The Commission says it welcomes the agreement reached by EU finance ministers on Tuesday to update the current rules governing value-added tax (VAT) rates for goods and services. These new rules will provide governments with more flexibility in the rates they can apply and ensure equal treatment between EU Member States. At the same time,…
The EU’s current border regime is a profitable business for the European companies cashing in on the militarisation of EU migration policy, according to a study commissioned by The Left in the European Parliament. The study is by Jacqueline Andres, of the “Information Centre on Militarization” and MEPs Özlem Demirel and Clare Daly. Major defence companies such as…
Are you looking for ideas to keep the kids (and yourself) entertained over the upcoming holiday season? The festive period beckons and all of us are likely to benefit from a much-needed break, particularly with the pandemic depressingly still very much with us. In fact, that necessity is probably greater than ever before, with Belgium…
The Commission is set to adopt a proposal on improving the working conditions in platform work, acting on a European Parliament own-initiative report adopted on September 16, 2021. The Socialists and Democrats Group have been the driving force to enshrine a rebuttable assumption of an employment relationship in EU law. This means platform workers are…
A pioneering United Nations initiative that advocates a commitment to human rights has won the support of its latest backer. The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) was launched in 2000 and is a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation, and disclosure of responsible business practices. The UNGC is non-binding UN pact to encourage businesses and…
After 18 months of fact-finding, Parliament’s committee of inquiry into the protection of animals during transport adopted its conclusions and recommendations. Parliament‘s inquiry into the protection of animals during transport (the ANIT committee), set up in June 2020 to investigate alleged violations of EU rules, wrapped up its work on Thursday. It concluded that EU…
With the recovery beating expectations and market conditions easing, European firms expect to increase investment again. Financial support for firms during the lockdowns was crucial in keeping the economy afloat: more than half (56%) of EU firms have received some form of financial support in response to COVID-19. Moreover, despite difficult circumstances, four out of…
Cancer is one of the biggest health issues of all time. 1.3 million people die of cancer every year in Europe. Not a single European has not had a family member, friend or relation taken away by this disease. Yet, 40% of cancers could be prevented by a greater sharing of patient data and treatment…
News about the Omicron variant has cast yet more gloom and dismay and thrown Christmas plans into disarray for countless people. The developments threaten to scupper arrangements made for the festive season. But, thankfully, a couple of top Belgian tourist attractions are doing their bit to ensure that the much-awaited (and needed) holiday is not…
