EurActiv

Commission still undecided on 'Google tax'

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 17:54:52 +0100

European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip sent a letter to MEPs today (12 February) insisting that the European Commission still hasn't decided whether it will include a so-called 'Google tax' in its upcoming copyright proposal.

Guindos: Growth is more important than few decimal points of deficit

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 17:52:30 +0100

“Given the global situation, the most important thing is economic growth”, Spain’s Economic Affairs minister, Luis de Guindos, said after the Ecofin council on Friday (12 February).

France and EU trade policy – no longer the ‘non’ sayer

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 16:00:35 +0100

The persistent economic slump and a notable weakening of traditional French corporatism in the country under the onslaught of the digital revolution and the long-term effect of (limited but real) reforms in its various services sectors mean the discourse on trade in France is - finally - becoming

ECJ issues opinion against German gambling law

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:54:07 +0100

Prosecutors had accused a Bavarian sports bar of "illicit gambling" after the bar's owners were found to have a betting machine on the premises. They were operating using a licence granted in Austria, not Germany. Under the German criminal code, the owners' faced up to two years in jail.

France attempts to overthrow Germany as top exporter of aid expertise

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:51:35 +0100

The French technical expertise agency, Expertise France, has is now one year old.

Varoufakis’ new movement must answer tough questions, or fail

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:47:11 +0100

Jasper Finkeldey is a doctoral researcher at the University of Essex. He was formerlythe German language editor of the European Magazine cafebabel.com.

Be ready to completely stop the migrant flow, Austria tells Macedonia

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:44:33 +0100

Austria told Macedonia today (12 February) to be ready to "completely stop" the flow of migrants across its southern border from Greece and said it would do the same on its own frontiers within months.

EU hits China with new steel anti-dumping probes

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 15:32:36 +0100

The EU launched new probes today (12 February) into imports of Chinese steel, warning it would not allow "unfair competition" to threaten Europe's industry already crumbling under a flood of cheap imports.

Council sets '50 steps' Athens should take to stay in Schengen

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 14:51:50 +0100

Athens has been granted three months to avoid a Grexit from the Schengen zone, and improve the protection of its external borders, by implementing 50 measures specified in a document leaked by Statewatch. EurActiv Greece reports.

The EU’s response to Zika: Old wine in new bottles?

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:43:34 +0100

Fundamental research into the effects of the disease, and into vector control for this and other diseases is welcome, but it will not address the immediate lack of a vaccine, writes Cecile Vernant.

A fresh look at public-private partnerships

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:21:14 +0100

Erin Huntington is Vice President of International Corporate Affairs at Eli Lilly and Co.

German MEP: EU should not deal with Thai military junta

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:18:50 +0100

Barbara Lochbihler is the foreign affairs and human rights spokesperson for the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) and Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights.

Lochbihler spoke to EurActiv Germany’s Nicole Sagener.

Suspicious bank notes lead to Luxembourg

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:08:09 +0100

High denomination banknotes have long been seen as a problem, but it took a solid security argument – the financing of terrorism – to galvanise the EU into action.

Major powers agree to plan for 'cessation of hostilities' in Syria

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 11:03:45 +0100

Major powers agreed today (12 February) to a cessation of hostilities in Syria set to begin in a week, and to provide rapid humanitarian access to besieged Syrian towns.

Anastasiades says more time needed for Cyprus solution

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 08:00:27 +0100

President Nicos Anastasiades addressed parliament yesterday (11 February) to try to convince Cypriots that a UN-backed peace deal is possible for the divided island, in a rare move by a Greek Cypriot leader.

Hollande reshuffles cabinet, names Ayrault as foreign minister

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 07:55:36 +0100

French President François Hollande reshuffled his cabinet yesterday (11 February), naming Jean-Marc Ayrault foreign minister and adding several ecologists to government as he seeks to widen his political base ahead of a presidential poll in 2017.

UK's first sustainable European oysters go on sale

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 07:46:42 +0100

Native European oysters that are certified as sustainable have gone on sale for the first time in the UK.

Juncker reveals his secret weapon

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 07:35:02 +0100

In his traditionally humorous style, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told an audience in Brussels on Thursday (11 February) about his competitive edge over French and German leaders.

Romanian PM dismisses tax chiefs over EU funds fraud inquiry

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 07:19:37 +0100

Romania's prime minister sacked the head of the tax authority and his deputy on Thursday (11 September), a day after anti-corruption prosecutors said they were being investigated as part of a probe into the misappropriation of European funds.

IMF fears Grexit without solid Greek reforms

editors@euractiv.com (EurActiv Editorial Team) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 07:03:18 +0100

Fears that Greece will exit the eurozone, a "Grexit", could revive if Greek authorities do not come up with "credible" reforms, notably on pensions, a senior IMF official said Thursday (11 February).