Page 2 - European Union

EU unveils plan to restructure economy amid US, Russia, China pressure

European Union leaders have broadly agreed on a plan to restructure the 27-nation bloc's economy to make it more competitive as they face antagonism from US President Donald Trump, strong-arm tactics from China and hybrid threats blamed on Russia. Meeting in a Belgian castle on Thursday, the EU leaders agreed an "action plan" with a strict timeline for the economic restructuring, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. "The pressure and the sense of urgency is enormous, and that can move mountains," she said. The plan, to be presented formally in March, would include measures to coordinate upgrading energy grids, deepen financial integration and loosen merger regulations to allow European firms to grow to better compete globally, she said. "We need European champions," von der Leyen said. European Council President Antonio Costa described the meeting as a "real game changer" as leaders threw their weight behind plans to further integrate and simplify the bloc's ...

Switzerland to vote in June on plan to cap population at 10 mn: Here's why

Swiss voters will decide in June whether to cap the country's population at 10 million, a move that could tighten immigration rules and even may strain Switzerland's key economic ties with the EU

EU leaders meet to counter pressure from Russia, China, and Trump

Leaders from across the European Union are meeting Thursday in a Belgian castle as the 27-nation bloc faces antagonism from US President Donald Trump, strong-arm economic tactics from China and hybrid threats from Russia - challenges that have prompted a rethink of Europe's approach to diplomacy and trade. "We all know we must change course, and we all know the direction," Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever told a meeting with some European leaders on Wednesday. "Yet it sometimes feels like we're standing on the bridge of the ship staring at the horizon without being able to touch the helm." But there are competing visions of how the EU must change. Thursday's meeting is to shape proposals for another summit in late March. As leaders are set to walk across a drawbridge to the 16th-century Alden Biesen castle, the fault lines in the battle for Europe's future are becoming clear. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lead a wing of the bloc call

Free trade agreement lifts hopes of India-EU organic food traders

Organic food traders from India and the European Union are bullish on the recently announced free trade agreement, saying it will expand market access on both sides and create significant opportunities for the sector. About 2,200 players from the sustainable food sector, including over 100 from India, are exhibiting their products at the four-day BIOFACH 2026, which is the world's leading trade fair for organic food, at the Exhibition Centre Nuremberg. The fair comes at an opportune time, with India and the 27-nation European Union announcing the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement on January 27 after nearly two decades of talks. It is likely to be signed and implemented in about a year. According to experts from the organic food sector, the agreement opens up USD 60 billion worth of opportunities for Indian organic product exporters in the EU. The agreement also provides a market of 140 crore consumers to the EU countries. Under the pact, both sides will eliminat

India-EU trade deal brings together one-fourth of world economy: Comm Secy

The free trade agreement between India and the EU is 'truly a mother of all deals' as it brings together nearly one-fourth of the global economy, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Tuesday here. He said that the two sides offer a lot of synergies, which is important in today's world, where people are facing a lot of turmoil and challenges in global trade. "You represent an ageing population, we represent a young population. You represent goods, I represent demand. You represent technology, we represent the talent," he said here at the inauguration ceremony on the Biofach Show 2026. Over 100 exhibitors from about 20 Indian states are showcasing organic products in the four-day show. "These energies can actually come together, and that's what this FTA tries to do. I think we can not only try to make global value chains which are competitive across the world, which does serve both the Indian and the EU markets, but can also serve a large part of the world," Agrawal said. India

Macron calls on EU to seize 'Greenland moment' to strengthen bloc's power

Macron said the Trump administration was being 'openly anti-European' and seeking the EU's 'dismemberment'

As the US closes its doors, world economies must prepare for a new future

How the US is abandoning the openness that helped it win the Cold War

EU recommends service ban for Russian oil exports in new sanctions package

EU proposes full ban on maritime services for Russian oil exports, targeting Moscow's energy revenues and stepping up pressure to push Russia into peace talks

EU charges TikTok over addictive design, asks it to change or face fines

EU charges TikTok over addictive design features under Digital Services Act, warns of fines up to 6% of ByteDance's global turnover

India-EU FTA likely to come into force this year: EU Ambassador to India

The India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is now undergoing "legal scrubbing" and both sides are committed to concluding the process swiftly for its signing and coming into force, possibly this year, EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin has said. Speaking to PTI, he described the FTA as a "very substantial" deal rather than an "empty shell." "We are in the process of what we call technically, of the legal scrubbing, and to close the process of before the official signing and the entry into force. I think what I've noticed with during the summit is that both sides are really committed to have this process concluded as soon as possible, so that the FTA enters into force, possibly this year, which will be another achievement," the ambassador emphasized. He listed overlapping economic interests, complementarity, scale, diversification, and de-risking as key drivers. "From the European side, the EU member states, the Commission, and leadership, and on the Indian side, we saw the same ...

Iran protests European Union's terror tag for Revolutionary Guard

The move comes as Iran faces the threat of US military action in response to the killing of peaceful demonstrators and over possible mass executions

Iran says it considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist groups

Iran speaker of parliament said Sunday that the Islamic Republic now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist groups. The comment by Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf follows an EU agreement last week to list Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group over its part in the bloody crackdown on nationwide protests in the country. Qalibaf cited a 2019 law as authorization for the announcement. That law was passed after the US listed the Guard as a terrorist group and allows for reciprocal action by Iran against any nations that follow that decision. Qalibaf made the announcement as he and others wore Guard uniforms in parliament. Qalibaf was a commander in the Guard.

Budget impact: Gokaldas, Kitex, Trident, Arvind soar up to 8%; here's why

Textile-related stocks rally: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Budget 2026 proposed to set-up mega textile parks to focus on value addition in technical textiles.

With FTA, India's exports to EU can double in 5 years, says Goyal

India's exports to the EU could double to $150 billion within five years of the FTA, says Piyush Goyal, stressing balanced market access while protecting sensitive sectors

India-EU free trade deal explained: What it means for farmers and IT jobs

The India-EU trade deal boosts exports, jobs and farmers' income, and allows Indian professionals to work in the EU. Here are key FAQs on farming, services and mobility

India-EU trade deal: Top questions answered on trade, tariffs, and more

India and the EU have signed a free trade agreement aimed at boosting exports, jobs and mobility. Here are key FAQs on tariffs, farmers and services under the trade deal

EU lists Iran's Revolutionary Guard as terrorist group, sanctions follow

European Union ministers approved adding Iran's Revolutionary Guard to the terror list and announced sanctions; Iran hit back, calling the move a 'major strategic mistake'

EU trade deal spurs big strides: India set to walk the world with Kickers

Chennai-based Kothari to buy considerable stake in Kickers BBV

India-EU FTA to benefit multiple sectors, deepen trade engagement: Experts

The India-EU free trade agreement is expected to benefit a wide range of domestic sectors and deepen India's trade engagement with one of the world's largest economic blocs, experts said. Negotiations for the agreement have been concluded and expected to come into force later this year. The experts said that the agreement announced on January 27 is set to significantly transform India's automotive sector by attracting foreign direct investment into its auto component industry and fostering deeper integration into global value chains. "The IndiaEU trade pact marks a significant step forward in strengthening market access and trade competitiveness," Sanjay Budhia, Chairman of CII's National Committee on Exports and Managing Director of Patton International Ltd, said. He added that the deal is expected to provide preferential access across a host of traded goods, creating meaningful opportunities for domestic businesses. "The agreement is likely to benefit multiple sectors and deepen

India-EU FTA signal to US, but gains hinge on efficiency: Abhijit Banerjee

Nobel laureate economist Abhijit Banerjee said the India-EU free trade agreement was "a strategic alignment", sending a signal to Washington, amid the high tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration, that "we don't need the US as much as America thinks we do". He, however, cautioned that the much-touted pact, described as the "mother of all deals", would not automatically translate into broad-based gains unless India dramatically improves efficiency and logistics. In an interview with PTI, Banerjee said India was yet to fully understand the nature of American resistance under President Donald Trump's leadership, noting that the US had shown "limited interest" in bargaining with India despite repeated US claims of imminent agreements during the period of heightened trade tensions. "It is certainly a strategic alignment. It sends a signal to the US- from Europe and from India - that we don't need the US as much as the US thinks we do. That can be useful if the idea is to bring