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European Commission

The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. It is primarily based in Brussels.

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All Content on this topic

Ursula Von Der Leyen

MEPs reject 2 of von der Leyen's Commission candidates

A EU Parliament committee has rejected the Romanian and Hungarian commissioners-elect due to "conflicts of interest."
PoliticsSeptember 30, 2019
A woman takes a picture of her beverage at a Starbucks cafe

EU court rules in Starbucks' favor in tax dispute

The EU General Court has overturned an European Commission ruling that Starbucks benefited from illegal tax breaks.
BusinessSeptember 24, 2019
Eu Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker met UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Luxembourg on Monday

Juncker: Risk of no-deal Brexit 'very real'

EU Commission President Juncker told the European Parliament "time is running out" to secure a Brexit deal.
PoliticsSeptember 18, 2019
Apple iPhone

Apple appeals €13 billion tax payment demanded by EU

Apple appealed a 2016 EU ruling requiring it pays a record €13 billion in back taxes. Ireland doesn't want the money.
TechnologySeptember 17, 2019
Ursula von der Leyen and Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic

Von der Leyen wants balance among EU states

Speaking from Zagreb, upcoming EU leader Ursula von der Leyen praised Croatia as a "success story."
PoliticsJuly 30, 2019
Generalsekretär der EU-Kommission Martin Selmayr und EU-Kommission Jean-Claude Juncker

Top German EU aide headed to Vienna

To avoid two Germans in top posts, the EU's top civil servant Martin Selmayr is leaving his post for Vienna.
PoliticsJuly 24, 2019
DW-Interview mit der neuen EU-Kommissionspräsidentin Ursula von der Leyen

Von der Leyen ready to fight

We have to be ambitious, saysthe pPresident-elect of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
July 17, 201903:27 min
Ines Pohl

Opinion: Von der Leyen a sound choice in turbulent times

Ines Pohl
A surprise choice, her stellar speech and a lack of alternatives won MEPs over, says DW Editor-in-Chief Ines Pohl. 
PoliticsJuly 16, 2019
Ursula von der Leyen in front of the EU flag

Back to Brussels: Who is Ursula von der Leyen?

The German defense minister has been voted president of the European Commission. DW profiles the Brussels-born doctor.
PoliticsJuly 16, 2019
DW Quadriga 11.07.2019

EU top jobs: Haggling instead of inspiration?

Heads of state rather than voters have chosen the EU's leadership team. Are they the best choice?
PoliticsJuly 11, 201926:00 min
Ursula von der Leyen

Most Germans don't want von der Leyen leading EU

Only one third of Germans believe their defense minister, Ursula von der Leyen, would make a good EU Commission chief.
PoliticsJuly 4, 2019
Barbara Wesel Kommentarbild App *PROVISORISCH*

In the end, it was a backroom deal

Barbara Wesel
The deal to make Ursula von der Leyen the EU Commission chief is a failure of the EU parliament, says Barbara Wesel.
PoliticsJuly 3, 2019
external

All-night talks without results

European Union leaders have been locked in all-night discussions over who will fill the EU's top jobs,
July 1, 201902:17 min
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Horsetrading in Brussels

France and Germany clash over who should become the next president of the European Commission.
June 20, 201901:57 min
Offshore-Windpark alpha ventus

EU finds national climate plans insufficient

The EU executive has said national plans for renewables and energy efficiency fell short of the bloc's goals.
Nature and EnvironmentJune 18, 2019
A sinking euro coin with an Italian flag in the background

Italy faces EU debt sanctions

The EU Commission has taken the first step of a legal process that could lead to unprecedented sanctions on Italy.
BusinessJune 5, 2019
Manfred Weber and Frans Timmermans

EU Commission president candidates go head-to-head

Manfred Weber and Frans Timmermans both hope to succeed EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
PoliticsMay 8, 2019
EU Berlaymont Gebäude

Inside Europe: Who will be the next EU Commission President?

EU parliamentary elections take place in three weeks. The top job, EU Commission President, is up for grabs. The presidential candidates gathered during the week in the Dutch city of Maastricht to debate the economy, climate change, social policy and other issues. Keith Walker speaks with POLITICO Europe's political editor, Ryan Heath, who moderated the event. Ryan first outlines the main issues.
PoliticsMay 3, 201904:53 min
Symbolbild Musik-Streaming

Spotify lodges EU complaint against Apple

Accusing Apple of unfair competitive practices, Spotify says it "didn’t have a choice" but to file a complaint.
TechnologyMarch 13, 2019
Frans Timmermans, an EU official for regulation, speaks at a press conference

EU protects whistleblowers with new directive

EU negotiators have approved a directive protecting whistleblowers who report fraud from authorities or corporations.
Law and JusticeMarch 12, 2019
A car with three exhausts

Court to EU Commission: You can't hike emissions limits

The EU Commission overreached its authority by making emissions levels for cars and vans less strict, a court ruled.
Cars and TransportationDecember 13, 2018
Deutschland | Ryanair startet bald auch von Frankfurt am Main

Ryanair strikes deal with German pilot union

Ryanair has struck a deal with the German pilots' union which has been one of its most vocal foes throughout 2018.
BusinessDecember 4, 2018
external

DW Business – Europe & America

EU Commission ready to discipline Italy - Eastern Europe welomes Germany's dirty diesels
BusinessNovember 21, 201811:19 min
external

Italians divided over debt

Italians divided over debt and the best path forward.
BusinessNovember 21, 201801:48 min
Giuseppe Conte

Italy sends disputed budget to Brussels

The budget is set to increase Italy's deficit and put Rome on a collision course with Brussels.
PoliticsOctober 16, 2018
Ryanair planes on the ground

Ryanair seeks soft landing amid strikes

The Irish low-cost carrier has in 2018 become synonymous with strikes and reputational damage has been unavoidable.
BusinessSeptember 27, 2018
Protesters hold up EU and Polish flags in Warsaw

EU Commission ups the ante on Poland over judges

The EU leadership has set a deadline for Poland to fix its law on retiring Supreme Court judges or risk a lawsuit.
PoliticsAugust 14, 2018
A photo of the "report tweet functionality" on Twitter

EU Commission warns of meddling in 2019 elections

The EU parliamentary elections are vulnerable to "fake news" and cyberattacks, the European Commission said.
PoliticsAugust 1, 2018
Deutschland | Ryanair startet bald auch von Frankfurt am Main

Ryanair's German-based pilots vote to strike

The Irish budget carrier has faced a wave of industrial action in recent months, as staff in various countries protest.
BusinessJuly 31, 2018
German Chancellor Angela Merkel with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

Orban: Merkel-style migration would end me

Hungary PM Viktor Orban has said he would be chased out of office if he copied Germany's migrant policy.
PoliticsJuly 27, 2018
Ryanair passenger affected by strike in Madrid

Ryanair flies through the eye of the storm

The airline refused to recognize unions for decades but now finds itself facing strikes and cancellations at every turn.
BusinessJuly 26, 2018
Hawksbill sea turtle trying to bite a plastic cup

EU Commission unveils plans for plastic waste ban

Plastic utensils, straws and coffee stirrers may soon be a lot harder to come by in Europe if the plans are successful.
Nature and EnvironmentMay 28, 2018
EU Commission VP Frans Timmermans

EU moves to protect whistleblowers

The European Commission has proposed protective measures to ensure whistleblowers can safely report unlawful activity.
Law and JusticeApril 23, 2018
Monte dei Paschi bank

EU wants new rules to reduce bad loans

Brussels has said it wants to see new measures to force banks to set aside more money for loans turning bad.
BusinessMarch 14, 2018
Warsaw's Mermaid of Warsaw wearing a pollution mask

Poland violating air quality norms: top EU court

The European Commission took Poland to court in 2015, saying the country had failed to rein in air pollution.
Nature and EnvironmentFebruary 22, 2018
Wochenrückblick KW 01 2012 HSH Nordbank

Rough seas for northern German lender HSH

German lender HSH Nordbank narrowly escaped collapse after ship loans turned sour. Now the EU wants it sold.
BusinessDecember 19, 201702:57 min
Ikea - Messerangriff in Vasteras

EU probes IKEA tax deals

The furniture retailer's tax deal with the Netherlands is estimated to have cost taxpayers close to €1 billion.
BusinessDecember 18, 2017
USA Apple-Laden in New York

Ireland to reclaim Apple back taxes

Ireland expects the US iPhone maker to start paying billions in back taxes as the EU sues Dublin for illegal subsidies.
BusinessDecember 4, 2017
Deutschland Lufthansa & Air Berlin | Symbolbild Übernahme

Lufthansa to allay concerns over Air Berlin

The German airline seeks to address EU competition concerns by offering to give up some starting and landing slots.
BusinessDecember 1, 2017
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Jean-Claude Juncker at DW

DW's Max Hofmann spoke to the president of the EU commission, Jean-Claude Juncker ahead of the EU-African Union summit
November 28, 201706:07 min
Filmstill Paradise Papers, WDR

Oxfam urges EU action on 'tax havens'

The EU will shortly publish a tax haven blacklist, but Oxfam has its doubts and has published a list of its own.
BusinessNovember 28, 2017
People wearing Juncker mask behind a banner saying democracy vs. glyphosate

EU license for glyphosate extended by 5 years

A majority of EU member states have voted in favor of extending the license for controversial weed killer glyphosate.
Nature and EnvironmentNovember 27, 2017
USA Internet Digital Konzerne Facebook Amazon Google Apple

EU cracks down on US tech giants

The European Commission is coming down hard on US tech firms Apple and Amazon over tax avoidance in the EU.
BusinessOctober 4, 201701:27 min
Symbolbild Ryanair Flugzeug hebt ab

Up in the air? Ryanair’s growing pains

The low-cost airline has suffered the most turbulent period of its history, but can it soar again?
BusinessSeptember 29, 2017
A refugee camp on the Greek island of Chios

EU proposes resettling 50,000 refugees

The EU's executive has unveiled plans to resettle at least 50,000 refugees, focusing on people from northern Africa.
PoliticsSeptember 27, 2017
Deutschland Kuka

EU seeks powers to block takeovers

Amid concern about rising investment by China, the EU is demanding a screening procedure for foreign takeovers.
BusinessSeptember 13, 2017
Serbien Armut Europa Symbolbild Altersarmut

New EU-wide pension and the possible tax sting

The EU hopes its much-hyped portable private pension will address a dangerous shortfall in retirement savings.
BusinessSeptember 8, 2017
Airberlin Mitarbeiterin

EU approves Air Berlin lifeline

EU anti-trust regulators have approved plans by the German government to grant Air Berlin a temporary bridging loan.
BusinessSeptember 4, 2017
Deutschland Autoindustrie Montage durch Roboter in Köln

Collusion cloud follows German carmakers

More bumps in the road for Germany's carmakers, as vehicle tech collusion allegations surface.
BusinessJuly 24, 201701:21 min
Margarethe Vestager

Google must be 'extra vigilant'

EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager explains the reason for fining Google and why she doesn't fear US backlash.
BusinessJune 27, 2017