Photo by LSE Library on Unsplash The EU is set to announce a first package of counter-measures in response to President Trump’s announcement of universal tariffs on the whole world, including the EU. The US is EU 5th most important trading partner, with total trade exceeding €9 billion. Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called…
Author: Our Staff Correspondent
Aviation’s Most Ambitious Retrofit
The airline Emirates has announced a major retrofitting of its fleet, said to be the aviation industry’s most ambitious retrofit undertaking yet. It says that it will introduce Boeing 777s with upgraded cabins to eight more destinations on its route network, as the airline’s retrofit programme continues with an aircraft receiving its nose-to-tail facelift and…
Emirates Upgrades Cabins on Selected Routes
Photo by Mike van den Bos on Unsplash Emirates says it will introduce Boeing 777s with upgraded cabins to eight more destinations on its route network. This comes as the airline’s retrofit programme continues to progress at an impressive pace, with an aircraft receiving its nose-to-tail facelift and rolling out into service every three weeks. …
Steel and Metals Action Plan
Photo by Mads Eneqvist on Unsplash The European Commission has presented its long awaited Steel and Metals Action Plan – the EU’s proposal to ensure the future of the European steel industry. The Commission says the plan will support the steel sector face current challenges in the short to medium term. The sector-specific priority measures are the result of an inclusive and collaborative process, which involved multiple…
Opposition to South H2 Corridor
Photo by Wolfgang Weiser on Unsplash Nearly 90 civil society organizations and networks have expressed their opposition to the South H2 Corridor. The construction of the 3, 300-kilometre hydrogen pipeline from North Africa to Germany via Italy was recently endorsed by governments in a joint declaration. The opposition to the plan follows a meeting of…
Business Revulsion at US Tariff Chaos
Additional US tariffs on steel and aluminium are a lose-lose for both sides of the Atlantic, says Europe’s business community. So says BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer. His organisation is the representative body for the business community at the EU level. He was reacting to President Trump’s recent announcements on tariffs. Beyrer said, “It is…
Rapid Phase Out of Russian Gas Imports
Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash MEPs say the EU is now Ukraine’s primary strategic ally and must help the country uphold its right to self-defence. They have also welcomed the proposal for a 30 day ceasefire, reached on 11 March. They say they expect Russia to agree to it and follow it by ceasing…
All Out Trade War Between EU and USA
Photo by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash The EU Commission says it regrets the US decision to impose tariffs against European companies. The EC has branded the move as unjustified, disruptive to transatlantic trade and harmful to businesses and consumers, often resulting in higher prices. The Commission says its response is carefully calibrated and based on…
End the EU’s Patchwork of Animal Welfare Laws
Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash A new report reveals that animal welfare issues are treated very differently by each of the EU’s 27 Member States. The authors, Eurogroup for Animals, say it shows that the EU must update and modernise the animal welfare legislation as soon as possible. This, it says, it needed to…
Commission Tables Omnibus Law Package
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash Some MEPs say the EU’s new Omnibus business simplification initiative is a crucial step and will push for its success with full force. This follows the European Commission tabling its first so-called Omnibus law package. The scheme aims to simplify obligations such as due diligence and sustainability reporting at …