 15:31:22 +0000

The resignation of now-former Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, known as the key architect of the EU’s current digital agenda, is viewed by some as a chance to reshape what has often been criticised for being controversial.

EU retailers warn of market fragmentation amid calls to tackle food chain imbalances

Maria Simon — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:24:12 +0000

The EU should avoid ‘counterproductive’ measures when tackling farmers’ position in the supply chain and instead remove barriers to investment, Christel Delberghe, director general of retailers’ association EuroCommerce, told Euractiv.

Massive stockpiling of medicines increases patient risks, warns EU coalition

Vasiliki Angouridi — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:00:05 +0000

A coalition of six EU member states has warned against some countries' massive stockpiling of medicines, warning that such practices might cause significant shortages in other parts of the European Union.

Do We Have All the Right Networks for the Future?

Maria Polynaki — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:00:04 +0000

The EU Single Market is an achievement. Now, we need a true Digital Single Market. Companies must be able to scale up and compete in a global digital economy. We must also strengthen educational networks for healthy European socioeconomic ecosystems.

EU elections candidates clash over what’s best for European economy

Giada Santana — Thu, 23 May 2024 04:00:49 +0000

Candidates across the political spectrum are meeting twice this week to confront their adversaries and share their vision for Europe. What did they have to say about the state of the EU economy?

Letta wants ‘Much More Than a Market’, industry just wants single market completed

Brian Maguire — Wed, 15 May 2024 14:23:54 +0000

Former Italian PM Enrico Letta's new report on the future of the single market calls for an urgent upscaling of Europe’s competitiveness. Opening a Euractiv debate, Letta emphasised the need for speed, security, and solidarity.

Letta’s tech insights: Taking a dive into the report

Nicoletta Ionta — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 05:30:12 +0000

Together with Andrea Renda, Senior Research Fellow and Head of the CEPS Unit on Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and the Digital Economy, we break down the Letta report's key technological insights.

Macron at Sorbonne: Energy key to French president’s ‘new European paradigm’

Paul Messad — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:51:39 +0000

French President Emmanuel Macron set out his vision for the future of Europe, placing energy, including nuclear, at the core of his approach, in a speech at Sorbonne University on Thursday (April 25).

Letta’s report aligns with views of major telecoms on market integration

Théophane Hartmann — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:11:30 +0000

Laying out his vision of a harmonised single market in the telecommunications sector, former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta aligned with some of the talking points by the EU's largest telecom players, according to a draft report seen by Euractiv.

European space industry needs a single market approach, recommends Letta report

Théophane Hartmann — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:19:57 +0000

The EU space market should be integrated, because the European space industry is no longer adequate to compete in the current global space economy, Italian MP Enrico Letta writes in his draft full report as seen by Euractiv.

EU leaders to urge combating ‘overregulation’ to boost bloc’s competitiveness

Thomas Moller-Nielsen — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:12:08 +0000

EU leaders meeting in Brussels will call for the bloc’s competitiveness to be boosted primarily by easing regulatory requirements and leveraging the power of private capital, according to the latest draft conclusions of the 17-18 April summit and a senior EU official familiar with the discussions.

The EU Must Seize its Opportunity to Inspire, Not Regulate, Innovation

Lorena Stile — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 05:00:58 +0000

New leadership must determine which policies can help Europe balance sustainability and competitiveness by reaping the benefits of innovation at a time of acute global challenges. The next mandate must ensure technology-driven businesses can thrive in Europe while upholding the Union's fundamental values.

Summit with focus on Iran’s attack and EU’s competitiveness

Evi Kiorri — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 04:00:35 +0000

In this episode of our ‘Today in the EU’ podcast, we’re looking into this week's EU summit and the pressing topics on the agenda.

A digital decalogue from Southern Europe for the next EU legislature

Lorena Stile — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:00:04 +0000

Decline is not an inescapable fate and prioritizing digital innovation would be a safe bet to keep that destiny at bay. With this spirit, PromethEUs, a network of Southern European think tanks, has launched 10 digital priorities for the next EU legislature.

Bolstering Europe’s resilience by strengthening the single market

Aurélie Pugnet — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 06:15:51 +0000

The European Economic Area, extending the single market and its four freedoms to Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, has been a remarkable success story since its inception in 1994. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Daniel Risch, and Jonas Gahr Støre explain how to build on its strengths.

Germany’s slow implementation of EU law highlights risks to European competitiveness

nick.alipour@euractiv.de — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 11:30:54 +0000

The EU’s largest economy takes longer than many of its peers to follow orders from Brussels, the Commission’s Single Market report showed, pointing to the wider threat that the bloc’s lethargic policy implementation poses to its competitiveness.

Connectivity package: Commission opens consultation, commits to post-quantum cryptography recommendation

Théophane Hartmann — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:01:50 +0000

The Commission announced a consultation on EU's telecom market, open until June and committed to a post-quantum cryptography recommendation, when presenting its connectivity package.

Delivery failure: Belgium Presidency’s platform work directive undermines single market

Théo Bourgery-Gonse — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:47:55 +0000

The latest agreement on the platform work directive brings less legal clarity than the status quo, and fails to give platforms and workers alike harmonised rules and protections across the EU's single market, Tomas Prouza writes for Euractiv.

To be the fastest in the global tech race, one set of rules is better than 27

Lorena Stile — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 15:00:32 +0000

To create more successful digital companies in Europe, new laws on AI and cybersecurity must simplify the rules, not add to the spaghetti bowl of regulations and institutions. Europe can become a digital powerhouse if we take our single market seriously.

‘We have a real problem’: European industry fears decline

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:00:10 +0000

The EU has fallen behind the US and China in terms of economic growth and innovation, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) warns in its latest paper, calling for a deeper integration of the EU's single market, a capital markets union, and better incentives to invest in Europe.

Digital Networks Act: Breton lays out vision for EU telecom operators

Théophane Hartmann — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 04:47:47 +0000

Thierry Breton, the EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, unveiled the core proposals of a highly awaited EU telecom legislation, the Digital Networks Act (DNA), where he supported the concentration of telecom operators and the creation of EU telecom "champions".

LEAK: EU Council legal opinion slams Single Market Emergency Instrument

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 15:03:02 +0000

The legal service of the EU Council considers important parts of the European Commission's proposal for the Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI) to contradict EU law, saying that a lot of it would have to be amended or deleted, according to an opinion produced by the legal service and seen by EURACTIV.

Packaging sustainability needs infrastructure and a strong Single Market

Rachele Semeghini — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 10:00:39 +0000

The packaging industry is fully committed to the journey towards packaging circularity but we cannot fix the problems alone. The circular economy will not take off without a functioning Single Market and significant improvements to infrastructure for sorting, collection, recycling and reuse.

Instead of undermining the single market, the EU must now complete it

Georgi Gotev — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 16:08:50 +0000

The EU’s four freedoms – goods, capital, services and people – have never been fully implemented; with economic globalisation under threat, the one thing the EU must avoid is undermining its crown jewel – the single market, writes Pieter Cleppe.

LEAK: EU Commission plan to counter US green subsidy bill

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 19:29:28 +0000

A draft communication, seen by EURACTIV, laid out the measures the European Commission is due to propose on Wednesday (1 February) in reaction to the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

EU Commission celebrates 30 years of the Single Market

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 15:21:51 +0000

The European Commission celebrated the 30th anniversary of the EU's Single Market as a driver for growth that supports Europe's economic and political power at a global level.

Risking death by a thousand subsidies

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 13:27:25 +0000

In reaction to recent crises, and now to the US Inflation Reduction Act, the EU is set to further open the floodgates of state aid, putting the "level playing field" that underpins the EU's Single Market under heavy strain.

LEAK: EU Commission to allow more state aid to support businesses

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 05:10:58 +0000

The European Commission is planning to give member states more leeway to support businesses suffering from the consequences of the Russian aggression in Ukraine and high energy prices, according to a document seen by EURACTIV.

SMEI: The many pitfalls of the EU’s new supply chain control tool

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:00:34 +0000

The European Commission on Monday (19 September) proposed introducing a Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI) to secure critical supply chains in times of crisis.

EU Commission wants sweeping new powers to secure supply chains

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 14:07:49 +0000

On Tuesday (13 September), the EU executive is expected to present its proposal for a Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI) to facilitate monitoring of supply chains of critical sectors and, in emergencies, intervene in the markets.

European businesses lament fragmentation of the EU Single Market

Janos Allenbach-Ammann — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 03:30:16 +0000

In a joint statement, five leading European business associations sounded the alarm over what they perceive to be a fragmentation of the Single Market as EU rules are not applied and enforced uniformly across the trading bloc.

Czech parliament backs food law obliging stores to prioritise local products

Natasha Foote — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 06:41:19 +0000

The Czech Republic is on its way to introduce a protectionist food law despite warnings that this could be in violation of the EU's free movement of goods.

Agrifood Brief: Out of touch policymakers risk CAP’s environmental ambition

Natasha Foote — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 13:45:33 +0000

Welcome to EURACTIV’s AgriFood Brief, your weekly update on all things Agriculture & Food in the EU. You can subscribe here if you haven’t done so yet. [castos id=”271217″ podcast=”5042″] The failure of policy-makers to understand the underlying motivations behind farmers’ decisions may be undermining the environmental ambition of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy […]

Commissioner Ferreira: ‘A crisis of this dimension cannot be addressed with a 1% GNI budget’

Beatriz Rios — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 05:44:47 +0000

The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in the worst recession in the history of the EU, which the European Commission aims to tackle with an unprecedented stimulus package. The Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, explained the ambitious plan in an exclusive interview.

Will the EU have a new ‘single market tax’ for multinationals?

Jorge Valero — Fri, 29 May 2020 11:55:58 +0000

The European Commission is working on a proposal for a new tax on multinationals operating on the single market to finance the recently proposed recovery fund, but the Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, told EURACTIV he recommends being "very cautious" rather than too imaginative in picking new levies.

Commission mulls new shield to protect companies against pandemic

Jorge Valero — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 06:05:31 +0000

As the “unprecedented” coronavirus crisis requires new tools, the European Commission is thinking of creating a new instrument to support companies at risk of insolvency, especially in vulnerable member states, two top officials said on Monday (27 April).

Centeno: ‘The old books by which we governed are of no use in this period’

Rúben Castro — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 12:44:26 +0000

In an interview with the Portuguese newspaper Público, the President of the Eurogroup, Mário Centeno, shared some leads about the EU’s recovery plan. He believes that the new recovery plan should have its “own, appropriate and innovative funding mechanism”.

European Standards build trust in the Single Market

Malte Ketelsen — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 06:00:55 +0000

The more than 24.000 European standards existing play a fundamental role in making the Single Market work efficiently: they make it easier to sell products and services across Europe and beyond, improve safety, protect consumer, reduce red tape and foster innovation.

Von Der Leyen urged to prioritise single market to counter slowdown

Dave Keating — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 15:13:01 +0000

The European economy is undergoing a rapid transition, with digital technology and climate change needs set to transform normal commerce. Is the EU’s single market flexible enough to handle the change?

Food industry hails new EU rules on mutual recognition of goods

Gerardo Fortuna — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 06:26:22 +0000

Food industry representatives welcomed the recently revised EU legislation on mutual recognition of goods as a major step forward in the completion of the EU single market. But they said more efforts were needed to improve standardisation, even the well-harmonised food sector.

No deal Brexit ‘almost inevitable’ after UK MPs fail to break deadlock

Benjamin Fox — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 22:13:13 +0000

A 'no deal' Brexit has become 'almost inevitable" after UK lawmakers again failed to break the Brexit deadlock on Monday night (1 April), narrowly rejecting all four alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement.

Romanian exporters face an artificial barrier, costs transferred to EU citizens

Benjamin Fox — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:04:02 +0000

Visions of trucks being stuck at the border in the event of a 'no deal' Brexit should also remind people of the delays faced by Romanian companies exporting into the Schengen area, writes Stefan Radu-Oprea.

How to level the playing field in the European digital services market?

Zoran Radosavljevic — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 06:00:41 +0000

How can European companies operating in the digital services and e-commerce market be supported, while at the same time making sure consumers are protected? And how can tax policy be rethought to fit the digital marketplace?

Barnier insists current Brexit deal is the ‘only one possible’

Aline Robert — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 13:09:13 +0000

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has reflected on what can and what cannot be negotiated between the EU and the United Kingdom, with only 65 days until the scheduled severance date. EURACTIV France reports.

For a Single Market with a Purpose: The story of Mascaró

Evan Lamos — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 11:00:05 +0000

Monse Mascaró, Master Distiller and an SME Business owner in Spain is talking about the positive contribution of the Single Market to her business and its importance for the future generation.

Why Europe needs a single market for philanthropy

Ninon Bulckaert — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 13:18:24 +0000

"Who do I call if I want to speak to Europe?" The quote is associated with Henry Kissinger but he never actually said it. He knew very well who to call if he wanted to. Similarly, European institutions have no problem with reaching out to European philanthropy, Felix Oldenburg writes.

Most Swiss back plan for new treaty with EU

Georgi Gotev — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 05:14:49 +0000

Most Swiss support the government's plan to forge a new treaty with the European Union that would have arbitration panels to help settle disputes, a poll published on Sunday (29 April) showed.

The unbearable lightness of Brexit delusions

Hannah Thomas — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 05:09:09 +0000

This week’s developments might cheer those who want to see the UK leave the EU. But they are a rude awakening for those who argued leaving the EU had no costs and a sad reminder that leaving the EU will be an act of self-harm, writes Petros Fassoulas.

British PM to outline post-Brexit trade ties with EU

Georgi Gotev — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 06:51:37 +0000

British Prime Minister Theresa May will detail plans today (2 March) for a new economic relationship with the EU after Brexit, amid heightened tensions with Brussels over the implications for Northern Ireland.

Tony Blair is right on immigration but did nothing to control freedom of movement

Hannah Thomas — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:36:42 +0000

After Brexit, the rest of Europe will control freedom of movement sensibly without discriminating on grounds of nationality, adhering to the principle that has been in all European treaties since 1950, writes Denis MacShane.

A market that’s not on the menu

Benjamin Fox — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 16:14:16 +0000

“If economic interests triumph, then we are looking at the EEA.” So said Norwegian political consultant Paal Frisvold of the UK’s future trade relations with the EU, addressing a EURACTIV event on the future of EU integration on Friday (12 January). And his view appears to be shared by the Scottish government.

Sturgeon sees ‘golden’ chance to argue for UK to remain in single market

Georgi Gotev — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 06:57:21 +0000

Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday (14 January) there was a "golden opportunity" to argue for Britain to remain in the European single market after Brexit, as no-one had yet demonstrated the benefit of loosening trade ties with the EU.

UK won’t pay to access single market post-Brexit

Georgi Gotev — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:52:49 +0000

The British government yesterday (11 January) ruled out paying the European Union to access the single market after leaving the bloc, as Prime Minister Theresa May tried to reassure finance sector players over Brexit.

Bemused Commission defends planning for ‘no deal’ Brexit

Benjamin Fox — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 16:04:38 +0000

The European Commission has dismissed claims that it was ‘discriminating’ against British businesses by starting contingency planning for a possible 'no deal' outcome, in the latest row over the UK’s access to the single market after it formally leaves the EU next year.

Food and drink industry calls for ‘functioning’ single market, Brexit certainty

Samuel White — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 13:51:42 +0000

Europe’s food and drink industry relies heavily on the EU single market to underpin its steady growth rate, but it has warned that Brexit poses a real threat to the future of many businesses.

Agri-food industries highlight risks of hard Brexit, demand clarity

Samuel White — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 06:17:58 +0000

The EU’s food and drink industry has joined forces with farmers and agri-food traders to call for a smooth Brexit transition and highlight the damage a cliff-edge EU exit would do to the bloc’s food chain.

France opts for colour coded nutrition labelling

Paola Tamma — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 10:24:11 +0000

France's ministers for health, agriculture and the economy signed on Tuesday (31 October) a decree introducing a voluntary labelling scheme for food products to reduce obesity, causing upheaval in the food industry.

Spain to join the gastro-nationalism wave on origin of milk

Paola Tamma — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 04:50:22 +0000

Spain has notified the European Commission on 5 September it will create a new law to include the origin of milk on the label of milk and dairy products, adding fuel to the gastro-nationalism debate.

Consumer group warns against e-commerce overhaul

Catherine Stupp — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 03:04:30 +0000

A draft bill to give ecommerce shoppers the same rights across the EU is likely to face a drastic makeover from the European Parliament and national governments—and consumer advocates are worried.

MacShane: ‘We can leave the EU but not the single market’

Samuel White — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 04:11:58 +0000

To stop Brexit now would require another referendum and there is no public appetite for it, according to Denis MacShane. Instead, he argues the British government should push to remain in the single market and keep trade with Europe open.

The UK should realise that Ireland is an island

Georgi Gotev — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 05:57:50 +0000

The fixation amongst Brexiteers to take back control of Britain's borders makes resolving the Irish border issue nearly impossible, writes Dick Roche.

Is the Norway-Sweden border a model for UK-Ireland?

Georgi Gotev — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 05:05:47 +0000

Sharing a border of 1,600 km (1,000 miles), with close to 80 crossings, Norway and Sweden face some of the challenges that Ireland and Northern Ireland may experience when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.

Is the Irish border question really ‘intractable’?

Georgi Gotev — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 10:15:58 +0000

In the coming days the UK government will release its “carefully formulated” working paper on the Irish border issue. Dick Roche gives timely advice.

Strong trade surplus offers hope for UK services industry post-Brexit

Samuel White — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:34:42 +0000

Brexit will take a heavy toll on the UK’s trade in services with the EU but its trade surplus with the rest of the world will cushion the blow if the government can sign new trade deals quickly, experts say.

Report maps UK’s ‘uncertain’ energy landscape post-Brexit

Frédéric Simon — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 09:39:30 +0000

As Britain looks set to leave the EU's Single Market, business consultants have attempted to map out the numerous challenges facing the energy sector after Brexit, making the case for a transition phase to smooth the exit path.

German industry warns ‘both sides underestimating’ Brexit talks

Matthew Tempest — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 04:30:06 +0000

Both sides negotiating the UK's withdrawal from the EU are underestimating the serious long-term effects, a senior figure from German industry has warned at a special event on Brexit held by EURACTIV.com.

EU socialists puzzled at Labour’s hostility to Europeans in UK

Matthew Tempest — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 04:16:29 +0000

Jeremy Corbyn meets fellow centre-left leaders in the Party of European Socialists today to discuss Brexit, writes Denis MacShane.

Solidarity tops Juncker’s agenda for the future of Europe

Daniela Vincenti — Fri, 05 May 2017 13:15:37 +0000

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker moved solidarity up the ladder of EU priorities in a straightforward speech delivered in Florence today (5 May) during the State of the Union Conference.

EU seeks new powers to peek into ‘sensitive’ corporate information

Jorge Valero — Wed, 03 May 2017 04:36:30 +0000

The European Commission on Tuesday (2 May) unveiled a proposal that could significantly expand its powers to request access to sensitive corporate data as a way to enforce EU single market rules or to inform new pieces of legislation.

French winemakers launch campaign against ‘unfair’ Spanish competition

Samuel White — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 14:02:09 +0000

Winemakers in the Montpellier region in southern France have launched a media campaign to alert consumers to “unfair competition” from their Spanish counterparts, passing off their wine as French. EURACTIV Spain reports.

Brexit ‘letter’ is nothing new: What May did not say

Matthew Tempest — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 13:42:58 +0000

After the Trump-like picture of Theresa May signing her Article 50 letter, there was nothing new in her statement in the House of Commons, writes Denis MacShane.

The EU debate: So much more than a cost-benefit analysis

Samuel Morgan — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 09:47:12 +0000

The debate over the value of the EU has deteriorated into a tedious cost-benefit analysis of the project. EU leaders and supporters need to transform the discussion and reframe their arguments so as to promote greater public understanding of its benefits, writes Cian McCarthy.

UK’s Brexit bill overcomes another hurdle

Samuel Morgan — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:49:06 +0000

British MPs overwhelmingly backed a bill yesterday (8 February) empowering Prime Minister Theresa May to start negotiations on leaving the European Union, bringing Brexit a significant step closer.

The Brief: Can the Ukrainian model solve the Brexit conundrum?

James Crisp — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 16:04:32 +0000

Britain is having a mid-life crisis and wants, after 40 years of marriage to the EU, to trade the bloc in for a younger model.

The Presidency debate: The single market

Evan Lamos — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 10:57:48 +0000

For the next six months, Malta holds the rotating presidency of the European Union. Malta has set out its policy agenda, which includes advancing the single market, social inclusion and security.

The Presidency: Malta at the helm

Evan Lamos — Thu, 26 Jan 2017 10:56:57 +0000

It's a time of crisis, global turbulence, and economic change. It's also a time of opportunity. On the first of January, for the first time, Malta took up the presidency of the Council of the European Union.

UK studying annual levy on skilled EU workers, minister says

Georgi Gotev — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 06:44:18 +0000

Britain is considering introducing an annual 1,000-pound (€1,152) "immigration skills charge" after Brexit on every skilled worker from an EU member state recruited by a British employer, a junior minister said yesterday (11 January).

Faull: UK can’t buy single market access

Joel Schalit — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 10:16:00 +0000

Britain will not be able to buy access to the single market following its exit from the EU, a former top UK official at European Commission warned, casting doubt on mooted government plans for Britain's future relationship with the bloc.

Sir Ivan Rogers leaves May’s small tent

Joel Schalit — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 05:10:23 +0000

Sir Ivan Rogers is not a Foreign Office smoothy, the kind of charming brilliant dip who used to live in the Rue Ducale and out-negotiate the Eurocrats with effortless ease, writes Denis MacShane, reflecting on the sudden departure of the UK's envoy to the EU.

Swiss favour close EU ties over immigration curbs, poll finds

Matthew Tempest — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 06:00:33 +0000

Swiss voters would rather maintain close economic ties with the European Union than adopt immigration curbs that could jeopardise Switzerland's access to the EU single market, a survey published on Sunday (1 January) showed.

Scotland pushes for more powers and continued EU market access

Samuel Morgan — Tue, 20 Dec 2016 12:52:11 +0000

Scotland wants to stay in the European Union's single market after the United Kingdom leaves the bloc and will push for more powers to protect its interests, head of government Nicola Sturgeon said today (20 December).

Wary of backlash, Commission delays Services Directive update

Jorge Valero — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 05:50:35 +0000

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker decided on Tuesday (13 December) to postpone measures to boost the mobility of service providers across the EU, aiming to avoid “unintended consequences” and a protectionist backlash, EURACTIV.com has learned.

‘Have cake and eat it’ says UK Brexit strategy memo

Matthew Tempest — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 06:10:44 +0000

Britain's strategy for the upcoming Brexit negotiations with the EU is to "have cake and eat it", according to memo photographed outside the Department for Exiting the EU on Downing Street.

Sturgeon frustrated by Brexit talks with May

admin — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:45:04 +0000

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned Monday (24 October) she would not watch her country "driven off a hard Brexit cliff" as she voiced frustration at her latest talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

The Brief: Robots will rule us with their iron fists

James Crisp — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:09:35 +0000

Robots. They can’t be reasoned with, they don’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And they absolutely will not stop – ever.

British MPs insist parliament must vote on ‘hard’ Brexit

Samuel Morgan — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 12:30:09 +0000

A group of British politicians called today (10 October) for a parliamentary vote on the UK's future relations with the EU, warning the option of a hard Brexit that has hit the pound would be a "grave danger".

Hungarian MEP: Nuclear energy’s ‘hidden subsidies’ must end

Samuel Morgan — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 08:45:08 +0000

Atomic energy is not competitive in the energy sector and must not be artificially preserved at the expense of renewable alternatives, Benedek Jávor, Green MEP and member of Nuclear Transparency Watch, told EURACTIV Slovakia.

More services integration needed to reinvigorate Europe

Samuel Morgan — Wed, 05 Oct 2016 09:48:52 +0000

Goods can be traded freely across the EU, but the same cannot, in practice, be said of services. Less restrictions in the sector would yield enormous economic benefits, argue Arup Banerij, Doerte Doemeland and Sanja Madžarević Šujster.