European Union news and archive

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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Business

US-EU Ttade agreement reached, aims for stability amidst uncertainty

Madrid – After months of intensive negotiations, representatives from the United States government and the European Union have successfully concluded a new trade and tariff agreement. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the pact, stating it "creates certainty in uncertain times" and offers "stability and predictability for...

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Global apparel exports: EU displaces China from top spot

For the first time since 2005, China was not the world's leading apparel exporter last year. This is according to a report by the trade magazine “The Spin Off”, which refers to current data from the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to the report, European Union (EU) member states exported apparel worth a total of 166 billion dollars in...

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EU and Japan agree on closer cooperation

Japan and the European Union (EU) aim to further strengthen their cooperation in the areas of economic security, trade and defence. For this purpose, both sides launched a "Competitiveness Alliance" at a summit meeting in Tokyo. "We will expand our cooperation on increasing the resilience of supply chains and reducing strategic dependencies," a...

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France and Italy to collaborate on 'Made in Europe' initiative

Paris - French Economy Minister Eric Lombard and Industry Minister Marc Ferracci are scheduled to meet with Italian Minister for Businesses Adolfo Urso in Paris on Thursday. The objective of this meeting is to establish common ground regarding the challenges facing the European industry and the concept of "Made in Europe." The French ministers'...

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Fashion

Sweden eases clothing recycling due to overload in treatment centres

Stockholm – From October, Sweden will no longer be obligated to recycle clothes, despite European legislation, as textile waste treatment centres are overflowing, the government announced on Thursday, May 8, 2024. This decision, effective from October first, comes after the European Union imposed on member countries the requirement to have a...

Retail

E-commerce: Belgium faces "tsunami" of parcels from China

Brussels (Belgium) - A Belgian economic body believes that Belgium is facing a "tsunami" of small parcels sent by major players in Chinese e-commerce. It has stated that Belgium must urge the European Union to accelerate its customs reform, according to an opinion obtained on Thursday by AFP. The EU has been working for two years on a customs...

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Fashion

EU textile overhaul gains momentum with Circula-TEX launch

The European textile industry, long burdened by fragmented regulation, inefficient waste management, and an uneasy relationship with sustainability, is being pulled into a new chapter. The catalyst? Circula-TEX, an EU-funded innovation programme that seeks to stitch together the continent’s disjointed approach to textile waste. Coordinated by...

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Study: Branded clothing sector contributes almost 332 billion euros to EU economy

A study released by the European Branded Clothing Association (EBCA) today presents new findings from Oxford Economics, which reveals that the European branded clothing sector contributes 331.8 billion euros to the EU’s GDP annually, which is nearly 2 percent of the total EU economy. It also highlights the sector’s role in driving jobs, trade...

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Counterfeits, dangerous products: AliExpress threatened with EU fine

The European Commission on Wednesday took a significant step towards imposing a substantial fine on Chinese e-commerce giant AliExpress. The Commission preliminarily found that AliExpress has not adequately managed risks related to the sale of illegal products, despite numerous improvements. The Brussels-based regulator, acting as the EU’s...

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Forever chemicals on the EU agenda: Key insights for the fashion industry on upcoming PFAS restrictions

Brussels - According to a 2024 study by Dr. Harrad, professor of environmental chemistry at University of Birmingham, PFAS can enter the skin’s fluids (like sweat and oils) by environmental media transmission (such as indoor dust), where they can then be absorbed via the skin and enter the bloodstream. With its upcoming legislative initiatives,...

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Can sustainable fashion marketing truly hit the mark of accuracy?

The regulations in the textile industry are approaching like a dark cloud announcing an impending storm. However, many professionals in the sector are unsure about how, when, and through what means they will need to start addressing the requirements that European authorities are primarily emphasizing to improve transparency in the industry....