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The directive has to be transposed into member states' national law by the end of 2023

15% tax rate can proceed after Hungary drops opposition

Hungary has dropped its opposition to the introduction of a global minimum corporation tax rate of 15% as part of a wider deal with the EU allowing implementation to proceed.

Business • 13 Dec 22

Greek MEP Eva Kaili was one of four people arrested

Greek MEP Kaili unaware of cash found in home - lawyer

Eva Kaili, the Greek MEP embroiled in a corruption scandal allegedly linked to World Cup host Qatar, "did not know of the existence" of the cash found at her home, her lawyer has said.

World • 13 Dec 22

A worker loads palm oil fruits on to a boat for transportation from plantations along the Kampar River in Indonesia

EU law to stop import of goods linked to deforestation

The European Union has agreed on a new law to prevent companies from selling soy, beef, coffee and other commodities into the EU market that are linked to deforestation around the world.

Climate Change • 06 Dec 22

Opioid-based pholcodine has been used as a cough medicine since the 1950s (stock image)

EMA recommends removal of cough syrup chemical

Cough medicines containing the chemical pholcodine should be banned due to the risk of potentially deadly allergic reactions in people under general anaesthetic, the European Union's drug regulator has said.

Health • 02 Dec 22

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressing a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas

Von der Leyen says no hard border on island of Ireland

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas that there can be no hard border on the island of Ireland.

Ireland • 01 Dec 22

Although Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in 1713, Madrid has long wanted it back in a thorny dispute

Spain, EU propose removing Gibraltar border fencing

Madrid and Brussels have approached the British government with a proposal for removing the border fence between Spain and Gibraltar in order to ease freedom of movement, Spain's top diplomat has said.

Brexit • 25 Nov 22

By 2035, all cars and vans sold in the EU will have zero CO2-emissions (file image)

EU proposes new emissions standard for road vehicles

The European Commission has proposed a new emissions standard that will require all new road vehicles to meet tougher pollution-reduction requirements, including lower emissions from brakes and tyres, even those on electric vehicles.

Climate Change • 10 Nov 22

Brussels wants a more tailored response to financial crises, as opposed to the one-size-fits-all approach which characterised the management of the fiscal shocks of 2009-2013

EU eyes longer debt reduction paths in rules review

The European Commission has proposed changes to the EU's onerous debt rules that would allow member states to negotiate their own debt reduction path, using the carrot of more flexibility if governments introduce reforms and investment.

World • 09 Nov 22

Michael Martin described the agreement as good for Ireland

Taoiseach says EU deal on gas prices good for Ireland

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has hailed last night's agreement by EU leaders on a price cap on imported gas, saying it would lead to a stabilisation of the market and reduce price spikes.

Politics • 21 Oct 22

The report says Ireland is an outlier compared to the rest of the EU when it comes to trade with the UK

ESRI study finds UK-EU trade has declined since Brexit

A new report from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) shows that trade between the UK and the EU has declined since Brexit.

Business • 19 Oct 22

A lorry passes an anti Northern Ireland Protocol sign as it is driven away from Larne port (file pic)

Data access could be breakthrough in NI Protocol talks

It has been a long and contentious journey, pock-marked with delays and disagreements but the data-sharing element could unlock some of the most intractable problems around the Protocol

Analysis and Comment • 16 Oct 22

A Ukrainian woman carries her child as they get off a train from Zaporizhzhia at Przemysl train station in Poland

EU extends protection for Ukrainian refugees into 2024

The EU has announced it is extending a bloc-wide protection scheme for Ukrainian refugees for a further year, until March 2024.

Ukraine • 10 Oct 22

The move will force Apple to change its charging port for iPhones and other devices (file image)

EU parliament approves move for common device charger

The European Parliament has approved new rules that will introduce a single charging port for mobile phones, tablets and cameras in the European Union by 2024.

World • 04 Oct 22

Today was the deadline for the UK to respond to a number of infringement proceedings launched by the European Commission

UK responds to EU protocol legal action

The European Commission has said it received a letter from the UK in response to legal action taken by the EU against the UK over non-compliance with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Brexit • 15 Sep 22

EU countries will have to negotiate the Commission's proposals and agree on final laws.

EU proposes windfall levies on energy firms

The European Union has revealed plans to raise more than 140 billion euros to soften the blow to consumers from soaring energy prices by skimming off revenues from low-cost electricity generators and making fossil fuel firms share windfall profits.

Business • 14 Sep 22

Truss and the NI Protocol: Reset or ongoing conflict?

There has been a carefully calibrated European response to Liz Truss becoming the British prime minister.

Analysis and Comment • 06 Sep 22

Minister Simon Coveney speaking to the media before the meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers in Prague yesterday

Ireland 'wants' to be part of EU training mission

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said Ireland wants to be involved in an EU training mission for the Ukrainian military, following outline agreement yesterday among defence ministers in Prague.

World • 31 Aug 22

The Dutch government has asked people to take shorter showers

Govts across Europe urge energy saving measures

Shorter showers, ditch the ties, close the doors and lights out after 10pm. These are just some of the energy saving measures that have been urged by governments across Europe this summer.

World • 21 Aug 22

The approval comes a day after the WHO declared the rapidly spreading monkeypox outbreak as a global health emergency

Danish monkeypox vaccine wins EU approval

Danish biotechnology company Bavarian Nordic has confirmed that the European Commission has given permission for its Imvanex vaccine to be marketed as protection against monkeypox, as recommended last week by the European Medicines Agency.

World • 25 Jul 22

Mark Daly said this will help ensure that deadlines set by Brussels are met

Seanad to examine transposition of EU directives

A new Seanad select committee is to be established by the autumn to scrutinise the transposition of European Union directives into Irish law.

Politics • 21 Jul 22

Workers fill a crucible with molten gold in the foundry at the Prioksky non-ferrous metals plant in Kasimov

EU to target Russian gold in next sanctions package

The European Union will target Russian gold exports in its next sanction package and seek to "close exit routes" for those bypassing its earlier packages, an EU commissioner said.

World • 15 Jul 22

The current temporary state aid framework ends in December

EU wants to relax aid rules for war impacted firms

The European Commission wants to increase state aid granted to EU companies affected by the sanctions levied against Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine and is seeking feedback from EU countries before a final decision.

Business • 11 Jul 22

Stephen Barclay, Boris Johnson, Jean Claude Juncker and Michel Barnier pictured in Brussels in 2019

No love lost between EU and Boris Johnson

When Boris Johnson was elected leader of the Tory party on 23 July 2019 there were plenty of sharp intakes of breath in Dublin and Brussels, writes Europe Editor Tony Connelly.

Analysis and Comment • 08 Jul 22

The 'roam-like-at-home' initiative has been extended until 2032 (stock photo)

New EU roaming rules come into force

New EU roaming rules for mobile phone users have come into effect, which allow travellers to make calls and use the internet while abroad without extra charges.

Ireland • 01 Jul 22

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Maroš Šefčovič speaking at a Bloomberg event

EU would allow 'green lane' for goods into N Ireland

The EU would allow a green lane for goods being imported into Northern Ireland from Britain as part of a "robust offer" to resolve difficulties over the Protocol, according to its chief Brexit negotiator Maroš Šefčovič.

World • 29 Jun 22