Economics 

Tax-evasion report demanded

EU finance ministers start process of closing tax loopholes.

Not everyone buys into engagement with Russia

Seen from a German point of view, eastern Europe's disenchantment with the European Union is both untrue and fantastically offensive. How can the [...]

Advertisement

Business 

Call for greater scrutiny of auditors

European Commission highlights greater independence, transparency and oversight as crucial to improving the quality of audits.

Spain facing court over Endesa case

European Commission threatening to take Madrid to the European Court of Justice.

Business 

EU urged to get tough on sovereign funds

EU risks being overruled if it fails to tackle funds, calls for greater oversight of sector.

US, EU begin fresh ‘open skies' talks

Second phase of liberalisation talks focuses on mergers and aligning rules governing the US and EU aviation markets.

Do manufacturers lack drive for greener cars?

A UK expert on greener vehicles has no sympathy for foot-dragging carmakers.

Transport 

Commission calls a halt to noisy tyres

Tyre firms say targets are 'technically unfeasible"; proposal will also cover braking systems.

Satellites of (institutional) change

Galileo's new-found status as an EU-funded project has brought changes to the institutional structures charged with its oversight.

From vocational training to satellites

The number of EU agencies has exploded since the first two were set up in the 1970s. Starting with the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training in Berlin and the Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in Dublin, the EU's tally of agencies is now approaching 30. Four more are supposed to be set up in the next year to deal with telecoms and energy market regulation, satellite positioning and innovation. Agencies have been created for many reasons, whether to provide specialised advice, specific regulatory functions in assessing medicines or foodstuffs, or to counter the perception of an overcentralised EU concentrated in Brussels by spreading the institutions and staff to different locations across Europe.