EU news and archive

EU Commission plans to reduce internet cookie clicks

Internet users should have to make fewer clicks for cookie settings in the future, according to the European Commission. Despite massive criticism from data protection advocates, the authority intends to address further digital regulations. It plans to weaken the European AI Act, as announced in Brussels. The comprehensive package aims to...

Member

Business

EU backs small parcel duties to tackle China import flood

EU states on Thursday agreed to scrap a bloc-wide duty exemption on low-value orders from the likes of retail giants Temu and Shein to help tackle a flood of cheap Chinese imports. Currently there is no levy on packages worth less than 150 euros ($174) imported directly to consumers in the 27-nation bloc, in many cases via Chinese-founded...

FeaturedMember

Business

How can brands and retailers navigate EU textile and garment regulations?

In the European Union, a person consumes on average 19 kilograms of textiles per year according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). Of those, 8 kilograms are clothing, 7 kilograms are household textiles and 4 kilograms are shoes. “Nineteen kilograms basically compare to what can fit in a large travel suitcase,” compared EEA expert on...

Member

Business

Eurozone: Economic sentiment improves slightly

Economic sentiment in the Eurozone improved slightly in September. The Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) rose by 0.2 points to 95.5 points compared to the previous month, as announced by the European Commission in Brussels on Monday. Economists had expected 95.2 points. The ESI therefore remains below the long-term average of 100 points. The...

Fashion

European textile federations call on the EU for "urgent action" against ultra fast fashion

Paris - "Without delay", "immediately": European textile and clothing companies "can no longer wait years for measures to be taken against ultra fast fashion", they write in a joint letter to the European Commission. Fashion and textile players are growing impatient with the slow legislative response to Shein, Temu and AliExpress. These large...

FeaturedMember

Business|Interview

Fashion faces ESPR knowledge gap: Why education must catch up with regulation

Europe’s new eco-design laws are about to shake the global fashion industry, and most players aren’t ready. From Asian factories struggling with data demands to universities slow to update design curriculums, the knowledge gap is widening just as regulators and investors push for rapid change. At the centre of this shift, this year’s Redress x...

Member

Business

France urges EU to delist non-compliant ecommerce platforms

Paris - The French government is urging the European Commission to swiftly adopt new powers that would allow it to "delist" online sales platforms that violate EU laws. According to a letter from Minister Véronique Louwagie, obtained by AFP, this measure is primarily aimed at companies like Shein. Louwagie wrote to European Commissioner for...

Member

Business

Trump threatens tariffs over digital laws; EU counters

The EU remains unfazed by new tariff threats and demands from US president Donald Trump. Spokespeople for the European Commission, responsible for EU trade policy, made it clear in an initial reaction that the EU will not be dictated to by Trump regarding the rules it sets for digital platforms and businesses. They also referred to the recent...

Member

Business

Trump on customs deal: 600 billion dollar ‘gift’ from EU

The 600 billion dollars pledged by the EU in investments as part of the customs deal with the US is at the free disposal of the US, according to US President Donald Trump. “They have given us 600 billion dollars that we can invest in anything we want,” he said in an interview with CNBC. Trump described the sum as a “gift” that is not a loan and...

Member

Business

Temu under scrutiny: EU investigates potential digital law breaches

The Chinese online marketplace Temu is in breach of European digital law, according to an analysis by EU Commission experts. A preliminary assessment by the Brussels authority revealed a high risk for EU consumers encountering illegal products on the platform. The EU Commission stated that, under the Digital Services Act (DSA), Temu is obligated...

Member

Business

EU-US trade deal: Trump hints at tariff reduction if EU opens markets

US President Donald Trump has offered to lower tariffs on the import of European products if the European Union opens its market further to the US. At an AI event, Trump said of the ongoing negotiations: "If they agree to open the Union to American companies, then we will levy a lower tariff." He added that serious negotiations were underway....

Member

Business

Global apparel exports: EU displaces China from top spot

For the first time since 2005, China was not the world's leading apparel exporter last year. This is according to a report by the trade magazine “The Spin Off”, which refers to current data from the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to the report, European Union (EU) member states exported apparel worth a total of 166 billion dollars in...