Germany’s economy minister says ‘we will not back down’ over new US 25% car tariffs
Germany's economy minister Robert Habeck has said "it must be clear that we will not back down in the face of the USA" after Washington announced new 25 per cent…
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Economy
Latest reporting and analysis on economy.
Italy targets Meta and LinkedIn with tax demands amid alleged fraud probe
Italy has handed tax demands to Meta and LinkedIn in the last formal step in an unprecedented VAT claim against the US tech giants that could have repercussions…
EU members divided on future of trade with Ukraine
The European Union’s fragmented stance on the future of trade relations with Ukraine contrasts sharply with the country’s urgent calls for continuity.
Blast hits Czech defence group STV facility, police say technical defect likely cause
An explosion hit a facility of Czech defence group STV on Tuesday, officials said, with police saying the blast was likely caused by a technical defect in a production…
Michelin CEO tells Brussels Signal: ‘EU overregulation strangling economy and industry’
Overregulation in the European Union is "strangling the economy and industry," Michelin CEO Florent Menegaux has told Brussels Signal.
German pharma giant Bayer must pay US cancer patient almost €2bn
Bayer, Germany’s biggest pharmaceuticals and biotech company, has been ordered to pay a record almost $2.1 billion (€1.
Paris bans cars in 500 extra streets after referendum with 4 per cent turnout
Paris has voted in a referendum to drastically increase the number of car-free streets, although the turnout was extremely low.
Eurozone sees business activity hit seven-month high
Eurozone business activity grew at its fastest pace in seven months in March, supported by an easing in the long-running manufacturing downturn despite slower growth…
Brussels U-turn: Agriculture Commissioner champions farmers’ role, rejects livestock cuts
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen has told Dutch farmers that Brussels would no longer "just focus" on reducing livestock to cut…
Germany’s Greens successfully write ‘net zero’ commitment into Constitution
Germany's Greens party has written a "net zero" commitment into the country’s constitution, which legal experts say could be used in court to make governments…
German police ‘forced to abort missions’ as their electric cars ‘drain too fast’
German police officers have become unhappy about the electric police cars forced on them by the government.
EU steel strategy caught between ‘green’ goals and trade turmoil
The European Union has sought a balance between protecting its producers, securing a "green" future and avoiding a transatlantic clash as the steel industry grappled…
Commission excludes UK arms manufacturers from EU defence fund but not Ukraine
The European Commission has shut out defence companies from the UK and other third countries from the European Union’s common defence fund.
‘Green’ stocks plummet to lowest levels in years
The S&P Global Clean Energy Transition Index, a key benchmark for clean-energy companies, has dropped by 16 per cent over the past year, despite the so-called "green"…
Aiming for competitiveness at core of European Council meeting
Almost every topic at the European Council on March 20 came down to one thing: competitiveness.
Heathrow Airport fire throws air travel into disarray across Europe and beyond
Air passengers have reported "carnage" as a fire closed London's Heathrow Airport, cancelling at least 1,351 flights due to take off or land from Europe's busiest…
Anti-nuclear Greens’ MP to oversee French nuclear security
French MP Dominique Voynet, co-founder of The Greens party, former environment minister and long-time outspoken opponent of nuclear power, has been officially appointed…
EU prioritises DMA enforcement despite US tariffs threats
The European Union’s latest enforcement actions under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) have set the stage for a confrontation with some of the world’s largest tech…
EC backs off from slapping US with retaliatory tariffs
Europe's much-debated retaliatory tariffs against US President Donald Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium imports have been postponed, the European Commission…
Losses for German automotive supplier ZF top €1bn
German automotive supplier ZF has endured a brutal 2024 and reported yearly losses of more than €1 billion.
EU dusts off capital markets proposal but small countries fear regulatory power grab
The European Commission has published a new plan to revive its capital markets union proposal which stalled back in 2015 — but smaller members have expressed fear…
ECB chief Lagarde urges EU to focus on trade integration amid tariffs
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has reaffirmed that robust European trade integration was the key shield against escalating US tariff pressures…
EU labour costs rise amid persistent competitiveness hurdles
Labour costs in the European Union have continued a steady climb, adding pressure to an economy already grappling with sluggish growth and global uncertainty.
Commission unveils defence plans to reduce reliance on US for security
The European Commission has presented its plans making clear that the European Union does not want to continue relying on the US for its security and must build…
Industrial carnage: German giant Siemens to shed more than 6,000 jobs
Siemens, one of Germany’s biggest industrial conglomerates, has announced a tough cost-cutting programme that would see 5,600 jobs disappear in its Digital Industries…
Italy PM Meloni says commission ‘not wise’ to impose 50% tariffs on US goods
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said the European Commission was "not wise" to impose retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 per cent on US goods from April 1…
Spain’s Abascal: ‘Italy only EU country safe from US tariffs’
Spain’s Vox party leader Santiago Abascal has claimed Italy will be the only European Union country spared from US President Donald Trump’s trade tariffs simply…
Another snub? China’s President Xi declines invitation to Brussels
An invitation to attend a conference in Brussels to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ties between the European Union and China has been turned down by Chinese…
‘EC tobacco policies will only boost illicit trade,’ expert warns
Government policies on tobacco and nicotine products promoted by the European Commission are inadvertently fuelling the illicit trade, an expert has warned
German court puts ex-Siemens executives on trial for alleged Russian sanctions-busting
A German court has decided to launch a criminal trial against two former executives of German engineering giant Siemens who are accused of violating sanctions by…