Digital market has received a lot of interest lately in Europe. Not only by the market players that have always lobbied more favourable or less regulation in general, but most importantly by the EU leadership. New Commissioner, new priorities Jean Claude Juncker, new President of the European Commission, seems to have ‘bet all his money’ […]Digital business is Europe’s best hope to get back to growth
October 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Digital market has received a lot of interest lately in Europe. Not only by the market players that have always lobbied more favourable or less regulation in general, but most importantly by the EU leadership. New Commissioner, new priorities Jean Claude Juncker, new President of the European Commission, seems to have ‘bet all his money’ […]Can privatisation be the panacea for the lack of growth in Europe?
October 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
An interesting topic was treated last Monday evening in Brussels and the European Sting was present to listen to some ideas on how to boost growth in the European Economy in a pragmatic manner. It would be unfair to say that the idea on the table of the discussion was original or innovative but nevertheless it […]Benjamin Franklin was wrong: Amazon can tax evade
October 10, 2014 by 1 Comment
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”, Benjamin Franklin said back in the 18th century. Three hundred years later in principle it maintains validity, when it comes to the former. Of course for most developed societies tax is a de facto obligation of the citizen. Most of us we […]Facebook wins EU approval for WhatsApp acquisition; just a sign of the times
October 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment
After a few months of sleepless nights, Facebook founder and young billionaire Mark Zuckerberg can finally relax a bit. The world’s largest social network will likely receive approval by the European Union for its $19 billion purchase of mobile messaging startup WhatsApp, reports said. Citing two people “familiar with the matter” Reuters revealed on Thursday […]
Qualcomm to be the next target of EU antitrust regulators? China might be the answer
August 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
This hot, rich summer 2014 is approaching its end, but it seems like a hot fall is awaiting already. Google’s antitrust case is still a big question for European regulation on competition, but another case might be giving a big shake to the whole scene. Reuters recently reported that Qualcomm, the world’s No. 1 mobile […]Google’s hot summer never ends: EC to launch ANOTHER antitrust inquiry against the American giant
August 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
We must admit it: this is not exactly a quiet summer for Google. Not in the Old Continent at least. After the “Right To Be Forgotten” case has disturbed Google’s top management’s sleep recently, a new dark cloud may come soon. According to Reuters, the Mountain View, California-based company may soon face a new probe […]Finance for SMEs: Alternative supply mechanisms do exist
July 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Indisputably, one of the most crucial barriers to economic growth is the lack of adequate financing for SMEs, across the European Union. Indeed, the problem is more acute in the hardest hit by the financial crisis countries like Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Ireland. In some other member states this setback is chronic. The SMEs […]I’m not feeling lucky: The “Right to Be Forgotten” ruling puts Google inside a box
July 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment
“How should one person’s right to be forgotten be balanced with the public’s right to know?” This is the question that Google is asking to its users with an open form which allows the general public to offer its advice. This happens in a moment that the first effects of the decision of the European Court […]Zuckerberg, a paella, and the mighty EU questionnaires that would stop Whatsapp acquisition by Facebook?
July 11, 2014 by Leave a Comment
It was the end of February and we were walking around the Ramblas in Barcelona, at the eve of Mobile World Congress 2014, where the Sting was the only Brussels media that made it to Catalunya. Seduced by the smell of paella and cinnamon, there was one major thing that all the people wearing the magic MWC badge were whispering […]Intel, Almunia and 1 billion euros for unfair potatoes
June 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
“The General Court upholds the fine of 1.06 billion euros ($ 1.4 billions) imposed on Intel for having abused its dominant position on the market for x86 central processing units between 2002 and 2007”. With these words the judge of the General Court of the European Union dismissed Intel’s action against the decision of the Commission […]European Commission: Does Apple, Starbucks and Fiat really pay their taxes?
June 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The European Commission (EC) decided two days ago to conduct an investigation which will focus on the tax affairs of Apple, Starbucks and Fiat Finance and Trade in Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg respectively. Basically, EC’s purpose is to examine if the tax authorities of the aforementioned countries are in line with the rules of […]European Court of Justice to Google: It is #righttobeforgotten but not #righttoberemembered
May 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Did you always feel bad about that weird drunk photo your girlfriend had taken a few years ago and was posted on your Hi5 profile? How disappointed did you feel when you saw that if you Google your name, that horrible photo is still at the first 10 results even though you have today lost […]European Business Summit 2014 : The Sting Report, Day II – Business, Politics and EBS 2015
May 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Following the Sting’s report on Day I of the European Business Summit 2014, the report of the second day of Brussels’ most prominent conference is following here. As expected, the second day, full of back to back, even simultaneous, sessions all day long, was more interesting than Day I and gave us a glimpse of how European economy will look […]European Business Summit 2014: Sting Report, Day I
May 20, 2014 by Leave a Comment
It was only last week and the time for the annual most important ‘appointment’ of the European industry had come. The rendez-vous was given at the same place as every year; the 12th European Business Summit that took place this year at the prestigious venue of the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels. The European Sting was Media Partner of the […]The European Sting @ European Business Summit 2014 – the preview
May 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
The prestigious European Business Summit 2014 took place last week at Egmont Palace in Brussels. More than 1650 attendees this year, EU policy makers, businessmen and NGOs paid a visit to the business heart of Europe on 14 and 15 May. The European Sting, official media sponsor of the summit, as a keen follower of Europe’s most significant […]The European Sting @ the European Business Summit 2014 – Where European Business and Politics shape the future
May 11, 2014 by 1 Comment
The time for the most prestigious event in Brussels has come. This week on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 May the heart of Europe is beating at Egmont Palace, where the highest representatives from the European Industry and Business gather. The European Business Summit, the greatest conference for European Industry, is on its way now […]Intel @ European Business Summit 2014: Better decisions now, the new business dashboard
May 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Written By Christian Morales, Vice President and General Manager Europe, Middle East and Africa, Intel Corporation We’ve never had more information coursing through our businesses. Data presents an unprecedented opportunity to make better decisions and be more responsive to customers, suppliers and markets. It can be overwhelming, though. Many companies struggle to make sense of it, […]NEC @ European Business Summit 2014: The Digitally Enabled Grid
May 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Written by Ciro Scognamiglio, responsible for the market and regulatory analysis at NEC Corporation’s Centre of Competence for Smart Energy Solutions in EMEA For the third time in history, Non-predictable Renewable Energy Sources (NPRESs) were the number one electricity source across the EU in terms of added installed capacity according to the EPIA (European Photovoltaic […]Samsung’s profits fall as cheaper smartphones gain market share
April 16, 2014 by 1 Comment
Last Friday tech giant Samsung Electronics hit the market with its ultimate creature. The Galaxy S5 was released worldwide, in more than 100 countries. Samsung said there was high demand for its latest flagship smartphone in many countries across the globe such as France, India and Canada, reporting that there were long queues for the device, […]FIAT Chrysler: from Geneva Motor show to the World, and back
March 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
With a $ 4.35 billion deal, FIAT Group took full control of Chrysler in January 2014 and announced the soon-to-be created FCA, the FIAT Chrysler Automobiles holding company. Thanks to a huge PR campaign, the news shook the markets and generated a shy optimism all around. In such a weak economic situation, the birth of […]ZTE @ MWC14: ZTE excels in all areas at this year’s Mobile World Congress
March 12, 2014 by 2 Comments
Written by Dr Xiang Jiying, Director of Wireless Technology, ZTE Once again ZTE had a big presence at this year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) and demonstrated its global leadership in telecommunications equipment and network solutions. Executives from all levels of the organisation were on hand to communicate the directions that ZTE will be taking in […]NEC @ MWC14: “Smart cities” hold the key to enhancing citizens’ lives and cutting costs
March 8, 2014 by 1 Comment
Written by Jean-Matthias Bohli, Senior Researcher at NEC Laboratories Europe By 2030, 5 billion people — around 60% of the world’s population — will live in cities, compared with 3.6 billion today, turbocharging the world’s economic growth. City leaders in developing nations must cope with urbanisation on an unprecedented scale, while those in developed ones wrestle […]Intel @ MWC14: Our Love Story with Mobile – Transforming Wireless Networks
March 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Written by Bernadette Andrietti, Vice President, Sales and Marketing Group, Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa Marketing, Intel Corporation Bursting with product launches, new technologies and insights from the biggest names in mobile, the recent Mobile World Congress was as exhilarating as ever. Each year the show is a heady reminder of just how fast developments […]MasterCard @ MWC14: Innovation in times of regulatory uncertainty
March 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Written by Javier Perez, President of MasterCard Europe It was that time of the year again. At the end of February, Mobile World Congress opened its doors in Barcelona for a week. This year’s edition saw the presentation of a myriad of innovative solutions in the mobile space. Some of the new devices and solutions […]Industrial products: Lifting the last impediments in the EU single market
February 7, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Still twelve years after the launch of the great ‘Single internal Market‘ project, which transformed the European Union into really a seamless market, and some industrial sectors continue being plagued by bureaucratic and technical impediments to trade. Understandably, the sectors and products in question are not of a simple nature. They comprise highly sophisticated machinery […]Commission launches ‘Industrial Renaissance’ initiative
January 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Last Wednesday the European Commission presented a ground-breaking communication for a “European Industrial Renaissance”. With it, the EU’s executive arm “is urging Member States to recognise the central importance of industry for creating jobs and growth and to mainstream industry-related competitiveness concerns across all policy areas”. The truth is, however, that industry doesn’t play the […]Microsoft’s YouthSpark: a kiss of Life to European Youth from the European Parliament
December 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Two weeks ago, on 14 November, the European Sting attended the event at the European Parliament, organized by the European Youth Forum and YouthIntergroup, titled “Internships: a Call for Quality”. Here we present the third piece of our Special Edition “European Youth & Employment”. This piece reflects the Industry’s perspective, and particularly the ICT sector’s […]European Business Summit 2014 Launch Event: “Energising Industrial Growth”
November 13, 2013 by 1 Comment
As we are writing the epilogue of 2013, collecting and assessing the bits and pieces of a rather important year in the EU Affairs, some people in Brussels are already pointing towards 2014, a milestone year for the EU for many. There is no doubt that one of the biggest 2014 challenges will be for […]While EU Open Days 2013 discuss the 2020 strategy, Microsoft shares a glimpse of EU 2060
October 15, 2013 by 1 Comment
As we move towards the middle of October, the most important annual events in Brussels start taking place one after the other. Last week it was the turn of the 11th European Week of Regions and Cities under the annual open dialogue forum series called Open Days 2013. The event offered the opportunity to EU […]GSMA Mobile 360: Connecting Cities, Connecting Lives, Connecting Europe
September 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Traditionally the first week of September in Brussels is the time when you see grumpy faces walking around the European Quarter thinking that the time they were lying on a beach is over for good. Most EU stakeholders did not miss their flight back and neither did the powerful network of influencers. One of this […]Commission caps charges on card and Internet payments and enforces competition
July 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
It was high time that the European Commission tried to arrest the over-exploitation of European consumers by a handful of banks and credit card providers. This week Joaquín Almunia, Commission’s Vice President responsible for competition policy, and Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner in charge of internal market and services presented one draft regulation and one directive amendment, […]Merkel, Mercedes and Volkswagen to abolish European democracy
July 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
That the German automotive industry is one of the strongest in the world is not news. Most Europeans are rather content in the idea that Europe is well represented in the fierce global automotive arena, not because we are or will ever be shareholders of Mercedes or Volkswagen, but rather because when we see an […]Is Data Privacy really safe seen through Commissioner’s PRISM?
June 19, 2013 by 1 Comment
It was last Friday that the European Commissioner for Justice, Viviane Reding, had a ministerial meeting in Dublin with Mr Eric Holder, U.S. Attorney General. The topic of the meeting would have normally been the ongoing discussion on the transatlantic data privacy agreement. That would have been effectively the 15th round of negotiations to bridge […]
