Page 4 - European Commission

EU probes Apple, Meta, Alphabet for 'non-compliance' under new digital law

According to the European Commission, some large online platforms act as "gatekeepers" in digital markets and the Digital Markets Act aims to ensure that these platforms behave in a fair way online

EU must prepare for 'catastrophic' climate change risks: Environment agency

Policymakers need to draw up new plans to address the challenges, the Copenhagen-based body said in its first Europe-wide analysis of climate-related risks

TikTok ramps up fight against fake news, covert influence ahead of EU polls

The company worked with news checkers to produce educational videos about the electoral process and misinformation via the election centres during national elections in previous years

EU Commission to withdraw plan to halve pesticide use after farmer protests

European farmers have protested in recent weeks against rising costs, taxes, cheap food imports and constraints due to the EU's drive to fight climate change

European Commission to back 90% emissions cut for 2040 climate target

The European Union is drafting its first 2040 climate target, to bridge the gap between its existing goals to cut net emissions 55% by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050

Misinformation, polarisation limit our abilities: European Commission chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said the risks like misinformation and societal polarisation are very serious as they can limit our capabilities to deal with other challenges. In a special address at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 here, she said this is not the time for polarisation, but for rebuilding trust. "This is not a time for conflicts, but the time to drive global collaboration and business have a crucial role to play," she added. Referring to the WEF Annual Global Risks Report that listed 'disinformation and misinformation' and societal polarisation among the biggest immediate risks before the world, she said these are indeed serious risks because they limit our capabilities in handling other risks, including conflicts, climate and technology. "This is not the time for polarisation, this is the time for trust. I believe it can be done, and I believe that Europe can lead on that front. It has never been more important for the ...

Jacques Delors, former European Union's Commission president, dies at 98

Delors served an unprecedented three terms as the President of the European Commission, from January 1985 untill the end of 1994

EU investigating Elon Musk's X over possible breaches of social media law

European Union are looking into whether Elon Musk's online platform X breached tough new social media regulations in the first such investigation since the rules designed to make online content less toxic took effect. Today we open formal infringement proceedings against @X under the Digital Services Act, European Commissioner Thierry Breton said in a post on the platform Monday. The Commission will now investigate X's systems and policies related to certain suspected infringements, spokesman Johannes Bahrke told a press briefing in Brussels. It does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation. The investigation will look into whether X, formerly known as Twitter, failed to do enough to curb the spread of illegal content and whether measures to combat information manipulation," especially through its Community Notes feature, was effective. The EU will also examine whether X was transparent enough with researchers and will look into suspicions that its user interface, including fo

Meta asked to clarify measures against child sexual abuse by Dec 22

The request for information was done under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), new tech rules requiring Big Tech to do more to police illegal and harmful content on their platforms

Economy has lost momentum: European Commission lowers growth outlook

The European Union's executive commission lowered its growth forecast for this year and next, saying the economy has lost momentum in 2023 as inflation weighs on consumer spending and higher central bank interest rates deter borrowing for purchases and investment. The outlook for this year was lowered to 0.6% from 0.8% for the 20 countries that use the euro currency, and to 1.2% from 1.3% for next year, the commission said Wednesday in its autumn economic forecast, which revised figures from its previous forecast in September. Even that modest growth outlook is exposed to risk from Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. So far, the conflict has not interfered with oil supplies from Mideast producers such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but there is a risk of disruptions to energy supplies that could potentially have a significant impact on prices and global growth. While growth remains weak, unemployment remains near record lows and grow

Schengen visa to go online, no need for in-person appearance at consulate

The latest move will render in-person appearance at the consulates redundant. In principle, in-person appearance will only be necessary for first-time applicants, people whose biometric data are no lo

European air fares 'rising way above inflation', says ACI Europe

This rising trend continued into October, ACI said, adding fares were up 47% when booked three months in advance

Biocon biologics receives marketing approval by MHRA for YESAFILI in UK

This approval follows the green light granted by the European Commission (EC) for marketing authorisation in the European Union (EU) back in September

China warns EU steel probe will disrupt global supply chains, push up costs

The European Commission recently launched an investigation to decide whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU producers against cheaper Chinese electric vehicle imports

EU announces plans to better protect sensitive tech from foreign snooping

The European Union announced plans on Tuesday to better protect its cutting-edge technologies from foreign snooping that might threaten its economy and security in the wake of repeated warnings that the bloc needs to de-risk its relations with China. Technology is currently at the heart of geopolitical competition and the EU wants to be a player, and not a playground, European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said. To better protect its relatively open market, the European Commission wants the member states to immediately carry out risk assessments of its most sensitive industries, including advanced semiconductor, artificial intelligence, quantum and biotechnologies. Those are considered highly likely to present the most sensitive and immediate risks related to technology security and technology leakage and are up for the highest level of protection. Even though the European Commission refrained from putting the onus on any specific country, the EU itself has repeatedly said

Musk's X is biggest purveyor of disinformation, EU official claims

A top European Union official said on Tuesday that the social network X, formerly known as Twitter, is the biggest source of fake news and urged owner Elon Musk to comply with the bloc's laws aimed at combating disinformation. Ahead of upcoming elections, Google, TikTok, Microsoft and Meta also have more to do to tackle disinformation, much of it coming from Russia, which is using social media to wage a war of ideas" against democracy, European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said. Moscow's disinformation operation is a multimillion-euro weapon of mass manipulation aimed both internally at the Russians as well as at Europeans and the rest of the world, she said at a press briefing in Brussels. With elections scheduled in Slovakia and Poland in the coming weeks and a bloc-wide vote next year, big online platforms must address the risk of online meddling, she said. The Kremlin and other malicious actors will try to use the design features of the platforms to manipulate, Jourov

Tesla's China exports in crosshairs of EU anti-subsidy probe: Report

The probe that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made public on Sept. 13 has the potential to reshape the competitive dynamics within the world's second-largest EV market, after China

Intel hit with $400 million EU antitrust fine in decades-old case

The court, however, agreed with the European Commission that Intel illegally excluded rivals from the market which prompted the EU antitrust watchdog to re-open the case

Biocon Biologics gains EU approval for Aflibercept biosimilar, YESAFILI

According to market research firm IQVIA, Aflibercept generated about $1.8 billion in annual sales in the EU in 2022

EU's carbon tax seeks to doubly punish India: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

The finance minister said the EU has to consider India's concerns, and other countries will not view them kindly