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Google's Android system, which it lets device makers use for free, runs about 73% of the world's smartphones

Google faces setback as EU court adviser backs regulators

Alphabet's Google faced a potential setback today as an adviser to Europe's highest court sided with EU antitrust regulators in the company's fight against a record €4.34 billion fine levied seven years ago.

Business • 19 Jun

Baggage costs can add up - especially if you fall outside the rules for what you can carry onto the plane

Money Bags: How to get a handle on airline baggage costs

Staying on the right side of an airline's baggage policy can take work and planning, but failing to do so might end up costing you more than the price of the flight itself, writes Adam Maguire.

Business • 31 May

The European Commission said the adult content platforms had not complied with rules requiring them to put in place appropriate measures to protect minors from their content

Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos targeted in EU probe

Adult content platforms Pornhub, Stripchat, XNXX and XVideos will be investigated for suspected breaches of EU online content law, EU regulators said today, in a move that could lead to fines of as much as 6% of their global annual turnover.

Business • 27 May

The EU competition enforcer's scrutiny started in September as a result of complaints from merchants and payments companies about Visa and Mastercard's fees

EU widens probe into Visa and Mastercard fees

EU antitrust regulators have widened their investigation into Visa and Mastercard's fees as they seek feedback from terminal providers and payments companies that could lead to charges of anti-competitive practices, according to a European Commission document seen by Reuters.

Business • 26 May

The European Commission's Spring 2025 Economic Forecast predicts that Irish GDP is forecast to grow by 3.4% in 2025 and 2.5% in 2026

Ireland's ties with US pose 'notable downward risks'

Ireland's deep economic ties to the US pose "notable downward risks" to the economy despite 3.4% GDP growth this year, according to the European Commission's Spring economic forecast.

Business • 19 May

European carriers have hundreds of jets on order with US planemaker Boeing, banking on a booming aerospace market

EU considers tariffs on Boeing jets - Financial Times

The European Union intends to propose tariffs on Boeing planes, as it prepares to retaliate further if trade talks with Washington fail, the Financial Times reported today.

Business • 07 May

The DSA is a landmark law that requires online companies to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content on their platforms

EU sues countries for not properly implementing DSA

The European Commission said in a statement it had decided to take the Czech Republic, Spain,Cyprus, Poland and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to implement the Digital Services Act (DSA) effectively.

Business • 07 May

European regulators have launched a series of investigations into US technology firms in recent years

European regulators crack down on Big Tech

European regulators have launched a series of investigations into Big Tech in recent years.

Business • 23 Apr

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said 'Europe did not start' the economic stand-off

'All options on the table' in tariffs response - EU chief

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned "all options are on the table" in response to US President Donald Trump's tariffs threats, saying while the EU does not want an economic conflict it has the "power to push back".

Business • 01 Apr

Apple slammed the EU order, saying it would hurt users and help its rivals

Apple ordered by EU regulators to open up to rivals

Apple was ordered by EU antitrust regulators today to open up its closed ecosystem to rivals, with the latter spelling out details on how to go about it in line with the bloc's landmark rules and where non-compliance could lead to an investigation and fines.

Business • 19 Mar

Google has been fined more than €8 billion by the EU in the last decades for various antitrust violations

Google hit with 2 charges under EU rules, risks fines

Alphabet unit Google was today hit with two charges of breaching landmark EU rules, as antitrust regulators continued their crackdown against Big Tech.

Business • 20 Mar

The European Union has prioritised tackling climate change and agreed to phase out new sales of combustion engine vehicles by 2035

EU carmakers to get more time on emission rules

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said today she wanted to give struggling European carmakers "breathing space" by allowing them extra time to meet 2025 emission reduction targets without facing fines.

Business • 03 Mar

The Commission said last month it would order the German carrier to reinstate charter airline Condor's access to Lufthansa's short-haul network to feed Condor's Frankfurt-New York route

EU lifts interim measures in Lufthansa antitrust probe

The European Commission has dropped previously announced interim measures against Lufthansa as part of an ongoing antitrust investigation, it said today.

Business • 27 Feb

Today's deal is part of a wider package of proposals to cut red tape, lower energy costs and incentivise the green transition

Europe's plan to bolster clean tech sector, aid industry

The European Commission has today proposed making €100 billion available to support EU-made clean manufacturing, streamlining public procurement processes and simplifying state aid rules to give Europe's ailing industries a boost.

Business • 26 Feb

The European Commission is expected to ease some of the sustainability reporting rules it imposed on larger firms two years ago

Europe set to change corporate sustainability rules

The European Commission looks set to ease some of the rules around corporate sustainability reporting as part of expected changes to one of its directives.

Business • 25 Feb

Ursula von der Leyen speaking at the launch of the EU's new Competitiveness Compass initiative

EU launches Competitiveness Compass to boost productivity

The European Commission has launched a broad initiative to boost EU competitiveness and productivity across multiple fronts amid growing concern about what the new Trump administration will mean for Europe's economy.

Business • 29 Jan

A report suggestst that the European Commission is re-evaluating its probes into tech giants including Apple, Meta and Alphabet's Google

EU reassesses tech probes into Apple, Google, Meta - FT

The European Commission is re-evaluating its probes into tech giants including Apple, Meta and Alphabet's Google, the Financial Times reports today.

Business • 14 Jan

Ireland failing to comply with EU rules on qualifications

Ireland is one of 22 EU member states who are failing to comply with EU rules on professional qualifications, according to the European Commission.

Business • 16 Dec 24

The European Commission has closed state aid investigations into tax rulings granted by Luxembourg and the Netherlands to Amazon, Fiat and Starbucks

EU closes probes into Amazon, Starbucks and Fiat rulings

The European Commission has today said it had closed state aid investigations into tax rulings granted by Luxembourg and the Netherlands to Amazon, Fiat and Starbucks.

Business • 28 Nov 24

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised a proposal on the future of European defence

Von der Leyen's new commission gets green light

MEPs have voted to approve a second term for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her new college of commissioners by a comfortable majority.

Europe • 27 Nov 24

Ireland's GDP is expected to decline by 0.5% in 2024, according to the European Commission's Autumn 2024 Economic Forecast

Irish economy to slow in 2024, 2025 rebound predicted

Ireland's GDP is expected to decline by 0.5% in 2024, mainly due to a contraction in the multinational sector in the first half of the year, the European Commission's Autumn 2024 Economic Forecast has predicted.

Business • 15 Nov 24

Lufthansa Group has submitted a package of remedies to the European Commission needed to secure EU antitrust approval to take a minority stake in Italy's ITA Airways

Lufthansa nears deal to buy Italy's ITA Airways

Germany's Lufthansa Group said it had submitted a package of remedies to the European Commission needed to secure EU antitrust approval to take a minority stake in Italy's ITA Airways, bringing it a step closer to closing the deal.

Business • 12 Nov 24

The EU is set to impose additional tariffs of up to 35.3% next week on electric vehicles built in China at the conclusion of its anti-subsidy investigation

EU, China agree to more talks on EV tariffs alternatives

The European Union and China have agreed to hold further technical negotiations soon on possible alternatives to tariffs on China-built electric vehicles, although significant gaps remain, the European Commission said today.

Business • 25 Oct 24

Deutsche Boerse was searched as part of EU investigations into financial derivatives and is fully cooperating with authorities

Deutsche Boerse offices searched in EU probe

Deutsche Boerse was searched as part of European Union investigations into financial derivatives and is fully cooperating with authorities, a company spokesperson said.

Business • 24 Sep 24

Apple must comply with landmark rules requiring it to open up its closed ecosystem to rivals or risk a possible hefty fine from the EU

EU tells Apple how to open up to rivals, spell out how

EU antitrust regulators have launched proceedings to ensure that Apple complies with landmark rules requiring it to open up its closed ecosystem to rivals or risk a possible hefty fine.

Business • 19 Sep 24