Page 48 - European Union

EU council adopts euro instant payments rules to take on Visa, Mastercard

The Council added that the new rule would factor in countries outside of the euro-zone economic bloc

EU carbon border tax will do little to cut emissions, says ADB report

It was designed to level the playing field and make foreign suppliers pay the same carbon price as domestic ones, even if they are not subject to an ETS or carbon tax at home

India may face 10.5% VAT on production under CBAM regime: ADB study

Sectors like ferrous metals, electricity, petrochemicals expected to be worst impacted

Indian company among 27 faces EU sanctions over dual-use exports

The latest sanctions were announced to mark two years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the second anniversary of which falls on Saturday

UK announces new sanctions marking anniversary of Russia's Ukraine invasion

The European Union on Wednesday approved its own package of sweeping sanctions, banning nearly 200 entities

UK withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty, following similar moves by EU

Britain's government said Thursday it is withdrawing from a controversial international energy treaty after efforts to modernize it ended in stalemate. The UK's move followed similar announcements by France, Germany and other European Union countries to quit the Energy Charter Treaty, which critics say is being used by the fossil fuel industry to legally challenge governments over their climate policies. The treaty entered into force in 1998 to protect and encourage international flows of investment in the energy sector. But a number of countries have faced costly legal challenges over reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and boosting greener energy sources. UK officials said negotiations to update the treaty to better support cleaner technologies had gone on for several years, but resulted in an impasse among European countries. "The Energy Charter Treaty is outdated and in urgent need of reform but talks have stalled and sensible renewal looks increasingly unlikely," said Grah

Farmers from 10 EU countries join forces to protest agricultural policies

Czech farmers were driving their tractors and other vehicles to several border crossings on Thursday to meet their colleagues from neighbouring countries and join forces in their protests against European Union agriculture policies, bureaucracy and overall conditions for their business. Farmers complain that the 27-nation EU's environmental policies, such as the Green Deal, which calls for limits on the use of chemicals and on greenhouse gas emissions, limit their business and make their products more expensive than non-EU imports. The farmers also complain about low prices for their products and say grain and other agriculture products coming from Ukraine and Latin America negatively affect the market. The farmers met their colleagues from neighbouring Germany, Poland and Slovakia at a number of border crossings. Farmers from 10 EU countries, ranging from Central Europe to the Baltics and the Balkans, were participating in the protest, organisers said. The farmers invited Czech ..

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Farmers' protest in Europe: What has led to unrest across the continent?

Farmers from at least nine European countries have united in protest, including Greece, Poland, Spain, Germany, France, Romania, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, and Lithuania

EU's latest sanctions against Russia include Indian, Chinese companies

A report suggested that the measures, which will be formally approved on February 24, will target three companies in mainland China and one in India

EU agrees on sanctions against Russia before 2nd anniversary of Ukraine war

The decision coincides with the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022, and comes days after the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Ursula von der Leyen seeking second term as head of EU's Commission

Germany's Ursula von der Leyen will seek a second term as head of the European Union's powerful Commission in a move that could make her the most significant politician representing the bloc's 450 million citizens in a over a generation. Following five years of leading the 27-nation bloc through multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the first two years of Russia's war in Ukraine, the 65-year-old was put forward by her German Christian Democratic Union party and will only need a further rubber stamp when the party's European umbrella group meets early next month in Bucharest. The party's president, Friedrich Merz, said on Monday that his German party unanimously chose Ursula von der Leyen to be the candidate to stay in her post.

EU, India explore cooperation in combatting misinformation in digital space

Over 35 experts from the European Union and India will hold extensive deliberations on Wednesday to unpack the security and policy aspects in jointly combating online disinformation campaigns. The peer-to-peer discussion in Delhi will explore trends in the use of disinformation online and encourage EU and Indian governmental and non-governmental actors to compare notes and share best practices for countering disinformation. The EU and India have on multiple occasions reaffirmed their commitment to an open, free, secure, stable, peaceful and accessible cyberspace that enables economic growth and innovation. The EU-India track 1.5 event -- 'Combatting disinformation online: EU and Indian perspectives' -- is the fourth roundtable being co-organised by the EU-funded project Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia (ESIWA) and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the EU Delegation to India. The high-level meeting will feature speakers from across the EU such

Apple set to face near $539 million penalty from EU over Spotify row

In a closed-door meeting between EU officials and Apple in June last year, the tech firm told regulators it had already addressed any possible competition concerns arising from Spotify's complaint

Greek parliament passes landmark law legalising same sex marriage

The Greek parliament passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage making it the first majority Orthodox Christian country to establish marriage equality for all, CNN reported

Google to initiate anti-misinformation campaign ahead of EU elections

Viewers watching the ads on YouTube will be asked to fill in a short multiple-choice questionnaire, designed to gauge what they have learned about misinformation

EU emissions tariff system must be fair to developing world: CEA

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) aims to set a fair price on the carbon emitted during the production of energy-intensive products, like iron, steel, cement, and fertilizers, entering EU

Govt rejects EU FTA's data exclusivity demand to protect drug cos' interest

India on Thursday said it has rejected the demand of the four European nations EFTA bloc for inclusion of a 'data exclusivity' provision in proposed free trade agreements, stating that it always protects the interests of the domestic generic drugs industry. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said there is no Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in which India will go against the generic drug industry. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The bloc is negotiating a trade agreement with India. "They want that there should be data exclusivity, we rejected their demand. We are with our generic industry. "There is no fear for Indian generic industry (from this agreement). In fact, it is our very important objective to see that generic drug industry flourishes," he told reporters here. The secretary said the industry is contributing significantly to India's exports, which are also growing. "So we are there to protect the interest o

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's new technology law exempts Apple's iMessage, Microsoft's Bing

European Union's new Digital Markets Act takes effect in three weeks' time