About

Individuals and businesses in the EU can only thrive if the economy works for them.

The EU’s unique social market economy allows economies to grow and to reduce poverty and inequality. Small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of the EU’s economy. It is essential to strengthen them, complete the Capital Markets Union and deepen the Economic and Monetary Union.

With Europe on a stable footing, the economy can fully respond to the needs of EU citizens.

 

Highlight

Empowering consumers: be aware, repair and save money

22 March 2023 - The European Commission is proposing new rules to make it easier for consumers to support the green transition by promoting the repair of products and by stopping 'greenwashing'. The new measures will allow consumers to have easier and cheaper options to repair products. The new rules also introduce stricter criteria to stop companies from making misleading claims about environmental merits of their products and services. Consumers will have more clarity and stronger reassurance that when something is sold as green, it is actually green.

Read more on promoting the repair of goods

Read more on misleading environmental claims

Timeline

1. 25 January 2023

   Presentation of an initiative to further strengthen and promote social dialogue at national and EU level.

2. 8 December 2022

   Adoption of a series of measures to modernise the EU’s Value-Added Tax (VAT) system

3. 7 December 2022

   Capital Markets Union: new proposals on clearing, corporate insolvency and company listing to make EU capital markets more attractive

4. 22 November 2022

   Economic policy coordination: Commission sets out guidance to help tackle the energy crisis and make Europe greener and more digital

5. 14 November 2022

   Entry into force of the Minimum Wages Directive

6. 9 November 2022

   Commission sets out orientations for a reformed EU economic governance framework

7. 12 October 2022

   Proposal to make 2023 the European Year of Skills

8. 28 September 2022

   Comprehensive approach to better protect people and the environment from asbestos

   Proposal for a Council Recommendation on adequate minimum income ensuring active inclusion

9. 7 June 2022

   Political agreement for gender balance on company boards

10. 19 May 2022

    Political agreement on the new “EU Single Window Environment for Customs” - a tool to streamline digital customs cooperation and facilitate trade

11. 11 May 2022

    Debt-equity bias reduction allowance (DEBRA)

12. 22 March 2022

    Application of pan-European personal pension product (“PEPP”) Regulation

13. 16 March 2022

    Revision of Central Securities Depositories Regulation

14. 23 February 2022

    Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence

15. 1 January 2022

    20 years of euro banknotes and coins in our pockets

    Start of the European Year of Youth

16. 22 December 2021

    Directive on ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational groups

    Initiative to fight against the misuse of shell entities for improper tax purposes

17. 10 December 2021

    Commission proposals for Council Recommendations on micro-credentials and individual learning accounts

18. 9 December 2021

    Action plan to help European social economy thrive

    Proposal to improve the working conditions of people working through digital platforms

19. 8 December 2021

    New tool to counter the use of economic coercion by third countries

20. 7 December 2021

    Agreement reached by EU finance ministers on updating the rules governing VAT rates for goods and services

21. 25 November 2021

    Measures to boost Europe's capital markets

22. 27 October 2021

    Review of EU banking rules (Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) and the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD IV))

23. 12 October 2021

    Issuance of first green bond

24. 22 September 2021

    Comprehensive review of EU insurance rules

25. 20 July 2021

    Anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism legislative package

26. 10 July 2021

    Historic global agreement to ensure fairer taxation of multinational enterprises

27. 6 July 2021

    European Green Bond Standard

28. 28 June 2021

    Entry into force of new VAT rules for online shopping to simplify life for traders and introduce more transparency for consumers

    EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027

29. 24 June 2021

    EU proposes World Customs Organization modernisation in support of a strengthened multilateral order

30. 18 May 2021

    Communication on business taxation for the 21^st century

31. 7-8 May 2021

    Social Summit in Porto

32. 5 May 2021

    Regulation on foreign subsidies distorting the Single Market

33. 24 March 2021

    European Child Guarantee

34. 4 March 2021

    European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan

    Commission Recommendation on Effective Active Support to Employment to promote job creation and support job transitions

35. 28 October 2020

    Directive on adequate minimum wages

    Proposal for a Regulation establishing the EU Single Window for Customs

36. 21 October 2020

    Inaugural social bond under SURE instrument

37. 21 July 2020

    Agreement on the recovery plan and MFF for 2021-2027

38. 1 July 2020

    Youth unemployment support package

    European Skills Agenda

39. 27 May 2020

    Presentation of NextGenerationEU

40. 7 May 2020

    Action plan on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing

41. 2 April 2020

    Temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) instrument

42. Show 37 more items
43. 14 January 2020

    Communication on A strong Social Europe for just transitions