European Union

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini announced on Wednesday (19 September) the Commission’s vision on how to better connect Europe and Asia, in what appears to be a reply to China’s Belt and Road initiative, and also an effort to prepare the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in October.

McDonald's tax deal with Luxembourg did not breach EU state aid rules, competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Wednesday. The EU executive's regulators said the reason the US fast food chain did not pay some of its taxes was due to the mismatch between US and Luxembourg laws. The decision comes after a three-year-long investigation, part of a wider crackdown against illegal sweetheart deals between EU governments and multinational companies.

Survey: The demand for organic products is rising in Germany. Is this all just marketing is there more behind this increase in turnover. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The European Commission concluded on Wednesday (19 September) that Luxembourg’s tax deal with McDonald’s was not illegal state aid as it did not give the company an unfair advantage, but instead was due to the “mismatch” of US and Luxembourgish tax laws.

Germany’s controversial constitutional protection chief Hans-Georg Maaßen may have had to leave his current post but he has already been promoted to state secretary in the German Ministry of the Interior. EURACTIV Germany's partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.

Four of the world’s biggest pharma companies appear to hide their profits in tax havens, according to a report published by Oxfam on Tuesday (18 September). Businesses said they are in the clear.

As cutting emissions out of transport gains in political and scientific importance, Diego Garcia Carvajal writes during European Mobility Week that the time is ripe to embrace electric cars on a grand scale.

The head of Germany's domestic intelligence agency Hans-Georg Maaßen has been stripped of his current post but is to become state secretary of the Interior Ministry. He recently came under fire over his statements regarding the incidents in Chemnitz. Commentators see this as a compromise solution, but will it end the row within the government and appease the opposition?

Putin and Erdoğan agreed on Monday in Sochi to establish a demilitarised zone to avert an offensive against Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria. Russia has sided with Assad in the Syrian war, whereas Turkey is seen as the opposition's protecting power. Commentators believe Erdoğan has scored a success with the talks, and outline Ankara's interests in Syria.