European Union

With almost two out of three new cars in Europe bought for corporate purposes, companies have the power to shape the direction of the market, according to a new report due to be published next week (17 February).

As digital skills have become essential in the labour market, especially for young people, there is an increased urgency to tackle the inequalities of the digital divide caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers have said.

Katoen Natie Bulk Terminals and General Services Antwerp
Freedom of establishment
Legislation which reserves dock work to recognised workers may be compatible with EU law if it is aimed at ensuring safety in port areas and preventing workplace accidents.

The EU Council finally managed to adopt a position on widespread new data protection rules on Wednesday (10 February), as part of the so-called ePrivacy regulation, although Germany and Austria abstained from voting and Berlin's data protection authority called for 'significant changes' to the text.

To support the transport sector during the pandemic, MEPs revamped rules for the use of airport slots to prevent ghost flights, and extended the validity of some licences.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

To support the transport sector during the pandemic, MEPs revamped rules for the use of airport slots to prevent ghost flights, and extended the validity of some licences.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

A Dutch court has suspended extradition of a suspected narco-trafficker to Poland under the European Arrest Warrant on grounds Polish judges were under political control. "There is a danger the judges in Poland who have to rule ... will not be able to do so freely, partly because of the risk of disciplinary proceedings," the Amsterdam court said Wednesday. The EU Commission recently urged Poland to fold its 'disciplinary tribunal'.

Germany has extended its lockdown from 14 February to at least 7 March to stave off a third wave of corona and the risk that "mutated viruses could gain the upper hand". "There could be a third wave [of infections] ... and we can only fight that if we can really get the incidence numbers down," German chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday. Schools might reopen on 1 March, however.

Europol, the European police agency, said on Wednesday (10 February) it had assisted in the arrest of 10 hackers suspected of stealing $100 million in cryptocurrency in a “SIM-swapping” attack that allowed suspects to gain access to their victims’ phones....

Thursday, 11 February

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Thursday, 11 February

Source : © European Union, 2021 - EP

Veteran President Alexander Lukashenko launched a Belarusian “People’s Assembly” on Thursday (11 February), inviting 2,700 people to discuss political reform in what opponents dismissed as a sham exercise to help him to cling to power.

In today's edition of the Capitals, find out more about PM Babis' interest in Serbia's vaccination programme, Estonia's plans to build Europe’s first small scale nuclear reactor, and so much more.

Pesticides that are currently banned in Europe may still be exported to foreign countries, an issue which highlights the EU's lack of coherence, according to the leftist Die Linke and the Greens. EURACTIV Germany reports.

The five left-leaning opposition parties have filed another motion for a constructive vote of no confidence in the government of Janez Janša, with Karl Erjavec, the president of the Pensioners’ Party (DeSUS), as a candidate for the prime-minister designate position....

“We still have our MiGs whose lifespan expires in 2024. I deeply hope that by that time we will resolve our situation regarding the multipurpose fighter aircraft,” Croatian Defence Minister Mario Banožić said on Wednesday, adding that until then Croatia’s...

Although the Romanian government is struggling to keep the budget deficit at around 7% of the country’s GDP, the adjustment from last year is still too low to gain praise from Brussels, according to Prime Minister Florin Citu. While the...

Given that monthly living costs for a household with two adults and two children has now reached €1,300 in Bulgaria, 65% of Bulgarians are currently unable or just about able to cover their living costs, according to an annual report...

The GRBAlpha satellite, which is currently in Moscow awaiting its launch abroad a Russian spaceship this spring from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, will be the second satellite constructed in Slovakia to orbit the earth. Researchers from Slovakia, Hungary, and Japan participated...

The loss of Klubrádió’s broadcasting licence, the last independent radio station in Hungary dealing with public affairs issues, has aggravated the EU executive’s concerns about media freedom and pluralism in the country, a Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday. Klubrádió will...