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Green and red lanes at Northern Ireland ports, will govern both animal health and food safety issues as well as customs formalities (file image)

Difficulties remain despite talks progress - Šefčovič

The European Union has made progress in its talks with the UK on the Northern Ireland Protocol but difficulties remain, European Commission Vice-President Maros Šefčovič has said.

Brexit • 06 Feb 23

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced faster approval of green projects, among other measures

EU's green industry plan to counter US, China subsidies

The European Commission has today proposed a plan to try to ensure Europe can compete with the US as a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles and other green products and reduce its dependence on China.

Business • 01 Feb 23

Leo Varadkar spoke to the BBC during the WEF at Davos

Varadkar 'regrets' issues on way protocol implemented

The Taoiseach has expressed regret that the Northern Ireland Protocol was imposed without the support of unionists.

Brexit • 20 Jan 23

Companies will have to back up claims that products are climate neutral or contain recycled materials

EU drafts law to fight companies' greenwashing

The European Union has drafted plans to require companies to back up green claims about their products with evidence, in a bid to fight greenwashing and misleading advertisements, according to reports.

Business • 13 Jan 23

Micheál Martin met Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels for talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol

'Growing trust' between EU and UK negotiators - Martin

The Tánaiste Michéal Martin has said there is growing trust between EU and UK negotiators but he cautioned there was a long way to go before agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol might be reached.

Brexit • 10 Jan 23

The IT system governs the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

EU reaches agreement with UK on access to IT system

The EU and UK have reached an agreement on EU access to UK IT systems governing the movement of goods from Britain to Northern Ireland in what is seen as a significant development in the ongoing talks over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Brexit • 09 Jan 23

China plans to ease travel restrictions on 8 January, despite a wave of new infections which has left Chinese hospitals and funeral houses overwhelmed (file image)

EU recommends pre-flight testing for China travellers

European Union government officials have recommended that passengers flying from China to the EU should have a negative Covid-19 test before they board, as the Chinese government plans to ease travel restrictions despite a wave of new infections.

Coronavirus • 05 Jan 23

EU health chief said the bloc needed to be able to respond quickly to any new variant

EU urges more checks for Covid variants

The European Union should consider immediately scaling up genomic sequencing of Covid-19 infections and monitoring of waste water, including from airports, to detect any new variants given the virus surge in China, the bloc's health chief said.

Coronavirus • 30 Dec 22

Exxon said it will factor in the tax as it considers future multi-billion euro investments in Europe's energy supply

Exxon sues EU in move to block new windfall tax

US oil major Exxon Mobil is suing the European Union in a bid to force it to scrap the bloc's new windfall tax on oil groups, arguing Brussels exceeded its legal authority by imposing the levy.

Business • 28 Dec 22

UK's post-Brexit settlement scheme unlawful, says court

The British government's post-Brexit settlement scheme for EU citizens is unlawful, the UK's High Court has ruled.

Brexit • 21 Dec 22

Today's settlements will save Amazon from a fine of up to 10% of its global turnover

Amazon agrees deal in 3 EU antitrust cases, avoids fine

Amazon has today reached a settlement with the European Union in three antitrust probes after the US online retailer addressed the EU's concerns over its use of sellers' data.

Amazon • 20 Dec 22

Eamon Ryan pointed out that Ireland gets 75% of its gas from the UK

EU gas cap deal unlikely to affect prices soon - Ryan

An EU Energy Council decision to restrict the price of derivatives on the gas market is unlikely to have an immediate impact on energy prices for consumers in Ireland, Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan has said.

Business • 19 Dec 22

The City of London has been largely cut off from the European Union by Brexit

UK reforms finance to exploit Brexit and boost growth

Britain set out 30 measures to overhaul the financial sector today, including a repeal of 'burdensome' EU rules the government says will unlock investment and maintain the City of London as one of the most competitive financial hubs in the world.

Business • 09 Dec 22

EU financial services commissioner Mairead McGuinness

EU ramps up moves to limit financial link with London

The European Union published three draft laws today to lift economic growth by deepening its capital market through less reliance on post-Brexit London, cutting red tape on company listings and streamlining insolvency rules.

Business • 07 Dec 22

The EU has wanted to end heavy reliance on London-based clearing houses, such as London Stock Exchange Group's, for clearing euro-denominated interest rate swaps

EU plans for post-Brexit rules for derivatives clearing

Banks and other market participants in the European Union will have to prove to regulators that they are not overly reliant on clearing houses in London for processing their derivatives transactions, an EU draft document seen by Reuters showed.

Business • 28 Nov 22

The European Union will ban Russian oil product imports, on which it relies heavily for its diesel, by February 5

Europe rushes to fill up on Russian diesel before ban

European traders are rushing to fill tanks in the region with Russian diesel before an EU ban begins in February, as alternative sources remain limited.

Business • 21 Nov 22

Binding targets are to be set for all 27 EU members

EU agrees law to remove CO2 using woodlands

The EU has agreed to a law to expand its forests, marshes and other "sinks" that absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), a measure that could allow the bloc to raise its target for cutting net emissions of greenhouse gases.

Environment • 12 Nov 22

Ms Lagarde said Ireland's EU membership was a 'story of success'

ECB's Lagarde defends interest rate increases

The President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, has said she recognised that interest rate increases were a burden for some people.

News • 29 Oct 22

Ukrainian soldiers adjust a national flag atop a personnel armoured carrier on a road near Lyman earlier this month

People of Ukraine awarded EU's top human rights prize

The EU's top human rights award, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, has been awarded to the people of Ukraine and their representatives.

Europe • 19 Oct 22

Current legislation says that unless Stormont is restored by 28 October, fresh elections can be called (file image)

Fresh Stormont elections must be avoided, says Coveney

All efforts must be made to find an alternative to fresh Stormont elections, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said.

Brexit • 12 Oct 22

Steve Baker was speaking during the Conservative Party conference

Taoiseach welcomes NI minister's apology

The Taoiseach has welcomed comments made by prominent pro-Brexit minister Steve Baker in which he apologised for the negative effect his behaviour has had on relations with the EU and Ireland.

Brexit • 03 Oct 22

The number of people without jobs in the euro zone fell to 10.966 million in August from 10.996 million in July

Euro zone joblessness unchanged at record low of 6.6%

Euro zone unemployment was unchanged at a record low of 6.6% of the workforce in August, the European Union's statistics office Eurostat said today, matching expectations of economists polled by Reuters.

Business • 30 Sep 22

Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintains close ties with Russia

Hungary blasts MEP 'insult' over democratic credentials

Hungary has condemned as "an insult" a European Parliament vote to no longer consider the country a "full democracy".

Europe • 15 Sep 22

Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova an EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell (C) welcome Simon Coveney in Prague

Ireland would 'need to speak to UK' over Russia travel

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said that due to the Common Travel Area, Ireland would "need to speak to the UK" if any decision was made that would reduce Russian citizens' access to Ireland.

World • 30 Aug 22

Greek economic developments and policy have been monitored under the EU enhanced framework since 2018

Greece to exit 'enhanced surveillance' after 12 years

Greece will exit the European Union's so-called enhanced surveillance framework on August 20, its finance minister said today, a move that will allow the country greater freedom in making economic policy.

Business • 10 Aug 22