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 […]Starbucks and FIAT again under Commission’s microscope: is Europe ready to kick multinationals out of the house?
October 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
October 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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?
October 6, 2015 by 1 Comment
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
September 28, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
September 8, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
September 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
August 12, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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?
July 29, 2015 by 1 Comment
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
July 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
June 29, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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”
June 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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”
May 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
April 21, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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”
April 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
March 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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
March 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment
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” […]EU seeks foreign support on 5G from Mobile World Congress 2015 as the “digital gold rush” begins
March 10, 2015 by Leave a Comment
“The digital economy is simply becoming the economy. And the future network infrastructure, 5G, will become the infrastructure”. These words came from Günther Oettinger, the European Union Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, and they were spelled in Barcelona, during Mobile World Congress, 2015 last week. Those words stood for Mr. Oettinger’s introduction for the […]Mobile World Congress 2015 first to debate EU’s new stance on Net Neutrality and Roaming Charges
March 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Did you really think that Christmas 2015 would be the perfect chance to travel abroad in Europe, do your shopping in London or Paris and call your folks back home for wishes at zero roaming cost? More so, did you really think that Christmas 2015 would be the perfect chance for you to Skype with your pal without […]“Be aware where you put your I Agree signature on and something else”; now Facebook by default opts you in an unseen private data bazar
February 6, 2015 by 2 Comments
When was the last time you installed an application or software in your mobile, tablet or computer? I bet it was quite recently; yesterday or even a couple of hours ago. Do you remember the smooth popup text box that appears in your screen before the installation of your new widget begins? You know, it’s […]“As German Chancellor I want to be able to cope with the merger of the real and digital economy”, Angela Merkel from Switzerland; the Sting reports live from World Economic Forum 2015 in Davos
January 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
At the second day of the World Economic Forum 2015 in Davos the world was expecting the German Chancellor, Mrs Angela Merkel, in one of the most awaited sessions, titled “Global responsibilities in a digital age”. Mrs Merkel’s speech was warm and stimulating covering the hot issues of the European political agenda. To a disappointment […]China’s impact as a global investor; the Sting reports live from World Economic Forum 2015 in Davos
January 22, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Sting continues its exclusive live coverage from the World Economic Forum 2015 in Davos with a critical piece on China. Yesterday afternoon all the panelists took their seats to participate in what was to become a fresh revealing dialogue on Chinese investment around the globe. The panelists of the session were Mr Cai Jin-Yong, Executive […]New VAT rules in the EU: how a digital sea could have become an ocean
January 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment
From 1 January 2015, a major change to the European Union VAT rules occurred affecting the digital world, which is destined to be discussed widely for a long time. A new regulation has come into place where VAT on digital products sold in the EU will be chargeable in the place of purchase rather than […]Why the merchant ships can pollute the atmosphere with CO2 quite freely
December 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Last Wednesday the European Union Environment ministers reached an agreement… essentially to not to impose rules or duties on CO2 emissions from ships. Cunningly, the relevant Council Press release said that the 28 ministers “reached an agreement on new EU-wide rules for CO2 emissions from ships”. Until today, ocean-going shipping is the only sector of […]“Hasta la vista” Google says to Spain and now Europe is next?
December 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
“But sadly, as a result of a new Spanish law, we’ll shortly have to close Google News in Spain. Let me explain why. This new legislation requires every Spanish publication to charge services like Google News for showing even the smallest snippet from their publications, whether they want to or not. As Google News itself makes […]
