Young students envision turning Europe into an Entrepreneurial Society

The article was exclusively co-authored for the Sting by Daniela Runchi, President and Carolinne Bernadeli, Global Public Affairs Senior Project Manager of JADE, the European Confederation of Junior Enterprises  Turning Europe into an Entrepreneurial Society Promoting Entrepreneurship in Europe, and turning Europe itself into an Entrepreneurial society is one of the priorities of the European Commission […]

EU Commission announces Safe Harbour 2.0 and a wider Data protection reform

The new EU-US data transfer deal, currently under development, will give the European Union the right to suspend the pact if privacy concerns are raised again, EU Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová said in a statement last week. For the first time, such right is formally guaranteed, and even though the pact is still a draft, the […]

COP21 Business update: Companies urge now for carbon pricing as coal is still a big issue

As the Paris COP21 is rapidly getting close to its conclusion, one thing is becoming clearer than ever: the role that businesses will play. The role of  the global finance world has in order to get to a substantial change, is crucial. Basically, it is unlikely that an effective agreement will be possible without a meaningful […]

A Sting Exclusive: “Junior Enterprises themselves carry out projects focusing on the environment”, JADE President Daniela Runchi highlights from Brussels

This article was exclusively written for the Sting by Daniela Runchi, President of JADE Climate change is today one of the the hot topics not only for the institutions but also for the civil society and the youth: according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is […]

Volkswagen scandal update: “We want clarity fast, but it is equally important to have the complete picture”, Commission’s spokesperson underscores from Brussels

More than two months have passed since the Volkswagen emissions scandal broke out and the company is still under thorough investigation revealing that many more vehicles are affected by the cheating software and the firm’s fraudulent techniques. Last Monday, the Volkswagen (VW) chief executive officer Matthias Müller stated in Wolfsburg, Germany that the majority of VW’s […]

The ASEAN Community sees the light: the genesis of a new powerful economic and political bloc and EU’s big opportunity

The global “trade gold rush” we analysed last week doesn’t seem to be limited to the European Union solely, but indeed it’s expanding on a larger scale around the globe. Already on 16 November during G20 Leaders Summit, where the Sting was the only Brussels-based EU media to attend and cover extensively the top world summit in […]

Four things Turkey did for business in the G20

This article was first published by the World Economic Forum Agenda on 29 October 2015 and the European Sting was authorised by WEF to republish it. Written by Sarp Kalkan, Anna Kurguzova and Ussal Sahbaz As we are coming closer to the B20 Summit in November, B20 Turkey is getting ready to pass the baton on to its partners from China. The […]

October’s EU strong digital mix: From Safe Harbour to Net Neutrality, Roaming and Snowden

The month of October 2015, which began with another turning point in the Google-EU question and with a decisive judgment on data protection legislation will be remembered for a long time as a milestone for the digital European Union. On Net Neutrality First, last week, the European Parliament passed new rules on net neutrality which […]

Starbucks and FIAT again under Commission’s microscope: is Europe ready to kick multinationals out of the house?

Some multinationals (MNEs) such as FIAT and Starbucks have been overdoing it in the EU for quite some time now. The case of tax investigation of the aforementioned companies on whether they have paid the correct amount of corporate income tax or not is ongoing for over a year now. The Commissioner responsible for Competition, Mrs […]

EU Court of Justice invalidates Safe Harbour and the game for thousands US businesses suddenly changes

In what some American media already call a “dramatic judgement”, the European Court of Justice last week changed the course of history for data protection and handling between the EU and the United States. After having declared the “Safe Harbour” data transfer agreement invalid earlier last week, on October 06, the EU’s highest court last Friday […]

Google and Apple suddenly realise that doing business in EU is tough?

Last week was definitely a reference for digital European Union. For those who have felt that the European Commission has specifically targeted Google for some reason, or are particularly interested in the impact that regulators can have on big companies like Google last week must have truly paid off in terms of newsfeed. The Google bias? Let’s start with Google’s story. Last week, European Competition Commissioner […]

How dearly will Germany pay for the Volkswagen emissions rigging scandal

The Volkswagen emissions scam exposed by the US authorities last week has more substance than the vast and varied financial, commercial and legal consequences wherever in the world the company is present. VW has a great weight in the German car universe with its 12 brand names (VW, Audi, Porsche, the Volkswagen trucks Scania and […]

Pharmaceuticals spend millions to push TTIP while consumer groups spend peanuts

While the EU is dramatically exposed to an unprecedented migration crisis, a new report by the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) reveals something that is destined to be largely discussed in the immediate future. The Brussels-based, non-profit research and campaign group, whose aim is to expose any effects of corporate lobbying on EU policy making, last week […]

Oh, well, you are wrong, Google responds to the European Commission

Many months post the European Commission filed formal antitrust actions against Google, the American tech-giant issued its response to the Commission last week. Google, which has always denied the European Union’s antitrust charges, this time decided to formalise its response and speak wide open. In short, the high interests and the enormous weight the case has in antitrust […]

EU and US close to an agreement on data sharing amid European citizens’ concerns

The European Union and the United States are close to sealing a deal on data sharing, which will affect the way banks and other businesses store data. As reported by Reuters last week, the European Commission is working with US authorities on the final details of the same commercial data-sharing deal that was frozen two years […]

Nokia wins Commission’s approval for Alcatel-Lucent acquisition: a new way for antitrust cases?

The European Commission has given unconditional approval last Friday to the proposed acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent by Nokia, under the EU Merger Regulation. The 15.6 billion-euro merger with the French-American global telecommunications equipment company was announced by Nokia around 1 pm, last Friday, and later on by the European Commission through an official press release. No competition […]

Young? You should work out the entrepreneurial heart before the mind

Written by Alexandru Ene, Vice President of JADE I believe young people nowadays are being deceived: they see success in the form of smart oligarchs or gifted dropouts from famous American universities, and they think that these people have had the same state of mind as ever: They were calculated, courageous, open minded and lucky. […]

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Changing the Face of Europe

Written by Nicholas Zylberglajt, co-founder and Vice-President of EYIF 90 years ago my grandparents fled Poland to France and then to Uruguay looking for a better future and to heal the wounds from World War II. Fast forward to 2015 and I will visit Poland for the first time, returning to my roots to launch the Youth […]

Google’s bare truth: Europe’s Chief denies EU accusations but admits they “don’t always get it right”

When back in April the European Commission formally filed a complaint against Google it was clear that the action could have turned the page of the whole “EU vs Google” case. But after the tech giant responded and set out the initial arguments against the Commission’s findings, almost immediately, no further discussion about the thorny […]

European Business Summit 2015: In search of a vision for the future

It only happens once a year in Brussels and the time is now. The European business leaders gather presently in the Belgian and EU’s capital for two days to stage the European Business Summit. It started yesterday Wednesday 6 May and is concluding today. The business leaders are taking stock of the present and plan […]

A Sting Exclusive: “Sustainable development goals: what role for business?” Commissioner Mimica asks live from European Business Summit 2015

Written by Neven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation & Development In the next few months, the international community will take important decisions that will have a profound impact on how international cooperation and development will be pursued in the years and decades to come. Three major international events will determine the level of ambition and the […]

A Sting Exclusive: “The Digital Economy and Industry are no longer opposing terms”, Commissioner Oettinger underlines live from European Business Summit 2015

Written by Günther Oettinger, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society There are few business sectors emerging as fast as the digital economy. Just a year ago almost no one has ever heard of the taxi company Uber or the hotel substitute service Air B’n’B but now almost everyone knows about these two online services. Greater efficiency, the […]

A Sting Exclusive: “Regional Policy: a fully-fledged investment policy”, Commissioner Cretu reveals live from European Business Summit 2015

Written by Commissioner Corina Cretu, responsible for Regional Policy As Commissioner for Regional Policy, I have the important task of ensuring the greatest impact of our policy on the ground in terms of growth and jobs, in line with the objectives of both the Europe 2020 Strategy and the €315 billion Investment Plan. Regional Policy has […]

MasterCard at European Business Summit 2015: A focus on innovation will drive inclusive economic growth for Europe

Written by Ann Cairns, President of MasterCard, International Markets This year’s European Business Summit’s entitled “Europe 4.0 – Delivering a vision for the future of Europe” falls on the same day as the general elections in the UK which could prove crucial for the future of both, the UK and Europe. At a time when […]

A Sting Exclusive: “The competitiveness of Europe depends on a digital single market”, EPP President Joseph Daul highlights live from European Business Summit 2015

Written by Joseph Daul, the President of European People’s Party (EPP) Our lives are digital. This has changed the way we interact, work, produce, consume and live. We must embrace this digital revolution, as it can lead to sustainable growth and jobs for European entrepreneurs, employees and citizens. Our American friends are using new digital services […]

A Sting Exclusive: “The challenge of Society’s digital transformation”, Spanish Minister of Spain for Industry, Energy and Tourism José Manuel Soria live from European Business Summit 2015

Written by Jose Manuel Soria, Minister of Spain for Industry, Energy and Tourism The digital revolution that has accompanied the new millennium is a challenge of major social and economic dimensions. Digital infrastructures and services allow the development of a modern, innovative economic system. This transformational force affects all sectors and industries, and Europe should […]

European Business Summit 15th year: Controversy and Constructive Ideas

Written by Arnaud Thysen, General Manager of European Business Summit It began at the turn of a new millennium, a magnet for top policy-makers and the business world, debating how Europe and the world should adapt to rapidly changing times.  Through dot.com booms and busts, the rise of the BRICs, armed conflicts and terrorism – and […]

Industry 4.0: Championing Europe’s fourth industrial revolution

Written by Adina-Ioana Valean, Vice-President of the European Parliament Historically, the European continent has been at the forefront of all major revolutions that have radically reshaped and refocused the advanced global economies. From the financial-agricultural revolution of the 18th and early 19th centuries and throughout the continuous industrial and technical progress of the last 200 […]

Philippe de Backer of ALDE at European Business Summit 2015 stresses: “Reinvent your business”

Written by Philippe de Backer, Belgian MEP with ALDE, member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy at the European Parliament European industry is in crisis. Production is 10 percent lower since the economic crisis began in Europe and over three million industrial jobs have been lost. Real actions are still missing, despite declarations, […]

It’s EU vs. Google for real: the time is now, the case is open

As anticipated by the European Sting in a latest Sting of the day last week on Google’s antitrust case in Europe, the European Commission did take finally formal actions and filed a complaint against the Northern American tech giant, alleging the company’s search results unfairly favoured its own shopping services over third-party sites. The antitrust charge followed a five-year […]

On Google antitrust case: “Let’s face it, some companies want to hurt Google and it goes as simple as that”

After 5 long lingering years a bit of light will be cast on Google’s antitrust case in Europe. Former Commissioner Joaquin Almunia for Competition failed to resolve the matter successfully during his term, going back and forth numerous times. Like a modern Pontius Pilate who “washed his hands”, the Spanish politician, who launched the Google investigation back […]

Yesterday’s “jokes” and sarcasm by Digital Single Market’s Vice President Ansip on EU member states’ right to protect their telco markets

The distance between an actual speech and a press release is abyssal. A good example of that came out of Mr Ansip’s introductory speech at an event in Brussels yesterday evening about the EU Digital Single Market. The Vice President of the European Commission for the Digital Single Market (DSM) touched there briefly all current hot topics of the […]

EU to Telcos: Stop Mergers and Acquisitions but please help me urgently with 5G development

Last week in the Mobile World Congress 2015 you had the distinct feeling being in an immense supermarket, strolling from isle to isle in order to find the product that you desire. For a deep pocket investor #MWC15 could be an excellent market place where she would be able to put in her “shopping basket” […]
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