Page 36 - European Union

16 member countries urge to include vapes in EU's tobacco tax law

Initiative, led by Netherlands, has support of Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Slovakia, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland, Slovenia and Portugal

European Union on collision course with Trump on Big Tech crackdown

The most immediate dilemma for the EU may be how to approach the X platform

Rachel Reeves to push for UK, EU reset at finance ministers' meeting

Britain's Labour government is pushing to reset ties with the EU after coming to power in July and improve trading relations in a bid to raise growth

Europe's economy to suffer if chaos continues in France, Germany: Experts

Even before the French and German governments collapsed, Europe's economy had enough difficulties. Tepid growth and lagging competitiveness versus the US and China. An auto industry that's struggling. Where to find billions for defense against Russia? And now Donald Trump threatening tariffs. Solutions will be harder to find while the two countries that make up almost half of the eurozone economy remain stuck in political paralysis well into 2025. Where once there was the so-called French-German axis to push Europe ahead, now there's a vacuum. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned Thursday after losing a vote of confidence, and while President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a successor, the new head of government will lack a majority. Elections are not constitutionally permitted until at least June. Germany's coalition led by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats fractured in November, triggering an early election on Feb. 23.

EU probes Nvidia over potential bundling practices in AI chip market

The company has seen high demand from customers involved in generative AI and accelerated computing for its chips

Georgia opposition party leader arrested as protests over EU row continue

Georgian police on Wednesday raided the offices of an opposition party and arrested its leader in an apparent attempt to squelch a wave of mass protests triggered by the governing party's decision to suspend negotiations on joining the European Union. During the past six nights, riot police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, who threw fireworks at police officers and built barricades on the Georgian capital's central boulevard. More than 300 protesters have been detained since Thursday and over 100 people have been treated for injuries. On Wednesday, the Coalition for Change opposition party said that police raided its offices and detained its leader, Nika Gvaramia. It shared a video showing several officers dragging Gvaramia into a car. Georgian media reported that police also raided the offices of several other opposition groups and non-government organizations. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the Georgian Dream party said the raids targeted those

EU condemns Taliban's reported suspension of medical education for females

The European Union on Thursday condemned the Taliban for violating human rights and women's access to education after media reports that the Taliban's leader has ordered private and public institutions to stop providing medical courses for women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban have neither confirmed the order nor responded to the media reports. The Public Health Ministry spokesman was unavailable for comment. In September 2021, a month after they returned to power, the Taliban stopped schooling for girls after grade six. They banned women from university in December 2022. Medical education, like nursing and midwifery, was one of the few ways they could continue their learning in classrooms. The BBC and others reported that five institutions across Afghanistan said the Taliban had instructed them to close until further notice, and women training as midwives and nurses were ordered not to return to classes Wednesday. The EU said the Taliban's latest reported decision represent

EU-CBAM: EU's carbon tax needs global coordination to address concerns

The climate change is no more an esoteric concept. There is unlikely to be any dilution in emerging international regulations

Georgian protesters clash with police after PM suspends talks on joining EU

Police and protesters brutally clashed in Georgia after the country's ruling party suspended negotiations to join the European Union until 2028. Police used water cannons, pepper spray and tear gas late Thursday to disperse protesters who took to the streets following the announcement by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Georgian Dream claimed victory in last month's parliamentary election that the opposition in the South Caucasus nation dismissed as fraudulent and that has been condemned by European officials. The election on October 26 was widely seen as a referendum on the country's aspirations to join the European Union and the ruling party had indicated to voters that it would continue to seek membership of the bloc. The interior ministry said it detained 43 people during the protests. President Salome Zourabichvili said the government declared war on its own people and confronted riot police at the protest, asking them whether they served ..

Georgia suspends talks on joining EU for 4 yrs; accuses it of 'blackmail'

Georgia is suspending talks on its bid to join the European Union for four years, its prime minister said Thursday, in view of what he described as blackmail and manipulation from some of the bloc's politicians. The statement by Irakli Kobakhize came hours after he was reappointed to the job by members of the governing Georgian Dream party after its disputed victory in last month's parliamentary election that has sparked protests and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. The October 26 election was widely seen as a referendum on the country's aspirations to join the European Union. The opposition said the vote was rigged under the influence of Russia seeking to keep Georgia in its orbit, and declared a boycott of parliament. European election observers said the balloting took place in a divisive atmosphere marked by instances of bribery, double voting and physical violence. The EU has previously announced that the talks on Georgia's accession to the bloc had been de-facto hal

Expressed 'deep disappointment' at EU's unilateral green regulations: Goyal

Union Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday expressed India's "deep disappointment" with the European Union's "unilateral" green economy regulations, stating they are unfair and violate the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". Under the proposed EUDR, operators or traders placing specified commodities on the EU market or exporting them must prove their products do not come from recently deforested land or contribute to forest degradation. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are tariffs that will apply on energy-intensive goods imported into the European Union (EU). India has concerns that the CBAM could result in higher tariffs on imports of carbon-intensive goods like cement, aluminium, iron, and steel from India, acting as a unilateral trade barrier. Addressing a press conference here, the commerce and industry minister said he raised the issue with his French counterpart during talks held a day earlier. On Wednesday, Goyal held discussions with Sophie ...

Google to tweak search results in Europe after rivals highlight low traffic

Under the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), Google is prohibited from favouring its products and services on its platform

EU asks Israel for ceasefire with Hezbollah as 'all concerns addressed'

The European Union's top diplomat said Tuesday there were no excuses for Israel to refuse to implement a ceasefire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, saying all its security concerns had been addressed in the US-French-brokered deal. Josep Borrell, the outgoing EU foreign policy chief, called for increased pressure on Israel to blunt extremists in the government who are refusing to accept the deal. Speaking on the sidelines of a Group of Seven meeting in Italy, Borrell warned that if a ceasefire is not implemented, Lebanon will fall apart. Israeli officials said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security Cabinet was set to convene Tuesday to discuss a proposed ceasefire. Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. Borrell said the US would chair a ceasefire implementation committee, but France would participate at the request of Lebanon. On the proposal agreement brokered

'Gorilla glass' maker Corning bids to settle European Union antitrust case

The European Commission earlier this month launched an antitrust investigation over Corning's exclusive supply deals that may exclude rival glass producers from large segments of the market

EU, China discussing alternatives to European tariffs on Chinese EVs

To address the subsidies, the European Union last month raised tariffs on Chinese-built EVs to as much as 45.3% in its highest-profile trade investigation

UK regulator considers probe into Apple's, Google's mobile browsers

The CMA's independent inquiry group also proposed that no further action be taken on cloud gaming given primary concerns had been addressed

ArcelorMittal delays green capex in EU, cites regulatory uncertainties

"We are operating in a difficult market, and there are a number of policy uncertainties that are impacting the industry," the company said in an emailed statement

European companies cut jobs amidst difficult economy, weak demand

Companies across Europe are being forced to freeze hiring or cut jobs on difficult economy and persistent weak demand for many products

EU to investigate Amazon next year, its share price drops by 3% post report

Amazon could face a substantial fine of up to 10 per cent of its annual global revenue if it is found guilty of breaching the European Union's Digital Markets Act

Amazon likely to face investigation under EU tech rules next year

The timing and decision on whether to go ahead with an investigation will be taken by incoming EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera in the coming months,