The European Commission unveiled plans to dismantle internal business barriers within the EU to improve competitiveness and mitigate the economic impact of U.S. tariffs. Measures include encouraging QR code use for product information, addressing restricted retail practices, and reducing regulatory reporting burdens to save €400 million annually for mid-sized companies.

The European Union sent a revised trade proposal to the United States, aiming to inject momentum into stalled negotiations. The proposal includes measures such as gradually reducing tariffs to zero on non-sensitive agricultural products and industrial goods.

European Union ambassadors approved a €150 billion defense fund named Security Action for Europe (SAFE) to bolster joint military projects and strengthen Europe’s defense industry. The initiative aims to address security vulnerabilities within Europe amid concerns over Russian aggression and uncertainty about continued U.S. defense support. The fund requires that 65% of a project’s value originates from companies based in the EU, European Economic Area, or Ukraine, with provisions allowing participation from countries like the UK that have signed Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU.

A technical outage at Bloomberg LP disrupted debt sales across Europe, leading to delays in government bond auctions in the UK, EU, and Portugal. The outage affected traders’ access to live pricing data, causing temporary disruptions in the primary market execution.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated a willingness to reverse a previously announced cut to winter fuel payments for the elderly. Acknowledging the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, Starmer stated that more pensioners should be eligible for the payments, with potential changes to be considered in the upcoming budget.

Romania’s central bank signaled that it would consider further interest rate cuts only after achieving political and market stability. The country has been experiencing financial market turbulence due to political uncertainties, including upcoming elections and fiscal concerns.

Kosovo’s parliament has failed for the 15th time to elect a new speaker, delaying the formation of a new government. This political deadlock threatens the disbursement of €700-800 million in EU and World Bank funds, crucial for sectors like health and education. The Kosovar Chamber of Commerce warns that businesses are struggling amid uncertainty over future reforms and fiscal policy.

The European Commission unveiled plans to dismantle internal business barriers within the EU to improve competitiveness and mitigate the economic impact of U.S. tariffs. Measures include standardizing regulations and reducing compliance burdens for companies operating across member states.

The European Union has sent a revised trade proposal to the United States, aiming to reduce tariffs on non-sensitive agricultural products and industrial goods. This move seeks to de-escalate trade tensions and foster economic cooperation between the two regions.

European Union ambassadors approved a €150 billion defense fund named Security Action for Europe (SAFE) to bolster joint military projects and strengthen Europe’s defense industry. The initiative aims to address security vulnerabilities within Europe amid concerns over Russian aggression and uncertainty about continued U.S. defense support. The fund requires that 65% of a project’s value originates from companies based in the EU, European Economic Area, or Ukraine, with provisions allowing participation from countries like the UK that have signed Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU.

A technical outage at Bloomberg LP disrupted debt sales across Europe, leading to delays in government bond auctions in the UK, EU, and Portugal. The outage affected traders’ access to live pricing data, causing temporary disruptions in the primary market execution.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated a willingness to reverse a previously announced cut to winter fuel payments for the elderly. Acknowledging the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, Starmer stated that more pensioners should be eligible for the payments, with potential changes to be considered in the upcoming budget.

Romania’s central bank signaled that it would consider further interest rate cuts only after achieving political and market stability. The country has been experiencing financial market turbulence due to political uncertainties, including upcoming elections and fiscal concerns.

Kosovo’s parliament has failed for the 15th time to elect a new speaker, preventing the formation of a new government. The ongoing political deadlock threatens the approval of €700-800 million in EU and World Bank funding for critical sectors. The Kosovar Chamber of Commerce warned that businesses are struggling due to the uncertainty over future reforms and fiscal policy.