EU news and archive

European competition plan overlooks textiles

The European Commission unveiled the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. In the presence of leaders from the Committee of the Regions (CoR), executive vice president Stéphane Séjourné presented an initiative designed to fundamentally strengthen the EU's competitive position against major powers such as China. Strategic...

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EU-Mercosur trade deal to take effect despite legal hurdles

The free trade agreement between the EU and the South American Mercosur bloc will soon move into provisional application, despite an ongoing review by the European Court of Justice (ECJ). European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the move in Brussels following ratification by Uruguay and Argentina on Thursday. Provisional...

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EU parliament halts implementation of customs deal with US

The European Parliament has formally suspended the implementation of the customs agreement between the US and the EU. The background to this is the new tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, according to the chairman of the trade committee, Bernd Lange (SPD). “We want a clear assurance from the United States that they will adhere to the...

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Trump's tariff defeat, new tariffs: EU assesses consequences

Following the US Supreme Court's decision against president Donald Trump's tariff policy, the EU and other countries are attempting to assess the precise consequences for the global economy. A special session of the legal service and the negotiating team, which was responsible for a customs agreement between the US and the EU, is scheduled for...

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Unsold goods: EU bans their destruction, imposing a new model on fashion

A practice long considered a necessary evil in industrial fashion will become illegal from July 19. The EU will prohibit large companies from destroying their unsold clothing, footwear and accessories, ending the annual incineration and landfilling of millions of new items. Enshrined in the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR),...

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The Fabricant receives European support for AI project to improve fashion industry

The European Union is providing financial support to the Amsterdam-based fashion-tech company The Fabricant for the development of an AI-driven initiative. In collaboration with the University of the Arts London (UAL), the Image to Pattern project focuses on automating the conversion of design sketches into production-ready patterns, according...

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SME Fund 2026 launched to help EU businesses protect intellectual property

The SME Fund 2026 was launched yesterday, February 2, to help businesses protect their intellectual property. The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), with the support of the European Commission and the intellectual property offices of the EU member states, has launched a new SME Fund programme for 2026. This initiative is aimed...

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Taxation of small Chinese parcels: EU moves to practical implementation

Brussels (Belgium) - The principle has been agreed, yet practical details remain to be settled. The 27 member states must find a provisional solution on Friday to tax the mountains of small Chinese parcels imported into the European Union “as soon as possible” in 2026. This move comes without waiting for the initial deadline set for 2028. Some...

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Amnesty International calls on textile giants to protect workers' rights

On Thursday, the NGO Amnesty International called on global textile companies and the governments of four Asian countries to take action to protect workers' rights and ensure decent wages. In two reports published on Thursday, the NGO states that fashion brands manufacturing in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka must urgently take...

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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...

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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...

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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...