European Union

Macedonian PM Zoran Zaev has said a "breakthrough" on the name dispute is imminent, as he prepares to speak to his Greek counterpart on Friday.

The European Central Bank (ECB) on Wednesday said the head of Latvia's central bank, Ilmars Rimsevics, who was removed over suspicion of corruption, should be allowed to exercise some of his powers. At a hearing at the EU Court of Justice, the ECB argued that Rimsevics's removal was illegal and threatened the EU central bank's independence. The case was brought to the court by Rimsevics.

Romania's constitutional court ruled Wednesday that president Klaus Iohannis must fire Laura Codruta Kovesi, the chief prosecutor of the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA). Judges said that under the constitution, Iohannis cannot reject a government decree dismissing Codruta Kovesi. The social-democratic governement is also engaged in a wide-ranging reform of the judiciary, which has been critised by the EU and the Council of Europe for limiting independence of judges and prosecutors.

Lung cancer killed a quarter of a million people (273,000) in the EU in 2015, according to Eurostat figures published on Thursday, the World No Tobacco day. The share of lung cancer among all fatal cancers was highest in Hungary (27%), followed by Greece, Denmark, Poland and the Netherlands (all 24%). The lowest shares were recorded in Portugal and Latvia (both 15%). Men were twice as affected as women.

The European Commission proposed on Wednesday to double the budget of the Erasmus student exchange programme to €30bn for the period 2021-2027. The program will provide opportunities for 12m students to study or gain work experience in a different European country while completing a degree. The scheme also aims to "foster knowledge and awareness of the EU" and to "strengthen European identity".

US president Donald Trump plans to announce steel and aluminum tariffs on the European Union on Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal. China was hit by a 25 percent tariff on steel and 10 percent one on aluminum in March, while an exemption for EU products, to allow further talks, expires on Friday. The EU has threatened to impose tariffs on American products in return.

Written by Cécile Remeur (1st edition),

© Art_Photo / Fotolia

Value added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax borne by the final consumers and collected by businesses as taxable persons. Businesses have VAT administrative obligations and act as VAT collectors. This generates compliance costs that are higher for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) than for bigger businesses, in spite of the small business exemption, especially in the case of cross-border activities.

The proposal for a revision of the VAT Directive relating to the common system of value added tax as regards the special scheme for small enterprises simplifies the rules, so as to reduce VAT compliance costs for SMEs by introducing simpler measures regarding invoicing, VAT registration, accounting and returns for SMEs, whether they operate in wholly domestic markets only or also across borders in the EU.

The legislative proposal falls under the consultation procedure.

Interactive PDF

• VAT for small enterprises

Proposal for a Council directive amending directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax as regards the special scheme for small enterprises Committee responsible: Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) COM(2018) 21 of 18.1.2018

procedure ref.: 2018/0006(CNS)

Consultation Procedure Rapporteur: Tom Vandenkendelaere (EPP, Belgium) Shadow rapporteurs:

  Alfred Sant (S&D, Malta)
Stanisław Ożóg (ECR, Poland)
Caroline Nagtegaal (ALDE, the Netherlands)
Paloma López Bermejo (GUE/NGL, Spain)
Molly Scott Cato (Greens/EFA, United Kingdom) Next steps expected: Discussion of the draft report

EU ambassador to Turkey said member states may consider reopening accession talks with Ankara if Erdogan put an end to the post-coup state of emergency.

Swiss bank UBS has hired the UK's former European Commissioner, Jonathan Hill, to advise corporate customers about Brexit, it was revealed on Tuesday (29 May), prompting 'revolving door' concerns once again.

Populist forces in Italy are “playing with fire” and exposing the country to market pressure, vice-president of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament Maria João Rodrigues warned in an interview.

The EU is in a desperate search for a sustainable circular economy. But critics warn that the imminent adoption of waste recycling targets for 2035 is only a compromise between the very different realities of the 28 countries. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Reaching a common EU response to the long-running migration crisis has been painfully slow. Ministers remain deadlocked on plans to reform the so-called Dublin Regulation that sets out the EU’s common migration and asylum rules.

French President Emmanuel Macron called Wednesday (30 May) for talks on overhauling the World Trade Organisation, as European companies braced for the prospect of punishing US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which could come as early as Thursday (31 May).

The food and drink industry builds long-term partnerships with Europe’s farmers to secure a local agricultural supply, creates value and develops market opportunities for agricultural products and connects farmers and consumers in the food chain.

The European Union is treading cautiously as the political crisis in Italy fuels fear of a renewed threat to the long-term credibility of the eurozone.

The European Commission’s recent outline of an artificial intelligence strategy does not give in to European Parliament calls to grant personhood for AI. The Commission is right in this, though not for the reasons mentioned in a recent open letter published by experts, writes Thomas Burri.

Romania’s Constitutional Court decided on Wednesday (30 May) that President Klaus Iohannis must dismiss the chief prosecutor of the Anticorruption Directorate (DNA), who has been praised by Brussels and Washington for tackling corruption.

The EU has an opportunity to take forward-looking action and shape exactly what kind of market we want when it comes to flexible electricity consumption offers, argues Angeliki Malizou.

The EU executive wants to support civil groups promoting European values and democracy in the next budget. However, critics say it does little to save NGOs from autocratic regimes.

By opening his "foul mouth" on the Italian political situation, the budget commissioner did not shy away from a necessary public debate.